Most visitors meet the Tijuca rainforest from a jeep or from the train up to Christ the Redeemer. This tour shows you how to earn the view instead: a guided hike from the national park entrance to the summit of Pico da Tijuca, the highest point of the park, which the booking page gives as 1,022 metres above sea level. The day starts with hotel pickup and a drive to the park entrance, with a listed start time of nine in the morning that is confirmed with the operator. From there the route passes a waterfall and follows the trail from the Bom Retiro area up through the Atlantic Forest, a climb the booking page puts at about an hour and a half to the top. The forest is the point as much as the peak: tall trees, ferns and bromeliads, the sound of water and birds, and shade for most of the way, which makes the climb very different from the exposed ridge hikes elsewhere in the city. At the summit the views are the reward, sweeping over the Tijuca forest, the Maracana stadium, Guanabara Bay and the coastline, on a day when the cloud allows. The tour lasts about six hours in total, includes a live guide and hotel pickup and drop-off, and runs in English, Portuguese and Spanish with a maximum of twenty people. Food and drinks are not included, so bring your own.
Choosing it
This is the hike to pick if you want a serious view without a technical scramble. It is more demanding than a stroll through the forest but far less committing than the big granite peaks such as Pedra da Gavea, and the guide takes care of the route-finding, the transport and the timing. The booking page does not give a distance or a difficulty grade, so ask the operator how steep the final section is and wear proper hiking shoes with a good grip, especially after rain, when the roots and rocks become slippery.
Plan around the weather. The summit is often in cloud, particularly in the afternoon and in the wetter summer months, and a clear start does not guarantee a clear top. A morning departure helps, and so does a flexible plan: if Christ the Redeemer is clear on the day you arrive, you can often tell the same about Tijuca.
Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent and a light rain layer, and carry little else. Hikes in Rio are best done in groups or with a guide, and this one ticks both boxes. Free cancellation and rescheduling are listed up to twenty-four hours before the visit.
Who it suits
Reasonably fit travellers who like a proper morning outdoors, groups of friends and active couples. It is not a good fit for very small children or anyone who struggles with steep, uneven steps. Pair it with a late lunch in Santa Teresa or a swim at Copacabana, and compare it with the jeep adventure through the same park if you want a gentler, more waterfall-and-viewpoint day.
What to expect
The experience
A guided hike of about six hours door to door: hotel pickup, a start at the Tijuca National Park entrance, a waterfall, the Bom Retiro trail and about an hour and a half of climbing through Atlantic Forest to the summit.
Best time
A clear morning, ideally in the drier months from June to August, when the summit is less likely to be in cloud.
How long
About six hours in total, with around an hour and a half of climbing to reach the top.
Tips
Wear hiking shoes with grip, carry water and snacks, add a rain layer and be ready for cloud at the summit. Food, drinks and personal expenses are not included.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Active travellers who want a summit view and a taste of the Atlantic Forest.
- Families
- Suitable for fit older children; the climb and the length of the day are too much for small ones.
- Couples
- A shared morning challenge that ends with a big view and an easy afternoon on the beach.
- Pair with
- The Tijuca jeep adventure, Christ the Redeemer on a clear day, or a late lunch in Santa Teresa.
- Time needed
- A morning plus travel, about six hours.
Good questions
How high is Pico da Tijuca?+
The booking page gives the altitude as 1,022 metres above sea level and describes the summit as the top of the Tijuca peak, with views over the forest, Maracana, Guanabara Bay and the coast.
How long is the climb?+
The booking page says the hike through the Atlantic Forest takes about an hour and a half to reach the top. The whole tour lasts about six hours including transfers and time at the summit.
What is included?+
A live guide, the guided hike and hotel pickup and drop-off. Food, drinks and personal expenses are not included.
Which languages and group sizes are offered?+
Guiding is listed in English, Portuguese and Spanish, with a maximum of twenty people in the group.
What if it rains or the summit is in cloud?+
The summit is often in cloud and the trail is slippery after rain. Free cancellation and rescheduling are listed up to twenty-four hours before the visit, so keep an eye on the forecast and move your date if you can.
