Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden & Tijuca Forest Tour

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Great choice

10+ bookings last month.

4 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

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Overview

The Tijuca National Forest is one of the largest urban rainforests in the world, set on mountain slopes just west of Rio de Janeiro. With this tour, discover two of the city’s nature sites, starting with a guided walk through the Rio Botanical Gardens, including the Turtle Lake and Sensory Garden. Then, hike through Tijuca, learn more about the native plants and wildlife, and admire Taunay Waterfall.

Two guided nature walks in one half-day tour
Admire views of Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf from Tijuca
Learn about Brazil’s native plants and flowers from your guide
Hassle-free pickup and drop-off at your Rio South Zone hotel

What's Included

Roundtrip transportation via air-conditioned vehicle
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Tickets to the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro (for option with all tickets included)
Professional guide with live tour commentary in English, Spanish, and Portuguese
Pickup and drop-off from the main hotels in the South Zone (Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema, and Leblon)

Food or Drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Hotel pickup and drop-off from the main hotels in Rio's South Zone area (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Leme). Passengers not staying at one of the hotels in the pickup list will be informed of the nearest pickup point and time. Pick up from the hotel takes place before the start time of the activity. If you do not receive confirmation of your departure time, please contact us.

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.1:00 pm

Itinerary

Botanical Garden

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Vista Chinesa

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Parque Nacional da Tijuca

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Cascatinha Taunay

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Capela Mayrink

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps

Most travelers can participate
On Saturdays and Sundays Vista Chinesa will be off the itinerary because vehicles are not allowed on the highway.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers

Supplied by

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

Sandra_B

Our guide was Vicente who is highly professional, extremely knowledgeable and speaks excellent English. This was a highly worthwhile and interesting trip. The gardens are beautiful..and the forest is also wonderful to see.

Reviews

4.3

based on 178 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Waste of time. Horrible tour guide.

Ellen_W, Mar 2026

Don’t waste your time on this tour. Our guide knew nothing about the botanical gardens at all. He just kept saying “follow me”. We left the tour, along with several others, who were equally disappointed with the tour and the tour guide. The worst experience we had in Rio. Tour van was packed with more people than what it would hold.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear Ellen, Thank you for sharing your feedback, and we are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We understand your frustration, and we would like to clarify that this is not the standard of service we aim to provide. Regarding the vehicle capacity, we follow all authorized limits to ensure safety and comfort for our passengers; however, we will reassess this matter internally to avoid any perception of overcrowding in the future. As for the tour content, our guides receive continuous training, and your comments have been forwarded to the responsible department for review and immediate reinforcement of guidelines with the guide involved. We appreciate you bringing these points to our attention—your feedback is essential to our continuous improvement process. We remain available for any further clarification and hope to have the opportunity to offer you a more positive experience in the future.

Botanical Gardens

loreen1923, Mar 2026

First of all ,we arrived at our pickup point- Hilton Copacabana at 12noon.It took a little over an hour after all the pickups to begin the tour. Morever,it was not clear from the confirmation receipt that the tour didn't include admission fees to the gardens.I was not aware until my name was called at the gardens ,and we had to pay the admission fees . Lastly, we did get an opportunity to visit the gift shop at the gardens.When we inquired about the gift shop,we were told that it was the at the entrance, and we will not be returning or existing in that direction .Also inquired about getting some water, the tour guide told me that there were water fountains throughout the gardens which I did not want.I would have like to have the opportunity to purchase water .We left at the end of the Garden tours and return to cruise line.I would NOT recommend this tour.I could have done it on my own.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear customer, thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are sorry that the tour did not meet your expectations. We understand that in shared tours, the pickup period involves many variables such as traffic and the punctuality of all participants, which is essential for us to maintain the designated schedule. After checking internally, we confirmed that the tour you purchased did not include the entrance tickets to the Botanical Garden. Our customer service team attempted to contact you to verify whether you had any other type of voucher so we could better assist you. We understand your frustration in finding out only after entering that you would not have access to the gift shop again at the end of the tour. Unfortunately, the Botanical Garden prohibits the entry of plastic bottles in order to preserve nature, but there are water fountains throughout the site to support visitors during the tour. We regret that you decided to leave the tour before its conclusion, though we understand that a combination of factors can cause discomfort and frustration. For this reason, we truly appreciate that you took the time to share your feedback with us, allowing us to review all details and work on improving our services. Should you prefer a more personalized assistance, please feel free to contact us at reservations@c2rio.travel.

Vicente. An excellent guide and tour

Sandra_B, Mar 2026

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear Sandra, Thank you very much for sharing your experience. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that Vicente contributed with professionalism, knowledge, and excellent communication, we will certainly pass your compliments on to him! It’s wonderful to know that you appreciated both the gardens and the forest… they are truly special places. Thank you for your review, and we hope to welcome you again on a future visit to Rio!

Not worth it

Isabelle_C, Mar 2026

It was great to see the botanical gardens and tijuca forest waterfall but first of all lunch was not provided, which was promised when I first booked. Second of all you could tell the guide wasn’t proficient in the tour and was reading a script the whole time. Overall I don’t think this experience was worth the price. Book at your own risk

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Dear Isabelle, thank you for sharing your experience with us. After checking internally, we confirmed that, according to the voucher, the tour you purchased did not include meals. If you have any different information, please feel free to send it to us at reservations@c2rio.travel so we can review it and assist you in the best possible way regarding this point. We are sorry that you felt a lack of experience in the guidance despite the guide’s specializations during the tour, and we understand your frustration. We will review the guide’s training to ensure we are always aligned with the expected quality. We appreciate the time you took to share this feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon.

Book now and ask questions later

Brandon_T, Dec 2025

Our tour guide I believe his name was Dio was really good . He took great care of everyone and even the people who had trouble walking very thoughtful and caring !

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Brandon, thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that Dio took such great care of everyone and showed thoughtfulness toward guests with mobility challenges. Your feedback means a lot, and we hope to welcome you back for another wonderful experience soon!

Never book

Ameera_K, Dec 2025

They never showed up and we were waiting for over 20 minutes which was disappointing. Do not book!!!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Ameera, we’re truly sorry for the inconvenience. Your booking had a last-minute change that didn’t sync in our system, which caused the no-show. The full refund has already been processed. We hope to welcome you on a future tour for a better experience!

Had much better tours.

Kevin_J, Dec 2025

You spend a lot of time in a van. The guide struggled with English and was limited in the information provided on the tour. Be careful when you sign up for this that you check all appropriate boxes. We signed up for the Botanical Garden and the Tijuca Forest. Our receipt told us we were signed up, but at the bottom it said we were not. This was confusing and frustrating. The online process needs improvement. It is confusing and misleading.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for your feedback, Kevin. We’re sorry for the confusion during the booking process. Our tours offer two options: one with entrance tickets included and another without. In your case, the option purchased did not include tickets for the Botanical Garden and Tijuca Forest. We’ll review the online process to make it clearer and avoid misunderstandings.

Rio's Atlantic Rain Forest

John_E, Dec 2025

A good option when you've already visited corcovado and Sugarloaf. Provides a fresh perspective on Rio's environs and one of the few remaining areas of South Atlantic rain forest.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you, John! We’re glad you enjoyed this unique experience and the chance to explore Rio’s surroundings and the beautiful South Atlantic rainforest. It’s a great way to see a different side of the city. Hope to welcome you again soon!

Friendly, pleasant tour and guide, but likely not a naturalist

Peter_H, Dec 2025

The tour is a really nice, low stress way to see the lovely Botanical gardens and a stunning viewpoint and waterfall up in the forest. The guide was friendly, but didn’t seem to have that uncanny observational next-level skill with birds and plants, and the ecological depth that we have found with naturalist guided tours in national parks elsewhere - which make you see things you would not notice yourself. He did really add to our cultural experience by pointing out Afro-Brazilian religious offerings left unobtrusively near the waterfall, however.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you, Peter! We’re glad you enjoyed the relaxing way to explore the gardens and forest, and that the cultural insights added to your experience. We appreciate your feedback about the naturalist details and will work on improving that aspect. Hope to see you again for another memorable tour!

This was a new experience...

Brandon_B, Jul 2025

This was a new experience for me in Rio and I highly recommend it. Our guide, Alexia, explained so many things about the history and details of these places. It felt like a custom experience. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Dear passenger, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that this was a new and memorable experience for you in Rio. It's great to know that Alexia provided insightful and detailed explanations, making the tour feel personalized and enriching. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable moments! Kind Regards, – C2Rio Team

This company has unorganized employers!!

Petros_K, May 2025

The tijuka forest and the botanical gardens were wonderful.this that made me very angry were the guide who told me that he can not pick me up from Hotel Nacional and go to hotel Sol Ipanema.so I took a taxi and I went there.he came and took me.but what a surprise,he took back the same road and passed outside my hotel!!!!also he stopped and said the history of my hotel!!!and when I asked him why you didn't take me from here,he started to say foolish things!!!I am very angry with him and the company C2rio.

Response from Host, May 2025

Dear Petros, Thank you for sharing your experience — we’re glad to hear you enjoyed the Tijuca Forest and the Botanical Gardens. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience regarding the pickup. We'd like to clarify that our tour pickup route starts in Copacabana and ends in Ipanema. Unfortunately, we do not offer pickup service from hotels in São Conrado, such as Hotel Nacional, due to logistical reasons. However, the return route does pass by that area, which may have caused some confusion. We’re truly sorry for any frustration this caused and appreciate your feedback. Your comments are valuable and will be taken into account as we work to improve our services and communication with our guests. Kind regards, The C2Rio Team

Solo traveler

Vanessa_C, Apr 2025

The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and professional. He was also very friendly. Beautiful scenery. Highly recommend.

The guide (Newman?) was...

Sue_R, Apr 2025

The guide (Newman?) was very knowledgeable. The pace set was good. We saw lots of the gardens, even though the place is large. Lots of interesting plants/trees as well as flowers. The place was beautiful.

Response from Host, May 2025

Dear Sue, Thank you so much for your feedback! Just to confirm, your guide’s name was Newton. We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the tour pace and the beautiful gardens with their amazing plants, trees, and flowers. We appreciate you sharing your experience with us! Kind Regards, Customer Experience Team

Good value for Money

Tim_C, Feb 2025

If you are concerned how much walking there might be, it's not massive and it's a nice break from the city centre. Good variation in what's seen. Alan our guide wasvery good.

Skip.

Krystal_M, Dec 2024

Tour guide was lackluster. Rainforest was minimal experience just looked at a waterfall. For the time commitment required - I suggest skipping this activity.

Solo female traveler

Jessica_O, Dec 2024

Both places are worth seeing. With the tour guide, you will see the key areas. You will also see three different types of monkeys and various types of birds. Make sure you use mosquito repellant; trust me on this!

Interesting afternoon

Philippa_J, Oct 2024

Great trip with interesting guide. Loved the waterfall in the forest but best part was knowledgeable tour round botanical gardens

Beautiful

Taylor_V, Oct 2024

Best botanical garden uve been to. So peaceful large. Lots of areas to see. Couldn't spend hours in there. Absolutely gorgeous I wouldn't miss it

Rushing through Tijuca forest and the botanical garden!

Moustafa_H, Oct 2024

Our tour started half an hour late, so we were pressed for time since this was an afternoon tour and everything closes at 5 pm. The description of the tour promised a walk/hike through the Tijuca forest, which we didn’t do! We drove through it in the van only stopping at a waterfall and at the Chinese view to take pictures. Driving through we didn’t see much from the van as it had stickers all over the windows! The botanical garden is a great place to visit and our guide João did his best to show us the highlights, but it also felt rushed as one hour is simply not enough to see even a few parts of it. The tour was in English, Spanish and Portuguese, which is too much for one guide in such a short time! João was very nice and did his best to accommodate everyone, but it wasn't easy. To sum it up, take this tour if you just want a very quick overview of both places. If you really want to take your time and enjoy them take separate tours!

Nice tour

Krisha_H, Oct 2024

Guide was very knowledgable about the different plants/trees in the Botanic Gardens. However, if one is not interested in botany, one can easily tour the gardens without a guide. There are many people there and it is safe. To get to the forest though, a guide/transport is needed. It is not really worth it to go to the forest unless you want some aeriel views of Rio. This tour is something you can do at the end of the trip if you have time.

Difficult climb

Gregory_A, Sep 2024

I was not in good enough shape physically to easily do the climbs. The guide was very helpful which made it possible for me.

An enjoyable afternoon

rossbel, Sep 2024

We were part of a small group and our guide Joao Ferrero was excellent. He was knowledgeable and made the trip enjoyable and entertaining. We made several stops around the Tijuca Forest and Joao personally guided us around the Botanical Gardens, ensuring we stayed as late as possible to make the most of our time. A big thank you to Joao for a great afternoon.

A great trip with a great guide

Christopher_E, Aug 2024

The botanical gardens were much better than I expected, with amazing fruits, flowers and birds! The trip through the rainforest was very nice. The good was very friendly and relaxed.

Props to Thomas!

Christina_C, Jul 2024

Our tour guide, Thomas, was amazing! He was knowledgeable yet entertaining! We learned so much about the history and flora of Brazil!

This trip totally met our expectations.

Karen_B, May 2024

Newton was an excellent guide. It was wonderful going to the waterfalls in the forest and exploring the botanical gardens.

Great tour to see the natural beauty of Rio

David_N, Apr 2024

Our guide Newton was great! Very knowledgeable and friendly. He really showed us a lot and went above & beyond to make sure the tour was enjoyable. Would definitely recommend 👍🏽

Tour was NOT about the forest.

Oscar_G, Mar 2024

The few locations we were able to see were nice. Unfortunately, the tour became a tour of only the gardens and not the Tijuca forest! The narrator and guide was very nice, but I paid to go see the Tujica forest and the forest was closed. Why did the tour guide not contact the park to see if it was open? It was not raining yet it was closed. Very disappointing and would actually like a refund. I paid to get a walking tour of the forest as opposed to the other tours which required jeeps.

A day in nature

Mihai_I, Mar 2024

The gardens are magnificent, and so was the forest. The guide (Gabriela) was very nice and acomodating, answering everyone's questions. A great trip that I recomend to everyone who enjoys nature walks, and a bit of history.