Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer & Tijuca Forest 7-Hour Tour

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/6

Duration6h–7h

GroupUp to 13

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Land in Rio & See Four Neighborhoods in One Morning

You get picked up from your hotel and driven through four of Rio's most recognizable spots—Christ the Redeemer, Santa Teresa's colonial streets, the Selarón Steps, and a waterfall inside Tijuca National Park—with a private guide and all transport included. Lunch is on your own, and the tour ends with the choice to add Sugarloaf Mountain or head back to rest.

6h–7h

Step-by-step itinerary

Rio de Janeiro city and nature tour

Travel to Tijuca National Park
Access Christ the Redeemer by van
Visit Santa Teresa neighborhood
Photo stop at Selarón Steps
Panoramic view of Rio Cathedral
Lunch break (not included)
Visit highest waterfall in Tijuca Park
Photo stop at hang gliding viewpoint
Option to visit Sugarloaf Mountain

The Experience

You've just landed, checked into your hotel, and have the afternoon free. That's when this tour picks you up—no waiting around, no figuring out buses or taxis. The van collects you and heads straight to Tijuca National Park, where the guide drives you up to Christ the Redeemer itself. You're standing in front of the statue within the first couple of hours, and the view of the city below is the kind of thing you don't quite believe until you're there. The ticket is included, so you skip the line and go straight up.

After that, the tour moves through the parts of Rio that don't make the postcard. Santa Teresa is a neighborhood of steep, winding streets and old colonial houses painted in faded colors—the kind of place where you feel like you've stepped into a different era. Then there's the Selarón Steps, a staircase covered entirely in hand-painted tiles that a Chilean artist spent decades decorating. It's become famous enough that Snoop Dogg filmed a music video there, but standing on it, you're mostly struck by how much work went into every single step. The guide stops you at the viewpoint where hang gliders and paragliders launch off the cliffs above São Conrado beach—you might actually see someone jump.

Tijuca National Park has a waterfall about a ten-minute walk from where the van drops you, and it's the kind of stop that breaks up the day without eating hours. You get photos, some air that doesn't smell like the city, and a sense that Rio isn't just beaches and monuments. The tour runs seven hours total, which means you're back by early evening—time to grab dinner before you're too tired. At the end, if you still have energy and want to add Sugarloaf Mountain, the guide can take you to the cable car station instead of back to your hotel; it's optional, so you decide when you're actually there.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, private transportation in a van with a tour guide, entry to Christ the Redeemer, a stop at the Selarón Steps for photos, a walk through Santa Teresa's historic streets, a visit to Tijuca National Park with access to the highest waterfall and a ten-minute walk to it, and a photo stop at the hang gliding launch point above São Conrado beach. At the end, you can choose to visit Sugarloaf Mountain's cable car station or return to your hotel.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Janeiro Tour & Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you've just arrived in Rio and want to see the main landmarks without arranging transport, tickets, or timing yourself—the fixed seven-hour schedule and included guide handle all three, leaving you free to rest afterward or add Sugarloaf if you're still going.