Probably the best hike I've done in my life so far. Also one of the most difficult…read more You can technically do it without a guide but I highly recommend getting one. The trail is pretty well marked so I don't think you'd get lost but getting a guide also gives you access to the rope and harness to get up the rock scramble (or 'Carrasqueira' as the locals call it). Allegedly you can go on your own and just pay one of the guys to rent the harness but I think a guide is worth it. Place they'll take some epic photos for you! I hiked Pedra da Gavea in late February so it was in the peak of summer in Rio. Temperatures hovered around 90F and it was HUMID. The heat and humidity had me hitting my inhaler on the way up. It takes about 3 hours to go up and 2-2.5 hours to go down. The views at the top are breathtaking so you'll probably want to hang out at the top for an hour or so. Plan for it to be an all-day affair. Bring a lot of water. Bring a light lunch. Put on some sunscreen.

An epic adventure hike that is not for the faint of heart. It's a pretty long trip to the top,…read morewhich includes some dangerous sections. The risk can be mitigated by an experienced guide with some ropes/harnesses for safety (mostly for the brief rock climb) . Local hikers tend to throw caution to the wind, but you don't want to go tumbling down a cliff do you? Getting to the top is about a 3 hour endeavor almost entirely uphill, you hike out the same way though downhill is obviously faster (maybe 2 hrs). You'll definitely want a good amount of water, so either a camelback or 3-4 12 oz waters per person. The views are totally breathtaking, I don't think I've ever been up so high without being in an airplane. If you're feeling fit and want a real hiking challenge in Rio, this is the one for you!

This parque is at the end of Leblon. You take the first street off of Albuquerque (toward the…read morebeachside) and head uphill and make a left. This smaller street zigzags up a steep but fairly short hill. But do watch out for cars as there's no clear shoulder. At the top you'll see gates to the park. It says it closes at 5pm but it could be for vehicles. There's usually a gate guard hanging around. The view of Ipanema beach is awesome from here and for such little work. There is a memorial for the flight from Rio to Paris on Air Frances nicely carved out in glass. There's several stairs down to another couple open areas, the last one with another memorial with the names of the people on the plane. If you continue up into the park it has a long and curvy road that culminates to a parking lot with a pretty garden, pond and office. There's a great hike up to the base of Dois Irmãos.

This trail is amazing. You get a wonderful view plus the monkeys are the most adorable things on…read moreearth.

My daughter and I took the Tijuca forest small group tour, it was one of the best tours we have…read moredone over the last 10 years of traveling. Our tour was 3 participants, the tour guide Luiza, and our driver (I believe his name was Rafael). Luiza was full of knowledge about the rainforest and Rio. Both were looking for wildlife for us to see. luckily we saw a sloth, toucans, bees, spider. I was the slow poke, and slowed our group down but they were all very patient. The views in the rainforest are amazing. Well worth the money, and you won't be disappointed with this tour, especially if you get Luiza and Rafael.

Is it possible to give this company more than 5 stars because they deserve it! We first read about…read morethem online on a Google search. We reached out to them and had the pleasure of exchanging emails with Anna who was more than helpful in answering our 1000 questions. They provided all the information we needed to be ready for our hike. We decided to go with the Tijuca Forest Adventure Full-Day Hike. When the day came, we met Tito who was our guide for the day. We couldn't have been any luckier! I would have not chosen another person to lead us on this hike. Tito did an amazing job through out the hike with encouraging us and being super supportive. We never felt unsafe because he made us feel completely comfortable and you could tell he loved doing this. The hike itself was not the easiest, but we did not give up and all the spots we stopped at were worth it. He took us on different trails so that we could see the most we could. Tito was also very knowledge and did a great job giving us a little history lesson on Brazil. The sites we stopped at were beautiful and you really get to experience the beauty of nature in the Tijuca rainforest. Tito also recommend some spots to check out while in Rio and they were spot on. I cannot wait to return and book another adventure with them! If you want a great guide who will take you on the best hike of your life, Jungle Me is the place for it.

There isn't much to see in this park except for a few playground equipment and exercise stations…read more The entire park has a solid sand floor which is very uninviting, though a few grassy areas can be had here and there. Seating is plentiful via a low perimeter wall that is shaded in most areas with quite a few trees. Other than that, most people use this park as access onto Ipanema Beach from the main road.

Except for the fact that its on the beach, at first glance it appears like any other park. But if…read moreyou climb the hill you'll find a skate park with amazing views of the city. During carnaval there were fitness dance parties, live music, etc. Good times. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf1luu2BD2E/

Ambiance: 10 out of 10; Staff: 4 out of 5;…read more Price: $ out of $$$$. Gorgeous place, the views were amazing and the people were just as exceptional. We were literally in the clouds but they didn't prevent the spectacular view. The food and drink pricing were affordable as well.

Handsdown the best views of the city will be from here; YOU NEED TO COME HERE - and a little early…read more I came here early afternoon on a cloudy day and was so mesmerised by the views that i stayed here till after sunset. The views and the location could not be beat. You buy the ticket from the counter and then head on inside to take the cable car which takes you up first to Morro de Urca and then Pao de Azuca (Sugarloaf mountain). You literally can choose to spend however much time you want at either spot although i think most people stay at Urca longer because the view is clearer and its more spacious. The first stop lets you take in the beautiful city views and the second stop is literally in the skies so you will see the misty skies and take in the whole city from the top while admiring nature at its best. I also had the best chocolate churro here so that added to the sweetness of the spot. My favorite spot in Rio and i cant wait to go back one day.

We had a great time hiking Tijuca with this company. We were in a small group of 4 with 1 guide…read morewhich made it alot more personal. We stopped off in a few places to get excellent views & pictures, then did our hike to the top with exceptional views over Rio. Our guide the owner was very personable & pointed out lots of things to us. I can't recommend this tour or company highly enough.

From the owner: Rio Natural Ecotourism is an ecological adventure tourism operator which offers its customers…read moreunforgettable experiences in breath-taking natural scenery, bringing moments of great charm to your holiday and providing a lifetime of memories. Through contact with the stunning natural beauty and cultural riches, the most extraordinary histories and curiosities of the wonderful city and its surroundings are revealed to you. Tours and activities can be tailored to suite the individual needs and interests of our customers, according to their ability. For those seeking more tranquillity, we also offer culturally and ecologically orientated tours of the city. But for those seeking the thrill of adrenaline on their trip, our tours offer a diverse range of adventure tourism activities.

Before traveling to Brazil, I spent a lot of time researching tour companies, reading reviews, and…read moretrying to understand what kind of experience my wife and I wanted to have. After spending time in Rio and São Paulo from April 16th through April 29th with Rio4Fun and Guilherme, I can honestly say this became one of the best travel experiences we have ever had anywhere in the world. I know sometimes Google reviews can sound exaggerated, and I honestly wondered the same thing before booking. After this trip, I completely understand why people write such passionate reviews about Rio4Fun. If anything, I do not think words fully capture the level of care, personalization, and effort Guilherme puts into making sure people have an unforgettable experience in Brazil. My wife and I booked three private tours with Rio4Fun: the Rio City Tour, the Favela Tour, and the Food Tour. What made everything so special was that Guilherme never made us feel like customers being moved from stop to stop. From the first day we met him, it genuinely felt like we had a friend in Brazil who wanted us to experience the city the way he would want his own friends and family to experience it. We told Guilherme we were huge foodies and wanted to explore Rio through food, culture, and local experiences instead of just doing typical tourist activities. The Food Tour especially was incredible because it felt authentic and personal. He introduced us to places we never would have found on our own, and every recommendation felt thoughtful and intentional. Outside of the tours themselves, Guilherme helped us with so much more than we expected. We would casually ask questions about beaches, neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants, chocolate shops, nightlife, or places worth seeing, and he always had amazing recommendations ready for us. What impressed me most was that he actually listened to what we liked and tailored recommendations around our personalities and interests. One thing my wife absolutely loved was how flexible and relaxed the tours felt. Guilherme has incredible style and knowledge of local fashion and shopping spots, and anytime we walked past stores or boutiques that caught our attention, he happily adjusted the day and gave us time to explore. We never once felt rushed or pressured to stay on a strict schedule. Instead, the experience felt fully customized around us. Another thing that made this trip unforgettable was how much effort Guilherme put into helping us create memories. Everywhere we went, he offered to take photos for us using our own phones, which completely changed the experience. We never had to struggle with awkward selfies or ask strangers to take pictures. Somehow he knew camera settings on my brand-new iPhone that I did not even know existed, and every single picture came out incredible. I am also a huge soccer fan, and after learning that, Guilherme helped create an experience I will never forget. He helped us navigate ticket options and guided us through the process in a way that made everything easy and stress-free. The timing of our trip also ended up being perfect. Traveling through Rio and São Paulo from April 16th through April 29th gave us beautiful weather while avoiding overwhelming tourist crowds. Because things were less crowded, our experience with Guilherme felt even more personal and relaxed. By the end of the trip, we were not just sad to leave Brazil -- we were genuinely sad to say goodbye to Guilherme. I truly wish yelp allowed more than 5 stars because Rio4Fun deserves it. If you are planning a trip to Brazil and are debating whether or not to book with them, stop debating and do it. It will completely change your experience for the better.

Guilherme was so helpful and we did not even take his tour this time. Long story, I had been…read moresearching for private tour guides and this company caught my eye! Gui reached out via WhatsApp and was very generous with his recommendations and sharing insights for visiting Rio during a rainy few days. Perfect English, flexible with ideas/plans, and patient with my tourist questions. We will definitely reach out when we are in town and the sun is shining again. Thanks Giu!