Tijuca Forest Tour: Guided Rainforest Hike from Rio

Where the rainforest hike goes

Tijuca National Park, the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, covers the forested mountains in the middle of Rio. Its mountains are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea, which runs in UNESCO’s words from the highest points of the park’s mountains down to the sea. Most rainforest tours from Rio de Janeiro head for one sector of it, the Floresta da Tijuca, where the waterfalls and caves are.

Itaway Ecotours’ route starts with a drive of about 40 minutes from the pickup. The stops, in order: Cascatinha Taunay, a waterfall about 35 metres high; the Mayrink Chapel; the Recanto dos Pintores; the park’s visitor centre; a caves trail through the Bernardo de Oliveira and Belmiro grottoes and the Bat Cave, which has no bats inside; Cascata Diamantina; and Cascata da Baronesa, where you can stand under the water. On foot it is 2 to 4.5 km, with some climbing, tree roots and rocky sections. The last stop is Vista Chinesa, a viewpoint over Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf and the beaches, which is closed on weekends and public holidays; on those days the group goes to the Canoas Viewpoint instead.

The options and what they cost

GetYourGuide option prices, checked November 2026.

The private hike costs US$149.04 a head for two, against US$72.66 in the group, and buys three things: pickup at any address in Rio rather than from the hotel list, a pace set by you, and a wider age range. The private option is sold as suited to children from 5 and adults up to 75, and can be adapted to all fitness levels; the group hike is not for children under 7 or people over 60, and needs moderate fitness.

Check dates for the rainforest hike

Both options include the round trip in an air-conditioned vehicle, access to the national park and a guide who speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese; French-speaking guides are available on request. Food and drinks are not included, and the guide will take photos on your phone if you ask. Guests at the Sheraton, Hotel Nacional and the Zona Sul supermarket in São Conrado are dropped at Leblon Shopping on weekday group tours. Give a WhatsApp number when you book: that is how the pickup time reaches you.

What can change the route

Two things in Itaway Ecotours’ own notes are worth reading before you book. The itinerary may change with the weather, park rules or the group, and on weekend and public-holiday afternoons vehicle access may be restricted, so the tour is then done entirely on foot. And the day can run long in traffic, so it says not to book it against a flight or another tour.

The reviews show what that looks like. Of the hike’s 350 most recent reviews, dated 20 September to 11 November 2026, at least five from the week of 22 to 29 October describe a changed or shortened route: high winds that had closed much of the park, closed caves, and on 27 October a landslide that sent one group away from the viewpoints. ICMBio’s 2026 visiting protocol for the park says opening hours can change in extreme weather and that the park can close in exceptional cases; on 21 August 2026 ICMBio closed all the park’s trails for strong winds, Diário do Rio reported. Is Tijuca Forest safe? lists the 2026 closures, dated.

What reviewers mention

The same 350 reviews hold 293 five-star ratings and 20 of three stars or fewer. At least 33 mention monkeys, sloths or toucans. Sightings are never guaranteed, and weekday tours give the best chance. The low reviews return to two things. One is pace: at least four from October 2026 say the group moved too fast to look around. The other is price, as in an October 2026 review calling it too expensive to be taken around a park. A French reviewer in October found the trail harder than “moderate”, with wet, slippery rock on steep sections.

Other ways into the park

Rio Natural Ecotourism’s hike, carded above, is the rainforest tour to pick if you want a summit too: Pedra Bonita and the Tijuca peaks covers that trail, Pico da Tijuca and the viewpoints. If walking is the problem, a Tijuca Forest jeep tour sees the waterfall and Vista Chinesa from an open 4x4 with short walks. None of the forest hikes goes up to Christ the Redeemer; Tijuca and Christ the Redeemer sorts out the tours that do. The park’s other way to see it all from above is a tandem flight off the Pedra Bonita ramp: see hang gliding in Rio.

Before you book

• Shoes. Sandals, flip-flops and open-toed shoes are not allowed on Itaway Ecotours’ hike. Bring swimwear and a towel for the waterfalls, rain gear and insect repellent.
• Who it suits. The group hike is not for children under 7, people over 60, wheelchair users or people with a low level of fitness; Jungle Me's 6.2 km circuit asks for good fitness on rough, up-and-down terrain.
• Hours, if you go alone. A guide is not required. ICMBio’s protocol lets walkers into the Floresta da Tijuca from 06:00 to 17:00 and closes the Bom Retiro trails to new entries at 15:00.
• Where you stay. The group pickup works from a named list of hotels; check yours is on it, or see hotels in Rio de Janeiro for the areas the tours collect from.
• Cancelling. Every GetYourGuide tour here can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, and you can reserve now and pay later.