Tijuca Peak hiking tour Rio de Janeiro: Summit and waterfall

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Duration5h–6h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · PT +1

PickupAt your hotel

Climb to Rio's highest urban viewpoint, then bathe in a mountain waterfall.

A guided hike through Tijuca National Park to Tijuca Peak, Rio de Janeiro's highest summit, with hotel pickup, park entry and a waterfall swim included. The route passes Vista Chinesa or São Conrado Beach (depending on the day), Taunay Waterfall and Baronesa Waterfall, with a certified guide speaking English, Spanish or Portuguese. The trek takes five to six hours and requires moderate fitness; the itinerary may shift based on weather or park conditions.

5h–6h

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike to Tijuca Peak and Waterfalls

Drive through Tijuca National Park
Visit Mirante das Canoas viewpoint
Hike to Tijuca Peak summit
Stop at Vista Chinesa viewpoint
Visit Taunay Waterfall
Enjoy bath at Baronesa Waterfall

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Rio hotel, then a drive into Tijuca National Park—one of the world's largest urban forests, dense with Atlantic rainforest and home to monkeys, sloths and birds you'll spot along the way. From there the hike begins, climbing toward Tijuca Peak at 1,021 meters above sea level. The trail passes through the park's quieter zones, including Mirante das Canoas, a viewpoint overlooking São Conrado and Pedra da Gávea, before the final push to the summit.

At the top, the view opens to 360 degrees—Rio's mountains, beaches, Guanabara Bay and the city skyline all visible at once. On weekdays, the route includes Vista Chinesa, an iconic belvedere with views of Copacabana, Ipanema and Corcovado framed by forest; on weekends when Vista Chinesa closes, the group stops at São Conrado Beach instead, where paragliders and hang gliders land against the backdrop of the Atlantic. Along the way you'll pass Taunay Waterfall, the park's largest at 40 meters, where there's time to photograph and swim.

After the descent, a final stop at Baronesa Waterfall gives you a chance to soak tired muscles in cool water before the drive back to your hotel. Your guide—certified and fluent in English, Spanish or Portuguese—leads the whole day and handles the park entry. You choose from three pickup times to fit your Rio schedule, and the itinerary can shift if weather, park rules or group fitness require it. Bring water, comfortable hiking shoes, a bathing suit and sunscreen; the five- to six-hour day is moderate to challenging and not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns.

What’s included

Certified guide fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
park entry to Tijuca National Park.
hotel or apartment pickup within the service zone.
swimming time at Taunay Waterfall and Baronesa Waterfall.
viewpoint stops at Vista Chinesa (weekdays) or São Conrado Beach (weekends).

Good to know

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

Operated by Rio Natural Ecotourism

Is this one for you?Pick the private option if you want the guide to adjust pace and stops to your interests; pick the shared tour if you prefer to hike with others and split costs.