Tijuca Forest Challenge Full-Day Hike (Small-Group or Private)

Recommended by 100% of travelers

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

8 to 9 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Explore the Best of Tijuca Forest – Hike to Peaks, Caves & Falls

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Overview

Spend the day trekking through the lush Tijuca Rainforest on this small-group tour. Discover local wildlife as you make your way up to Taquara Hill which is 330 feet (100 meters) higher than Christ the Redeemer. Take in views of Rio, visit caves and grottoes, and take a dip on the refershing pools of the Baronesa Waterfall. This is a challenging hike for those with good physical fitness.

Endure a challenging hike to Taquara Hill in Tijuca Forest
Spot local wildlife and take in the views of Rio de Janeiro
Pickup and drop-off from hotels in the South Zone area
Upgrade to a private tour for a personalized experience

What's Included

Licensed tour guide
Guided Hike
Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
Transport in small vehicle (max. 6 people) / (optional air conditioner)
All Fees and Taxes
Insurance

Food, water, drinks
Pick up/drop off OUT of the designated meeting points/areas

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Transport is included from designated hotels (more than 100 options) on the neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Leme, Santa Teresa, Flamengo and Botafogo. Choose the best/closest option on the list as your meeting point

Meeting point

South Zone (Rio de Janeiro), Rio de Janeiro - State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Transport is included from designated hotels (more than 50 options) on the neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Leme, Santa Teresa, Flamengo and Botafogo. When booking, choose from a list the best/closest option as your meeting point.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

Itinerary

Parque Nacional da Tijuca

8 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Mirante das canoas (Pass By)

Floresta da Tijuca

8 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Cascatinha Taunay

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Capela Mayrink (Pass By)

Vista Chinesa

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
Very good fitness required. HARD level hike. NO technical rock climbing, just hiking.
Hike details: 10,4km (6,5mi) (up and down rough terrain), 4 to 5h, elev. gain 848m=2782ft.

Passport name, number and date of birth is required at time of booking for all participants (for insurance)
Not recommended for child under 14 and they must be accompanied.
Maximum of 6 participants on the tour (or you can choose a private option)
Vista Chinesa summit is also visited but only on working days.
Not recommended for people who are not used to hike.
Not recommended for travelers that are not fit and doing exercise on a regular basis.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Evgeny_L

Tito was awesome with his profound knowledge of Brazil's history, geography and culture, we learned a lot during this tour and saw spectacular views of Tijuca forest. Highly recommend this experience!

Reviews

5.0

based on 140 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great Guide and a Great Hike

Daniel_S, Dec 2025

Vinicius was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly. I enjoyed spending time with him. Hike was perfect

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Hi there! Hearing that your hike was perfect truly makes our day. It is fantastic that the tour guide's knowledge and friendly vibe made your time in the forest so enjoyable 🥾. We loved having you on the trail with us. Come back to visit Rio soon.

Stunning views and incredible hike. Thanks Pietro!

Giorgia_C, Jun 2024

Incredible hike. Pietro, our guide, also explained all the history of Rio and Brazil in general, and it was super interesting! The hike was challenging but it’s worth it cause the landscapes that we got to see are stunning! Thanks Pietro!!!

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience! We're really glad that you enjoyed the hike with our guide and the insightful explanations about Rio and Brazil's history were nice to you. It's rewarding to hear that despite the challenge, you found the stunning landscapes worth it. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to seeing you on another adventure soon!

Wonderful views and a...

Marie_D, Dec 2023

Wonderful views and a lovely hike in nature ending with a refreshing waterfall. Our guide was very knowledgeable and excited to share his love for this forest and city.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Olá Marie! Thank you for your kind words!Indeed our tours have wonderful views and the refreshing waterfall on the end is a great addition, right? Our guides are passionate about sharing their love for the forest and the city and it's amazing to hear that you can notice that. We hope to have you with us for more adventures in the future! 🌳🏞️

Great experience!!

Adrian_P, Dec 2023

Amazing experience!! It was tough going at times but the views made it worthwhile and our guide Pietro was great!! Many thanks.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Hi Adrian, Thank you for sharing your feedback! Good to know you had a great experience on the hike with us. Our team is dedicated to providing memorable adventures, and we appreciate your kind words and taking the time to write about it. Looking forward to welcoming you on more exciting journeys in the future! 🌿🏞️

Tito was awesome with his...

Evgeny_L, Jul 2023

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you for your glowing review, Evgeny! And thanks for choosing the tour with us a second time. We're thrilled to know that Tito's expertise and the spectacular views made your tour memorable. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to more adventures together!

Awesome

Madhu_P, Jul 2023

Renata was very good, very knowledgeable and friendly. The tour let’s you have an actual experience of a rainforest

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted that Renata provided you with a knowledgeable and friendly experience in the rainforest. We hope to welcome you back soon for more memorable adventures! 🌿🌟

Tijuca - stunning waterfalls

Sam_O, Feb 2023

The waterfalls are truly beautiful. Riccardo was a superb tour guide with great amount of knowledge. If you’re ready to hike and enjoy nature, I would recommend.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Thanks for sharing your impression about our experience, tour and team. For nature and hike lover it is, indeed, a good suggestion. Thanks The Jungle Me Team

Best hike ever!

Gianmarco_M, May 2022

This was an amazing experience! Our guide Alex was very knowledgable and had a good sense of humour. He took us to hidden trails and places with stunning views which we wont forget anytime soon. I can only recommend going on this hike!

Response from Host, May 2022

Thanks a lot ! Yes, our tour guides, Alex and the rest of the team, are passionate for what we do, for our city and our rainforest. The final result is..., as you said, an amazing experience. Thanks for taking the time to share your impression with other travelers. ;)

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