14 Waterfalls & Trails in Rio de Janeiro to Plan a Day Around

1.Morro Two Brothers Trail, during the day and sunset in Vidigal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 150 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48Our pick

Hike Morro Dois Irmãos with a local guide from Vidigal, ride up by moto or van, then catch a big sunset view over Rio.

“One of the best hikes I’ve ever done and I had the best guide ever in Robinson Santos. The ride up and down in the motorbikes was a fun way to start and end the hike and the hike itself was moderately challenging but had a ton of places to stop for some awesome photos. Robinson was very nice, knowledgeable and he even helped me find my lost phone after the tour was finished! He is a very good person. I highly recommend doing this hike and I highly recommend doing it with Robinson!”

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2.Trail and Rappel on Morro Dois Irmãos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85

Hike up Morro Dois Irmãos from Vidigal, then rappel down with a guided, safety-first adventure and photo stops over Rio.

“We had the best tour guide ever (William)!! We were not a fit bunch, but I really wanted to do this hike and repel for my birthday. William pushed us all the way to the end and I appreciate him a lot for it. Without him we would have not made it and he made it fun. I would recommend this excursion to everyone and esp to get William!”

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3.Sugarloaf Mountain Climbing Trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $62

Climb Sugarloaf with certified guides, face a short vertical climb, and enjoy a free cable car descent to Morro da Urca in 4 hours.

“One of my favourite experiences in Rio so far - not for the faint hearted, but as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness it's an exciting journey to the top. I loved all the fantastic views and having my first proper experience of climbing - it's made me want to do more in the future. Thanks also to Flavio/Sergio for letting me rearrange at short notice and join a group on another day.”

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4.Garganta do Céu and Waterfall hike in Pedra da Gávea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $58

Hike the secret-feeling Tijuca trails to Garganta do Céu, then cool off at Sorimã Waterfall near Pedra da Gávea in Rio.

“This was a very challenging hike for me. Took me 2hrs going up. Rugged terrain with lots of rocks. Ron Beulah is an excellent guide and truly helped to make sure that I got up and down without incident. There were 3 tourists & 1 guide. If you have any major health issues or are out of shape do not do this hike! You need at least 2 liters of water and snacks. It was very rewarding and satisfying to see the monkeys and tropical forests. I’d do it again since I’m aware of the level of difficulty.”

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5.Pedra da Gávea Trail with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $78

Private guide hike with climbing gear on Pedra da Gávea in Tijuca Park, Atlantic forest views, and big rewards in about 8 hours for $78.41.

“Trilha Pedra Gávea: Botas na trilha was recommended by a Carioca (person from Rio) friend and we got in contact only the day before. The agency was very responsive and managed to give us (a group of 4) a spot for the following day with a private guide (not requested but offered for the same price). Very clear instructions where to go and what to bring. The actual guide Jessie was also very nice and fluent in English. She waited with us for 3 hours for the sky to clear so we could take some pictures. Pretty intense hike, so make sure to bring sufficient water! Highly recommended 🙏”

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6.Pedra da Gávea | The best trail in Rio

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $70

Tackle the Pedra da Gávea climb in Rio with safety gear, abseiling, and photo stops. Small group, tough trail, great views.

“I booked this hiking tour 1 month in advance and Viator confirmed my ticket. I called the tour company Nmountain and the never answered my calls, my text or viaturs message app. They never picked me up at the hotel. They basically wrecked my plans for the day. I called another tour company rio adventures and they had never heard of n mountain. I am waiting for my refund now. Do not book this tour it’s fake.”

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7.Pedra do Telégrafo Trail Hike and Ocean View

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $56

Hike to Pedra do Telégrafo with expert photo help, then unwind on Rio’s wild beaches including Grumari and Praia do Perigoso.

“Barbara was an outstanding tour guide, and her energy truly made the experience unforgettable! From the start, her friendliness and fun personality set the tone for an amazing day. The trekking was fantastic, and the breathtaking views along the way were like something out of a dream. Barbara’s patience stood out—she made sure everyone was comfortable and even went the extra mile to capture beautiful photos of us. Her sparkle and infectious joy uplifted the whole group, adding an extra layer of magic to the journey. If you’re looking for a tour guide who’s not just professional but also genuinely delightful, Barbara is the one!Read more”

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8.Tijuca Forest w/ Chinese View,cascatinha Taunay,horto waterfall and parque laje

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $88

Short Rio nature-and-history outing through Tijuca National Park, with Chinese viewpoints, Cascatinha Taunay waterfall, Horto area, and Parque Lage.

“I had an excellent, personalized tour. The tour guide was very informative and attentive to me needs. I particularly loved the botanical garden. I would highly recommend this tour to people who are traveling to Rio de Janeiro!!!!”

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9.Tijuca Forest Waterfall of Souls Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 3h 30m · from $60

Guided Tijuca National Park hike to the Waterfall of Souls, with wildlife spotting, cold waterfall bathing, and Afro-indigenous nature rituals.

“I liked the vibes of the experience thanks for the guide. but maybe I wanted to visit more the forest for see a cave for example.”

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10.Pedra da Gávea trail, the most complete in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $58

Hike Pedra da Gávea with a small group and local guides, safety gear, best-angle photos, and a summit break from Itanhangá.

“Trilha puxada, mas muito boa, vistas incríveis!! Esteja com o joelho em dia, o guia Eduardo é maravilhoso, muito atencioso e educado.”

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11.Two Brothers Morro Trail – Photos and Specialized Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $78

Hike Rio’s Two Brothers Morro trail from Praça do Vidigal with a specialized guide, scenic stops, and professional photos in about 5 hours.

“Great to start the day! Brinda historical data, also takes photos with poses guide, very kind and good energy! Very beautiful photos, experience that is worth it!Auto-translated”

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12.Two Brothers Rise or Sunset Hill Trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $51

Hike Rio's Dois Irmãos from Vidigal by motor taxi for sunrise or sunset views of Christ, Sugarloaf, and Guanabara Bay.

“We had an amazing hike up Two Brothers with Anderson and couldn’t have asked for a better guide. From the start, he made sure we were among the first up to the trailhead. Making sure we got on motorcycles quickly and made sure we felt comfortable taking them, which made everything smooth and stress-free. Along the hike, he shared really interesting facts about the nature, the trail, and the local communities, with well-timed rest stops overlooking the favelas where he explained the history and social structure in a thoughtful way. Even though we’re avid hikers, he still checked in to make sure we were doing well. At the top, he…”

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13.Pedra do Telégrafo trail and beach stop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $83

Guided Pedra do Telégrafo hike with hotel pickup, forest trail, 350-meter views, and a beach stop at Prainha and Grumari.

“Excelente nuestro Guilherme nos contó mucho sobre la ciudad y nos ayudó a pasarla increíble el mejor guía de Rio”

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14.Pedra Bonita Trail: The easiest trail with a beautiful view of Rio

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3 reviews · 1 day · from $44Best value

Pedra Bonita Trail is a short, easy Rio hike with big views, Tijuca Forest context, and a guide. Includes pickup and trail guidance.

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