8 Best Hikes in Rio de Janeiro: Easy Trails to Technical Climbs

One of my favorite things to do in Rio was getting out into nature. With green mountain peaks rising above the city and beaches stretching along the coast, hiking became a weekly routine for me.

What I love is that you can find a variety of hikes— from wooded trails to steep granite routes that need climbing gear — there was never a shortage, and there’s something for every skill level.

For me, the best hikes in Rio de Janeiro depends on what you want from the day. In this article, I’ve mapped out eight of my favorite hikes. Some of these fit easily around sightseeing and beach time, while others deserve a day of their own and considerably more preparation.

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Best Hikes in Rio de Janeiro at a Glance

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1. Pedra Bonita: An Easy Hike with a Big Payoff

Difficulty: Easy
Hiking time: ~1.5–2 hours round trip
Location: 📍Pedra Bonita, Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro

If you want the mountain views without committing to a strenuous climb, Pedra Bonita is where I’d start. It’s the easiest hike I’ve done in Rio for this much payoff. At the summit, you’re treated with city views and coastline opening up below to your left and right, with Pedra da Gávea towering directly ahead.

The trail itself is mostly wooded and easy to follow. My slightly annoying discovery was that the approach to the trail head could feel more strenuous than the actual hike. Depending on where your car drops you off, you may have a 15 minute uphill walk before you begin, but from the trail head, it’ll take you about 30 minutes to summit.

For a beginner, I’d choose this before taking on a route with scrambling or climbing.

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2. Dois Irmãos: My Pick for Sunrise and a First Visit

Difficulty: Moderate; steep wooded trail
Hiking time: ~45 minutes up; allow extra for sunrise and return
Location: 📍Vidigal, Rio de Janeiro

Dois Irmãos is the hike I’d recommend if you have a week in Rio. From the summit, Leblon and Ipanema’s beaches stretch along the coast, with Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas and the city spreading inland between the mountains. It brings together so much of what makes Rio beautiful, especially at sunrise.

The trail starts near the top of Vidigal. I took a local moto taxi up through the favela, then walked to the trailhead to begin climbing in the dark. The trail isn’t particularly long or technical, but it’s steep; I was sweating before the sun even rose while music blasted up the hillside from below.

At the summit, we watched the city emerge with the morning light. It was one of my favorite sunrises I’ve ever seen, but we weren’t alone: Dois Irmãos is popular with sunrise tour groups. I’d go for the view and the experience of seeing Rio wake up, rather than expecting a quiet summit.

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3. Morro da Urca: An Easy Hike to Combine with Sugarloaf

Difficulty: Easy to moderate; uphill trail and steps
Hiking time: ~40 minutes up
Location: 📍Praia Vermelha, Urca, Rio de Janeiro

Morro da Urca is a great option if you’d like to combine a hike with Sugarloaf and Praia Vermelha. It’s one of the easiest hikes I’ve done in Rio, following a wooded trail with stone steps and exposed roots. I spotted several different birds along the way, and openings in the trees revealed Urca’s rooftops and sailboats scattered across Guanabara Bay.

Once you reach the top, there’s a cool visitor area with viewpoints and places to eat to reward you for your trek. The walking trail ends at Morro da Urca, so reaching Pão de Açúcar from here means taking the cable car onwards.

Check the summit-entry hours before starting. On one visit, we hurried uphill to catch sunset, only to find a locked gate. We walked back down and hung out on Praia Vermelha instead, which is a lovely way to finish the outing even when you do make it inside.

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4. Pedra da Gávea: A Challenge for Fit, Experienced Hikers

Difficulty: Strenuous, with scrambling and exposed climbing
Hiking time: ~6 hours for the full trek
Location: 📍Estrada Sorimã, Barrinha, Rio de Janeiro

Pedra da Gávea is one of my absolute favorite hikes, and the one I’d choose for a bigger physical challenge. I’ve done it multiple times; the combination of climbing, enormous rock faces and views over Rio’s mountains keeps me coming back.

As you make your way up through dense forest, the trail becomes increasingly rocky, with boulders to scramble over before you reach the Carrasqueira, an exposed climbing section near the top. I’ve climbed it without ropes or a harness, but unless you have experience scrambling and climbing exposed rock, I’d recommend a guide who provides ropes, harnesses and help getting up and back down.

Check the weather before your trek. On my first visit, clouds eventually hid a lot of the summit view, and the fog made the exposed descent harder to navigate. I still loved being up in the clouds, but that experience is why I’d pay attention to visibility as well as rain when planning this hike.

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5. Mirante do Caeté: A Short Hike When You Have More Time

Difficulty: Easy; one short rock section
Hiking time: ~30 minutes up; allow extra for the viewpoint and return
Location: 📍Parque Natural Municipal da Prainha, Rio de Janeiro

Mirante do Caeté is a good choice if you want a relatively easy hike followed by a relaxing beach day. The viewpoint isn’t as dramatic as others on this list, but you still get green hills, a long stretch of coast and white surf lining the beaches, with the city’s buildings farther in the distance.

The mostly wooded dirt trail took us about 30 minutes up. There’s a short, steeper rock section with iron rungs and a chain to help you climb, but I found it easy to navigate. Bring bug spray; there were plenty of insects.

Afterwards if you’re hungry, you can eat at 📍Mirante da Prainha near the trailhead, which has decent seafood, then head to 📍Prainha beach. That’s how I’d recommend doing this outing: a short hike, a meal and time on a beach that felt much less crowded than Copacabana or Ipanema beach.

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6. Morro do Pontal: A Beach Outing with a Rocky Climb

Difficulty: Fairly easy with a
Hiking time: ~30 minutes up; allow extra for the viewpoint and return
Location: 📍Posto 12, Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Rio de Janeiro

Morro do Pontal, also known as Pedra do Pontal, is a good option if you want to combine a short hike with a beach day. From the top, Praia do Recreio curves away on either side of the rock, meeting at the narrow strip of sand that connects it to the mainland. I loved that split view of the coastline, with beachfront buildings and mountains behind it.

The climb starts straight up sloping rock from the beach, so expect to use your hands as well as your feet. I took my shoes off because water reached the entry point, but quickly wanted their grip back on the steep surface. Beyond that first climb, the route mixes wooded dirt paths with slanted rock and muddy patches; those rocky sections needed more care than the short distance might suggest.

We spent time enjoying the view before heading down to relax and swim at the beach below. That’s how I’d approach this one: leave time for the beach rather than traveling out just for the hike. I’d save it for a longer stay in Rio instead of prioritizing it in your first week.

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7. Pão de Açúcar via Costão: Hiking and Climbing to Sugarloaf

Difficulty: Technical; steep, exposed scrambling and a roped climb
Hiking time: ~2½ hours; allow extra for the descent
Location: 📍Praia Vermelha, Urca, Rio de Janeiro

If you’d like to turn a visit to Sugarloaf into a physical adventure, Costão combines hiking, scrambling and a roped climb up the side of Pão de Açúcar. Much of the approach crosses steep, slanted granite above the water, so the challenge starts before you reach the climbing section.

I went with friends who had climbing equipment and set up ropes and harnesses for us. With previous climbing experience, I found the climb manageable, but careful footing matters throughout the rocky approach too. I’d recommend a qualified climbing guide for most travelers, especially if you’re used to hiking rather than climbing.

The reward is reaching Sugarloaf’s famous summit using your own hands and feet, and enjoying the same viewpoints as the visitors arriving by cable car. Morro da Urca sits below you, sailboats scatter across Botafogo Bay, and the coastline stretches toward Copacabana, with Christ the Redeemer visible across the city. Choose this one if the climb itself appeals to you as much as the view.

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8. Escalavrado: A More Demanding Outing from Rio

Difficulty: Technical and very exposed; climbing experience or a climbing guide
Hiking time: Allow a full day
Location: 📍Guapimirim, Serra dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro state

Escalavrado is the mountain I’d choose for a serious challenge. In the Serra dos Órgãos near Teresópolis, the route follows an exposed rock ridge among the mountains surrounding Dedo de Deus. The payoff is enormous cliff faces, pointed peaks and forested valleys. During our ascent, clouds broke to reveal mountains rising above a sea of white.

I loved this hike, but I would not recommend it to the average hiker. You’re using hands and feet immediately, climbing steep granite with limited holds and drops on either side. Being fit and enjoying difficult trails isn’t the same as having experience on exposed rock. I’d recommend a qualified climbing guide who provides appropriate equipment and can manage the descent, especially if you haven’t tackled this terrain before.

We climbed up without using ropes, but relied on them coming down after fog turned into pouring rain. The slippery rock slowed us until we were descending after dark; our expected five- or six-hour outing became roughly thirteen. It’s an experience I loved, but one I’d approach with much more preparation next time.

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Do You Need a Guide for Hiking in Rio?

I wouldn’t get a guide automatically for every trail in Rio. For example, Pedra Bonita and the regular Morro da Urca trail are the first options I’d consider for an easier hiking afternoon. You’d just need to figure out transportation.

For Dois Irmãos, a local guide can help with getting through the favela and arranging an early start for sunrise, even if you’re comfortable with the trail itself. For Pedra da Gávea and the Sugarloaf trek, the need for a guide depends on your experience scrambling and climbing exposed rock. Being comfortable walking uphill doesn’t tell you how you’ll feel climbing back down.

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What to Know Before Hiking in Rio

A few things I’d keep in mind, even for the shorter hikes:

Bring enough water and food. Rio’s heat and steep climbs can make a short trail feel much more difficult than you expect. Bring extra water and something to eat on longer trips.

Check the mountain forecast. Clear skies where you’re staying don’t tell you what’s happening higher up. Fog can make exposed sections more difficult to navigate, and rain makes the rock slippery.

Wear shoes with good grip. You’ll run into dirt, roots and slanted rock, sometimes on the same trail. Even if you’re combining the hike with a beach day, bring shoes you can comfortably climb in.

Carry a headlamp on longer treks. We expected to finish Escalavrado in daylight and ended up descending after dark with our phones for light. I’d bring a headlamp next time, even with an early start.

Check access before setting out. Look up current trail access and any entry hours or registration requirements, especially if you’re planning around sunrise or sunset.

Plan how you’ll get back. If you’re relying on Uber, consider what you’ll do without reception — we couldn’t order one after Escalavrado. This matters more for hikes farther from where you’re staying.

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