Brazil · HIKING & TREKKING
This is the shortlist you would send a friend flying out next month: 15 hiking & trekking tours that earn their slot, each with a price, a traveller verdict and the one detail to check before you pay.
5-hour Tijuca rainforest hike with caves and Rio’s waterfalls, plus city views from Mirante das Canoas and Vista Chinesa.
“Erik was an amazing host. Informational and funny. If you do this request Erik ! It was a freak hike and is moderate level”
Explore Rio’s Tijuca Forest on a small group hike to viewpoints, waterfalls, caves, and Chinese Vista, with free park entry and pickup.
“My guide was Sylvio. Pickup was about 25 minutes late, and since I was picked up last, it seemed delays earlier in the route affected the schedule. The first stop was a city skyline viewpoint, followed by a stop at what is considered the largest waterfall in the park. We then did a 45-minute hike through the rainforest. The trail is mostly uphill and, unless you’re new to forest hikes, it felt fairly uneventful. After that, there was a short 10-minute walk to a cave, which is mainly a photo spot. The final stop was the Chinese Vista viewpoint, which was nice, but personally I found the views from Sugarloaf…”
Hike Tijuca Forest with a bilingual guide, visiting waterfalls, a grotto, and 19th-century coffee ruins, plus hotel pickup in Rio’s South Zone.
“lovely hike in the beautiful Tijuca Forest. Loved the waterfall shower toward the end of the hike. Riccardo was a fantastic tour guide. thank you!”
A tough, rewarding Pedra da Gávea hike through Tijuca Forest, with expert guides, rope scrambling, and 360° Rio views.
“This honestly was the BEST experience in Rio. Rodrigo is AMAZING! If you’re even just a little bit adventurous, this is the perfect outing. If you’re considering booking a different tour or a different guide, DON’T. Rodrigo texted the day before the hike to introduce himself and provided tips for the day ahead with suggestions of what to wear and what to bring (bug spray, water, snacks, good shoes, etc). He also provided a google maps link to the meeting point which was super helpful since I do not speak Portuguese and could easily show the taxi driver the location without any confusion. The hike had a mix of walking,…”
Hike Pedra do Telégrafo in the early morning, then unwind at Grumari or Prainha. Steep, short, and photo-worthy.
“Incredible and breathtaking! Felipe was a lovely guide. It was an awesome hike and he gave us plenty of time to take pictures. Alex was also a wonderful driver who we had good conversation with. I would highly recommend this activity. The hike is very steep but worth every moment. Good way for a group to bond too. We also stopped for Açai on the way down and at a stunning beach which was a great reward!”
Jeep through Rio's 18 beaches, hike to Pedra do Telégrafo, then watch sunset over the coast with pro photos and editing included.
“Saffo created a tour that will delight the senses and help you understand the history and background of Rio. There was plenty of action packed adventure, moments of tranquil relaxation, fun vibes, beach moments, and sunset photos during our tour. The surprises throughout the day were awesome and well timed. If you want a professional, friendly, and encouraging guide to coax you up and down the mountain hike through nature in one piece and don't mind challenging your self a little to get views of the city that are totally worth it, you won't be disappointed. There was an unfortunate incident with a missing beach hat going missing, so just…”
Morning hike to Iguassu Secret Falls with two trails, helmet safety, and multiple opportunities to bathe in waterfall pools.
“It's not in the national park itself, but it's a fun couple of hours where you get to take a hike through the jungle and see and swim in some cool waterfalls. There is bouldering involved and they make you wear a helmet as you hike. I don't think they knew I was coming but they immediately switched out for an English and Spanish speaking guide.”
Hike Pedra do Telegrafo in Rio with hotel transfers, pick sunrise, morning, or sunset, and get guided hanging-rock illusion photo poses.
“Awesome experience. We were the first to arrive and had one of the best experiences of Rio. 100% recommended.”
Full-day Pedra da Gávea jungle trek in Rio with a small group, rope climbing help, certified safety gear, and big panoramic views.
“Thiago was an amazing tour guide! He was funny, had great stories and showed us the best spots and made sure we fully enjoyed our experience! Would absolutely recommend taking this tour with him!!”
Small-group Tijuca Forest hike with a guide, Pedra Bonita views, and Vista Chinesa photo angles. Entrance fees and transport included.
“Tito was a fantastic guide, passionate about his city/country and was nible on a foggy day to ensure that we had an awsome experience. Thanks Tito!”
Full-day hike in Foz do Iguaçu to secret waterfalls on four trails, small group up to 15, bilingual guides, and hotel pickup.
“Had an exhilarating trek with an amazing guide Camile! She was so knowledgeable about the various trails, took us at our own pace and challenged us with some fairly rugged terrain. We are both 58 and hike a lot in the mountains of Colorado and would rate some of the paths as moderate and some as difficult due to climbing over rocks and some steep inclines. The views were great and the waterfalls beautiful. Our guide couldn’t have been better!!”
Hike Pedra da Gávea from sea level through Tijuca, with rope-assisted climbing gear and big Rio panoramas. Small group, pro guides.
“Nice hike with the very best guide you can get: Mr Ronald Bulha. He took great care of the group and litterally knows where one should put every step on the sometimes challenging path. Highly recommended!”
Conquer Tijuca Forest on a 10.4 km full-day hike with small-group care, waterfall stops, caves, and Taquara Hill views over Rio.
“Great day with Ricardo our tour guide, who had lots of interesting conversation and knowledge. The hike was as expected length wise, and good for those who want a bit longer in the jungle than the other half-day tours. Mostly in-shade so walk is hot but at least not in direct sunlight for the most part. Saw monkeys, raccoons, frogs and lots of nice wildlife.”
Challenge hike in Tijuca Forest to Taquara Hill, plus Taunay Waterfall and Vista Chinesa views, finishing with a rainforest shower.
“Vinicius was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly. I enjoyed spending time with him. Hike was perfect”
Vidigal favela walk with a local guide, then hike Morro Dois Irmaos for sweeping views over Rio and famous beaches.
“a good short hike, that also introduces you to the favelas. The view is stunning and worth the effort. Fred was a really great guide, he had a lot of great stories to tell :)”
Pick a coast, a city or a river, and start there.
