Rio: Pedra do Telégrafo Hike & Grumari Beach Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (95 reviews) 96% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/11

Duration6h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN · PT +1

PickupAt your hotel

The Hike That Looks Impossible Until You're Standing on It

You hike 3.6 kilometers to Rio's famous Pedra do Telégrafo rock formation, take the photos that look impossible, then descend and swim at Grumari Beach. A bilingual guide handles the route and timing, hotel pickup is included, and the whole day takes 6 to 7 hours. Book on a weekday if you can to avoid crowds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike Pedra do Telégrafo and beach visit

Hotel pickup in Rio de Janeiro
Hike to Pedra do Telégrafo summit
Take photos at Pedra do Telégrafo
Hike back to trailhead
Drive to Grumari Beach
Relax at Grumari Beach
Drive along Rio's coast to drop-off

The Experience

Most people see the Pedra do Telégrafo photo online first—that gravity-defying shot where someone's balanced on a floating anvil-shaped rock above the ocean—and assume it's either Photoshop or something you'd need a rope team to reach. Then you show up at the trailhead outside Rio, and your guide points to the ridge you're actually walking to in the next hour. The contrast hits different when you're standing at the base. The hike itself is moderate, 3.6 kilometers round trip with 300 meters of elevation gain, and takes around 40 to 60 minutes to reach the summit. Your bilingual guide (English, Spanish, or Portuguese) handles the pace and the safety—and yes, the photos are real, totally safe, and they do tend to freak out your friends back home.

The trail climbs through Pedra Branca State Park, which is included in your tour, and the views open up as you go higher. You're looking out at Rio's wild coastline, the mountains dropping straight into the ocean, and on a clear day the scale of it stops you mid-step. Once you've had your time at the rock—and taken as many photos as you need—you hike back down the same way, which takes about an hour. The descent is easier on the legs than the climb, and your guide keeps the group moving at a steady pace. After that, there's a 10-minute drive to Grumari Beach, one of Rio's most preserved and unspoiled stretches of sand, where you get around 45 minutes to swim, rinse off, and sit with a cold drink if you want one.

Hotel pickup is included, and you're back at your accommodation by late afternoon. The whole day runs 6 to 7 hours from start to finish. Weekday departures tend to be less crowded, so if your schedule allows, book Monday through Friday. You'll need proper hiking shoes (no sandals), a swimsuit, sunscreen, water, and a light windbreaker in case the weather shifts—the coast can turn quickly. The guide will remind you of everything, but showing up prepared means you're not thinking about logistics when you should be thinking about that view.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, a certified bilingual guide (English, Spanish, Portuguese), entry to Pedra Branca State Park, the 3.6-kilometer hike to Pedra do Telégrafo with photo time at the summit, a 10-minute drive to Grumari Beach, and approximately 45 minutes to swim and relax before returning to your hotel.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Itaway Ecotours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the famous Pedra do Telégrafo photo and a beach swim in one morning without arranging your own transport or timing the crowds—the guide and fixed schedule handle both, leaving you to focus on the hike and the view.