15 Rio de Janeiro Hiking Tours Worth Lacing Up For

1.Rio: Tijuca Forest Small Group Hike to Caves and Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 536 reviews · 6 hours · from $69Our pick

Spend six hours exploring Tijuca Forest with guides such as Vini, Riccardo, Tito, and Renata. The 6.2-kilometer hike visits Taunay Waterfall, a 19th-century chapel, coffee farm ruins, a suspension bridge, Bat Cave, and Baronesa Cascade.

“Such a great day!! A beautiful hike with lots of stops and things to see. Guide was amazing, so informative and friendly. She 100% made this tour worth it. Only feedback would be that the transport was a bit cramped (especially for men who are a bit taller) but it’s not a deal breaker as the transfer is short.”

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2.Pedra do Telégrafo Hike and Beach Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 417 reviews · 4 hours - 390 minutes · from $56

Join a guided hike up Guaratiba Hill to Pedra do Telégrafo, the famous photo rock above Rio. Guides such as Erick, Dayvison, Nicolas, and Felipe help set the pace, take photos, and lead you to Grumari or Prainha Beach afterward. Hotel pickup is available from several Rio districts.

“This was great! I’m not a hiker, I wouldn’t consider myself one as I maybe do a basic simple hike like once a year, if that. I was initially worried if I would be able to keep up but Erick made sure we all were good. I actually did well…I think haha. The hike it self is very tiring, very steep incline but that’s it. There’s no climbing or any other physical activity needed. I truly appreciate our guide Erick as from the start, he was very prompt. He arrived exactly on time and kept great communication with me. My friend with me struggled with the hike and Erick kept…”

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3.Sunrise and Sunrise Walk Two Brothers with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 193 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $64Top rated

Meet a local Vidigal guide before dawn, ride a community motor taxi or van to the trail, then hike 1.5 km through Atlantic Forest to the 533-meter summit of Morro Dois Irmãos. Guides such as Rodrigo, Milena, Leo, Jessie, and Robinson have led this sunrise or sunset outing, with lanterns, photos, and local stories along the way.

“Fantastic experience, not to be missed. Leo was an excellent guide and the views over the Rio were stunning!”

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4.Pedra da Gávea 7-Hour Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 183 reviews · 8 hours · from $56

Take a demanding 3-hour ascent of Pedra da Gávea from sea level to about 840 meters, with forest trails, rock scrambling, and a guided rope section at Carrasqueira. Small groups of up to six hike with guides such as Eduardo, Lucas, or Sergio. Bring 3 liters of water and sturdy shoes.

“This was the highlight of my trip to Rio, and our guide took amazing pictures of us. I highly recommend, but make sure you are in shape, not afraid of heights and bring enough water!”

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5.Tijuca Forest Challenge Hike Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 163 reviews · 9 hours · from $86

Spend nine hours exploring Tijuca Forest on a demanding 10.4 km hike with guides such as Gustavo, Ricardo, Pietro, or Tito. Reach Taquara Hill, visit Cascatinha Taunay, old coffee-farm ruins, caves, and a waterfall, with pickup from Rio’s South Zone.

“Gustavo turned out to be the best guide one could possibly imagine. We have used similar services many times before, but I can say with full confidence that Gustavo is truly unmatched. He has extensive knowledge not only about Tijuca National Park, but also about the whole of Rio de Janeiro. At the same time, he is incredibly helpful, kind, and approachable. During our hike, he revealed many secrets of the forest that we would never have noticed on our own. We also learned a great deal about the history of Rio and Brazil itself. It was an unforgettable adventure that we will cherish for a long time. I wholeheartedly…”

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6.Vidigal Favela Tour and Two Brothers Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · 5 hours · from $88

Spend five hours exploring Vidigal and hiking Morro Dois Irmaos with a Spanish-, English-, or Portuguese-speaking guide. Expect a steep forest trail, motorbike transport through the favela, views of Rocinha and Rio’s beaches, and practical insight into local life.

“Really a great tour. Great views, very interesting tour of the favela, very good guide. It was like a personal tour.”

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7.Dois Irmãos Peak Sunrise, Day or Sunset Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 94 reviews · 3h 30m · from $54

Meet your guide at Vidigal’s blue steps, ride a moto-taxi to the trailhead, then hike 1.5 km uphill through forest to Dois Irmãos Peak. Choose the 3:20 AM sunrise start, 10:00 AM daytime hike, or 3:30 PM option. Guides include Milena, Nat, Nathalia, and Thaina.

“I recently had the pleasure of going on an unforgettable tour in Rio, which involved a hike, watching a breathtaking sunset, and a fascinating tour of a local favela. The experience was made all the more amazing by our guide, Nathalia. Nathalia was incredibly knowledgeable, providing detailed insights into the history, culture, and daily life of Rio, the favela, and the surrounding areas. She was not only punctual but also made sure we were comfortable throughout the entire experience. It was clear she had a deep respect and understanding of the local community, which made the favela tour feel authentic and meaningful. Her fluency in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese,…”

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8.Pedra da Gávea Guided Hike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 86 reviews · 8 hours · from $68

Spend eight hours hiking Pedra da Gávea with a bilingual guide such as Eduardo, Sergio, or Fernando. Expect a demanding trail, a secured rock-climbing section, forest wildlife, local legends, and wide views over Rio. Hotel pickup is optional, and groups are limited to 10 people.

“Great guide and a great tour. They tend to cancel at really short notice if there are not enough people. Which I can understand but please plan more time. I recommend to just pay for the group to fill up.”

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9.Climb Sugarloaf: A Thrilling Adventure to Rio’s Postcard Peak

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $74

Meet your English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking climbing guide at General Tibúrcio Square for a four-hour Sugarloaf ascent. You’ll tackle a 15-meter rock section with certified gear, reach views of Copacabana and Christ the Redeemer, then ride the cable car to Morro da Urca.

“The hike was no joke — definitely not for the faint-hearted — but Igor stayed calm, supportive, and made the whole journey feel safe. Once you find your rhythm on the trail, it becomes more manageable mentally. The rope climbing section was the highlight for me — being harnessed in Lol. Highly, highly recommend this to anyone looking for something different and genuinely rewarding. Way more than just a touristy activity — this was the real deal.”

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

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

Join an accredited guide for a roughly four-hour Pedra da Gávea hike, including the two-hour climb to Garganta do Céu, views of Christ the Redeemer and Rio’s southern beaches, plus a refreshing stop at Sorimã Waterfall. Guides may include Ron Beulah, Vagner, or Ricardo.

“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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11.Pedra da Gavea Guided Hiking tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $70

Spend about eight hours hiking from Tijuca National Park to Pedra da Gávea. Expect steep forest paths, the Carrasqueira rock section, guide-controlled rope work, and broad views of Rio. Groups are capped at six, with equipment included and pickup available as an option.

“Our guide, Didi was very knowledgable about the region, park and mountain. The trek to the summit was challenging but a great workout. The views from the summit are absolutely breathtaking. I only wish we spent more time up there. I would definitely do this again!”

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12.Half Day Hiking Tour Morro Dois Irmaos and Favela Vidigal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $53

Join Fernando and the Marca na Agenda team for a 4 to 5-hour hike from Vidigal to Morro Dois Irmaos. Ride a local motorcycle taxi, see Rocinha and Rio’s famous peaks, then walk through Vidigal with time for food or drinks.

“Fernando is a Star. This is the best tour in South America that I have done thus far (travelled ~5 months over multiple years throughout South America). My partner and I took this tour for the sunrise option and the views are absolutely stunRead more”

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13.Tijuca Peak Guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 56 reviews · from $56

Join a bilingual guide such as Denis for a six-hour hike in Tijuca National Park. You’ll climb to Pico da Tijuca at 1,021 meters, stop at Tijuca Mirim, visit Cachoeira das Almas waterfall and the park museum, and return to the meeting point.

“Nous ne sommes pas des habitués de randonnées. Nous avons voulu nous dépasser en essayant cette randonnée de 6h et nous n’avons pas été déçu ! Le guide a été génial et a su nous faire passer par des recoins géniaux. Il avait aussi une bonne connaissance de la forêt et de son histoire. La randonnée n’est pas simple pour de vrais débutant mais tellement satisfaisante a réussir. Je recommande fortement.”

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14.Tijuca Forest Hike – Waterfalls & Caves, Nature & Wild Life!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $69

Spend about 4.5 hours hiking 5.5 miles through Tijuca National Park. Visit Taunay and several smaller waterfalls, Capela Mayrink, historic Floresta restaurant, and three safe caves. Guides such as Alli, Lucas, Sergio, and Juliana add nature knowledge, history, and helpful photography.

“We had a great time hiking through the forest with our guide alli. She was great and pointed out all of the animals and plants to see along the way. The hike was super informative about the history of tijuca park, the animals that live there and the insects. My daughter was super excited for this hike and alli delivered. Alli was also great at helping us to get great pictures for socials. Thanks very much for an amazing hike.”

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15.SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN HIKE & CLIMB

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 4 hours · from $60

Join certified guide André for a four-hour hike and rock climb up Rio's Sugarloaf Mountain. You will follow a steep nature trail, cross rocky sections, and climb a 20-meter wall with ropes before reaching views of Copacabana and Guanabara Bay. No climbing experience is needed, but fitness and comfort with heights are essential.

“Absolute highlight of my vacation. It’s very steep and there is a lot of heights, the added feeling of danger made it all the more worth it.”

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