The 15 Best Hikes & Treks in Brazil

Rio: Tijuca Forest Small Group Hike to Caves and Waterfalls - From hotel pickup to Cascatinha Taunay

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

Join a bilingual guide such as Vini, Riccardo, Tito, or Renata for a 6.2-kilometer Tijuca Forest hike. Expect Cascatinha Taunay, Mayrink Chapel, coffee-farm ruins, a gneiss cave, suspension bridge, rainforest lessons, and a cooling waterfall stop.

“So easy to say what I liked most about the park. As we were driving out, but still in the park, we saw a sloth. I was so excited. Made my day and my entire trip. Other than that the rest of the hike was great. Gustavo went at a good pace for me and explained so many things about trees, plants, animals, et cetera. There was a steep uphill but if you are an experienced hiker it’s not too bad. Loved the bat grotto. All the bats were hibernating, so we didn’t actually see any and I certainly was not going to disturb them. Much better to leave animals…”

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Beach Day Trips, Beach Day Trips in Rio de Janeiro, Full-Day, Hiking & Trekking, Pedra do Telégrafo Hikes, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Pedra do Telégrafo Hike and Beach Full-Day Tour

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

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

Join S2 Rio for an early guided hike to Pedra do Telégrafo, with English, Spanish, or Portuguese support from guides such as Erick, Dayvison, Nicolas, or Felipe. Reach the photo rock before crowds build, then relax at Grumari or Prainha Beach. Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and accident insurance are included.

“It was good. Nice views. Dayvison was a great guide”

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Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews

Rio de Janeiro: Pedra da Gávea 7-Hour Hike

3.Pedra da Gávea 7-Hour Hike

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

You’ll hike through Tijuca National Park from sea level to Pedra da Gávea’s 840-meter summit, with guides such as Eduardo, Lucas, and Sergio helping at the 30-meter Carrasqueira climb. Expect a demanding three-hour trail, roughly eight hours in all, plus spectacular views and guide-shot photos.

“The hike was super fun and technical. Edu our guide is seriously like a professional photographer. He was able to capture some of the best photos of my life!!!”

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1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tijuca Forest Tours, Tour Reviews

Rio de Janeiro: Tijuca Forest Challenge Hike Full-Day Trip

4.Tijuca Forest Challenge Hike Full-Day Trip

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

Spend up to nine hours exploring Tijuca Forest with a bilingual guide such as Gustavo, Ricardo, Pietro, or Tito. The 10.4-kilometer route climbs 848 meters to Taquara Hill, then reaches caves, coffee-farm ruins, waterfalls, and viewpoints. It is a serious hike, not a casual rainforest walk.

“I enjoyed every part of it. The length and difficulty was perfect! The hike was very fun! Pietro, my guide, was fun to talk to. He was very knowledgeable about the different parts of the forest and its history. He even gave me recommendations for food and other things to do in Rio. Highly recommended for those with a little bit of hiking experience.”

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Favela Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rio de Janeiro: Vidigal Favela Tour and Two Brothers Hike

5.Vidigal Favela Tour and Two Brothers Hike

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

Explore Vidigal with a local guide, ride neighborhood motorbike taxis, then hike Morro Dois Irmaos for views of Rocinha, Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana. Guides such as Robinson, Jessie, Beatriz, and Kako have led this five-hour outing in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

“Raphael is a great guide, very comunicative and enthusiastic. He knows his stuff and safety always comes first. It's a pretty steep ascent but the panorama is worth it and also the insight of the Vidigal favela is priceless.”

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Evening Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, Morning, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews

Rio de Janeiro: Dois Irmãos Peak Sunrise, Day or Sunset Hike

6.Dois Irmãos Peak Sunrise, Day or Sunset Hike

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

Meet your guide at Vidigal’s blue steps and ride a moto-taxi to the trailhead. Hike 1.5 km uphill through forest to Dois Irmãos Peak for sweeping Rio views. Choose a 3:20 AM sunrise, 10:00 AM daytime, or 3:30 PM sunset start. Guides speak four languages.

“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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Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Rio de Janeiro: Pedra da Gávea Guided Hike Tour

7.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 Sergio, Eduardo, Fernando, or Jessie. Expect a demanding trail, a short rock-climbing section with certified gear, stories about local myths, and wide views of Rio. Hotel pickup is optional, and groups are limited to 10.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to see the view from the top because it was cloudy that day, however Sergio was very nice and told a lot of interesting stories. For me personally the hike was quite complicated but for sure worth it”

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Hiking & Trekking, National Parks, Pedra do Telégrafo Hikes, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tijuca Forest Tours, Tour Reviews

Rio: Tijuca National Park Small-Group Hike to Pedra Bonita

8.Tijuca National Park Small-Group Hike to Pedra Bonita

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 79 reviews · 5 hours · from $63

Join a bilingual guide, often Tito or Alex, for a five-hour small-group trip from Rio’s South Zone to Pedra Bonita. Walk 3.5 kilometers through Tijuca National Park, learn about coffee farms and rainforest life, then enjoy wide views of Pedra da Gávea, Rio, and the coast.

“The tour guides are very nice and well prepared!! Definitely recommend it!!”

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3-Day Experiences, Chapada Diamantina Tours, Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Lençóis Maranhenses Tours, Tour Reviews

Trekking the valley of the pat 3 days/ GUIDE TUTY CHAPADA DIAMANTINA

9.Trekking the valley of the pat 3 days/ GUIDE TUTY CHAPADA DIAMANTINA

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $421Top rated

Walk from Guiné into Chapada Diamantina’s Vale do Pati with local guide Tuty. Expect long days, quartzite caves, waterfalls, high viewpoints, home-cooked meals, and overnight stays with valley residents. The route suits hikers with moderate fitness and includes a group of up to 10 people.

“A beautiful trip through the nature. I went with the guide Tuty, great professional and well organised. He helps you out whatever you need and guide you with knowledge through de Pati.”

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Hiking & Trekking, Paraty Tours, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours

Small Group Hike to Saco Bravo Waterfall

10.Small Group Hike to Saco Bravo Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · from $81

Join guide Eugenia on an 8-hour small-group hike from Paraty to Saco Bravo Waterfall in the Juatinga Reserve. A boat reaches Ponta Negra, then you walk about two hours through Atlantic Forest to a natural pool above the sea. The group has no more than seven people.

“Our experience with Evgenia was amazing! We met her in the morning and spent the day together hiking to the waterfall and also spent a couple of hours at the waterfall! It was absolutely amazing, she explained a lot to us about the area and Read more”

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Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tijuca Forest Tours, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours, Waterfall Tours in Rio de Janeiro

Hiking in the Tijuca Forest : Waterfalls and Caves

11.Hiking in the Tijuca Forest : Waterfalls and Caves

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $62

Spend about five hours in Tijuca National Park with a multilingual nature guide such as Eduardo, Victor, or Yun. Visit Canoas Lookout, Taunay Waterfall, forest cascades, Bat Cave, Emperor’s Table, and Chinese View, with hotel pickup from Rio’s South Zone.

“This was a great tour. Our guide, Julio was the best. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and was quick to point out many interesting things to us. Lots of beautiful scenery and views.”

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Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours, Waterfall Tours in Rio de Janeiro

Garganta do Céu and Waterfall hike in Pedra da Gávea

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

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

Meet your accredited guide at Point da Meire in Barra da Tijuca for a roughly four-hour hike through Tijuca National Park. Expect a challenging two-hour climb to Garganta do Céu, views of Christ the Redeemer and Rio’s beaches, plus time at Sorimã Waterfall. Photos and videos are included.

“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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Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Pedra da Gavea Guided Hiking tour

13.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 with a professional guide and a maximum of six people. Expect steep rainforest trails, the Carrasqueira rock section, guided rope work, monkeys, and broad views over Rio. Sergio, Lucas, Eduardo, and Didi have all led this route.

“It was a good things to do this hiking, It was hard but it worth all the effort we put to reach the top of the rock. Luiz is a excellent guide, he knows his stuffs and was so helpful with us. If you are in Rio, don't miss this opportunity!”

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Favela Tours, Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Half Day Hiking Tour Morro Dois Irmaos and Favela Vidigal

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $53Best value

Meet near the Sheraton Grand Rio for a four to five-hour hike through Morro Dois Irmaos and Vidigal. Guide Fernando leads you by motorcycle taxi to the trail, with sweeping views of Rocinha, São Conrado, Christ the Redeemer, and the coast. Snacks and drinks are optional.

“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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Guided, Hiking & Trekking, Rio de Janeiro Tours, Tijuca Forest Tours, Tour Reviews

Rio de Janeiro: Tijuca Peak Guided Hike

15.Tijuca Peak Guided Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 56 reviews · from $56

Spend six hours in Tijuca National Park with a bilingual guide such as Denis, hiking to Pico da Tijuca at 1,021 meters. Visit Tijuca Mirim, Cachoeira das Almas, the park museum, and a rock-cut staircase. Hotel pickup is optional from selected Rio neighborhoods.

“We had a fantastic day & our guide was amazing, gave us lots of information & helped us get the bus back to our hotel. The views from the top were amazing.”

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