Tijuca Forest private tour: Rio de Janeiro photographer Pedra Bonita

A 45-minute hike to views that usually take twice as long, plus a photographer editing your shots in real time.

A private guided tour of Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro, the world's third-largest urban forest, traveling in a covered Toyota Land Cruiser with up to seven people and a professional photographer for eight hours. The tour includes the Pedra Bonita trail, Chinese Vista, Pedra da Gávea viewpoint, a waterfall with a natural pool for swimming, and wildlife sightings. The vehicle is air-conditioned with walking sticks, refreshments and snacks provided. A guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French, and hotel pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pedra Bonita2h · entry included
2. Pedra da Gávea1h · entry included
3. Vista Chinesa45m · entry included

Explore Tijuca Forest and Pedra Bonita

• Hike Beautiful Stone Trail
• Admire Pedra da Gávea monolith
• Visit paragliding takeoff point
• Explore Tijuca Forest National Park
• Swim at natural waterfall pool
• Rest at historic royal family spot
• Visit Chinese View lookout
• Optional visit to secret beach
• See final waterfall before return

The experience

If you land in Rio with a free afternoon or want to see the forest without renting a car and navigating alone, this tour fills the day and handles the logistics. You're picked up from your hotel and driven into Tijuca National Park in a high-clearance 4x4 that stays comfortable in rain or heat. The vehicle itself is the first difference, since the forest roads are steep and narrow enough that a sedan would be a liability. A guide who speaks your language walks you through the park's history, the wildlife you'll spot (monkeys, quatis, toucans, sloths), and the rock formations that have shaped Rio's skyline.

The Pedra Bonita trail is the centerpiece: a 45-minute hike that lands you at a plateau with views of Pedra da Gávea, the 844-meter monolith on the seafront, and the takeoff point where paragliders and hang-gliders launch into the air above the city. From there you move to Chinese Vista, descending through the Horto gardens toward Park Lage and the Botanical Garden, stopping at a waterfall where you can swim in a natural pool. Throughout the day, a professional photographer travels with the group, shooting at each stop and editing the images in Lightroom and Photoshop so you leave with polished photos ready to post, not snapshots, but edited work. Water, bananas, salty biscuits and a thermal bag with ice travel with you, so you're not hunting for lunch or stopping at tourist traps.

The tour runs eight hours, which means you're moving between stops with time to breathe at each one instead of rushing through a checklist. A secret beach on the forest hillside can be added depending on how the day flows. The group stays under seven people in the same vehicle, so there's no switching between vans or waiting for stragglers. The pace is yours, and the photographer is there to catch it.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return.
• eight hours in a private air-conditioned Toyota Land Cruiser for up to seven people.
• a professional guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• the Pedra Bonita trail, Chinese Vista, Pedra da Gávea viewpoint and a waterfall swim.
• a professional photographer with edited images in Lightroom and Photoshop.
• walking sticks and comfort devices.
• water, bananas, salty biscuits and a thermal bag with ice.
• WiFi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (3 to 75 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Alvaro @Saffo_phototour

Is this one for you?Eight hours is long enough to move through the forest without rushing each stop, which is what makes time for a swim at the waterfall and the photographer's edits: a full afternoon or morning-into-lunch commitment that leaves the rest of your day free, not a dawn-to-dusk expedition.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the hike like on the Pedra Bonita trail?

The Pedra Bonita trail takes 45 minutes and leads to one of Rio's most expansive views. You reach the same vistas that other trails take twice as long to access, and from the plateau you can see Pedra da Gávea and watch paragliders launching into the air.

Can I swim during this tour?

Yes, there's a waterfall with a natural pool where you can swim, and depending on how the day unfolds, a secret beach on the forest hillside can be included as well.

What wildlife might I see in Tijuca Forest?

The forest is home to monkeys, quatis, sloths, toucans and other species. The guide shares facts about the park's ecology and historical importance as you travel through it.

How does the photographer work during the tour?

A professional photographer travels with your group at each stop, capturing images throughout the day and editing them in Lightroom and Photoshop so you have polished photos ready before the tour ends.

What's included in the vehicle during the eight hours?

The air-conditioned 4x4 carries water, bananas, salty biscuits and a thermal bag with ice for your own food and drinks. Walking sticks and comfort devices are provided, and WiFi is available on board.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the forest?

Hotel pickup is included, so the guide meets you at your accommodation and returns you there at the end of the tour.