
Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 38 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour worth booking?
Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour is a 6-hour experience in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from $65 per person. It scores 75 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 38 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 75 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (38)
- Duration
- 6 hours
- From
- $65 per person
Our passion is the forest! We go early to ensure the maximum amount of wildlife and the least number of tourists. Those Safari Jeep tours which barely hike do the opposite, they pollute the entire park with diesel fuel. Its unethical, dirty and has zero connection with mother nature. That's a big NO, especially if you care about the environment and sustainable tourism. Our groups are SMALL, no larger than 6/7 per tour. Perfect for the forest. Our guides are educated in wildlife and nature identification. Our vast knowledge of the parks history, plants, and tree species, allows for a complete understanding of what you are experiencing. We have an excellent route/ itinerary curtailed to perfection over multiple years doing this tour. From waterfalls to caves mixed with light to moderate hiking, and a plethora of incredible views all over the city. Our experience ensures you get the absolute best of the Tijuca Nation Park and we would love to have you along! Tamojunto. ❤️
What you get
About this experience
Our passion is the forest! We go early to ensure the maximum amount of wildlife and the least number of tourists. Those Safari Jeep tours which barely hike do the opposite, they pollute the entire park with diesel fuel. Its unethical, dirty and has zero connection with mother nature. That's a big NO, especially if you care about the environment and sustainable tourism. Our groups are SMALL, no larger than 6/7 per tour. Perfect for the forest. Our guides are educated in wildlife and nature identification. Our vast knowledge of the parks history, plants, and tree species, allows for a complete understanding of what you are experiencing. We have an excellent route/ itinerary curtailed to perfection over multiple years doing this tour. From waterfalls to caves mixed with light to moderate hiking, and a plethora of incredible views all over the city. Our experience ensures you get the absolute best of the Tijuca Nation Park and we would love to have you along! Tamojunto. ❤️
What's included
Included
- Guide: English, Portuguese
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Not included
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Pedra Bonita
Incredible easy/moderate hike with 360 degree views around the city with excellent chances to see wildlife such as monkeys and clothes. The total distance is less than 3km!
120 minutes here
Cascatinha Taunay
The largest waterfall in the park 32M located at the entrance of the main setor. Here we will have a deep conversation about the history, reflection on reforestation with Don Pedro and Slavery plus the importance of this area to the city.
15 minutes here
Cachoeira das Almas
An excellent option for a quick early morning refresher after some wonderful hiking. This is an easy 30min hike but goes away from where most Jeep and gimmick tours operate. Truly perfect place for a first dip. This is optional as we visit other exciting waterfalls!
60 minutes here
Here we will visit two excellent caves, one very well known called Gruta dos Morcegos and other very unknown and more technical cave called Gruta do Belmiro. Both caves are with a moderate incline. For anyone not wanting to join the possibility to skip is an option but we always encourage everyone to join and we will help and assist.
60 minutes here
Quick stop after some caves and hiking! We will have an option to visit the Diamond Waterfall (a far, less busy and more secluded waterfall unknown by many guides) and also Baronesa Waterfall for a refresher before to head to our final destinations near Chinese Lookout and the emperor's table.
30 minutes here
Emperor's Table
An excellent viewpoint of the city located in the area of the botanical gardens (Just above) with monkeys and views of the south zone, christ and the neighboring city of Niterói. At this point, the group has an option to hike Pedra da Proa or continue down to Vista Chinesa and finalize at the "Horto waterfall circuit".
15 minutes here
Vista Chinesa
Here is another excellent and also very popular lookout point. Known to have toucans and sloths and monkeys. This last lookout point, where we will decide collectively as a group, if we have time to either finish at "Vista Chinesa" or head to finalize at the "Horto waterfall circuit" which presents a moderate to intensive 15min hike to one of the cities best waterfalls.
15 minutes here
Cachoeira Do Horto
One of my favorite hikes in the city with an incredible 20 foot waterfall and an excellent pool to leisure in. This hike is an intense fifteen minute long scramble which may not be for everyone! Those who do not want the challenge or who may not be physically capable can wait at the bottom falls by the road while the group finishes the final hike and experience.
40 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- pt, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 4 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Experience Rio
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not for anyone with knee issues
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 38 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
5 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Physical effort
4 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Value for money
3 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Good for families
3 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
38 verified traveler reviews for Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great Tour! Our guide had...
Great Tour! Our guide had a fantastic eye for spotting animals which is not that easy if the weather isn't perfect. Many thanks!
Response from the operator: Appreciate it!! Thank you for joining us, our tours are focused to be unique and indepth. Safe travels!
via Viator
The Best Way to Experience Rio! 🇧🇷
To anyone reading this, book this tour with Henry! Henry is funny, knowledgeable, creative, adventurous, and just an all-around awesome guy. He went out of his way to make sure we had an incredible time and he completely exceeded our expectations. Not only did I feel safe throughout the entire experience, but I genuinely felt like family. He took us on incredible hikes with breathtaking views, we explored caves, saw waterfalls and monkeys, and experienced Tijuca National Park in a way that felt like we were exploring it with a local. If you’re looking for an adventure filled with history, incredible scenery, and a genuinely great time, book this tour. You will not regret it! Henry, if you’re reading this, thank you so much, man! You truly made our trip a 20/10 experience. I’m grateful we got to meet you and experience Brazil with you! 🇧🇷🙌
Response from the operator: Truly appreciate the review Sam!! It was an absolute pleasure meeting you and Britt.. Safe travels and come back soon.
via Tripadvisor
The best tour guide I’ve ever had bar none
Let me start off by saying, I cannot say enough good things about our tour guide Henry for the two days we had him! We were scheduled to hike Dois Irmãos the morning after it had just rained hard and instead of canceling the hike, Henry suggested we go on a tour of Rio with him that day and reschedule the hike for a few days later. Thank God we did. The tour that Henry took us on was incredible. He took us to the hidden spots within the city not many (if any) tourists know about and made the day 100x better than if we winged it. Two days later Henry again suggested we go with him to Tijuca National Park, (after the experience we already had with him we didn’t hesitate to say yes). After doing the sunrise Dois Irmãos hike, Henry picked us up, took us to breakfast, and into the forest we went. When I say unbelievable is an understatement I mean it. Henry took us on trails that were basically uncharted (aside from a few locals), we explored caves, jumped in waterfalls, the whole 9 yards. Henry took our trip from an 8/10 to a 20/10. Extremely recommended if you want the full Rio experience!!
via Tripadvisor
Tijuca National Park - toucans, capuchins and coatis
A really enjoyable small group visit to the Tijuca National Park. It was Sunday so the park was busier than normal with local visitors bike riding and swimming in the waterfalls but we still saw toucans, coatis, capuchins and other birds. Others in the group enjoyed a dip in the waterfalls - overall a nice way to escape the heat of the city.
Response from the operator: Thank you!!! It was a great time together! 🇧🇷♥️😉 Also I fully understand you meant to add 5 stars but accidentally clicked 4. Its not a problem, thank you for joining!!
via Viator
The most beautiful urban park/forest EVER.
A lot of fun in the jungle, or reforested urban forest haha. I love the fact that this was a small group and there were no jeeps. Henry was super attentive and explained the parks history very well. It's not easy to see animals, but we did see one sloth, monkeys and Toucans. The pickup was well organized, Henry reached out to me beforehand requesting my address etc. We visited three sections of the park, inlcuding Pedra Bonita and we did an amazing waterfall called Horto. I was very tired at the end of this experience, I think this is for people who really love nature and want to hike. As I saw a lot of tourists just kind of hanging around the main road, we went deeper into the park and most definitely did more hiking (around 15km).
Response from the operator: Thank you, Olivia for joining. It was a lot of fun hiking with you and the others. It's always a blessing when we get good energy tourists and those who love nature. ❤️
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $65 to $85
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 13
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 75
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Rio de Janeiro.
How much does Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour cost?
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Prices start at $65 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Rio de Janeiro usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour take?
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Plan for about 6 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Rio de Janeiro is not rushed.
Is Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 75 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 38 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Rio de Janeiro, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 6-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour?
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Around 13 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Rio de Janeiro can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Rio de Janeiro and add a light layer if any part of the 6-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Rio de Janeiro within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro?
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On Outty we rank every Rio de Janeiro experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Pedra da Gávea hike, your best experience in Rio, Rio's Full Day: Selarón Steps, Christ & Sugarloaf – Tickets & Lunch Included, Favela Tour Rio de Janeiro - Vidigal Walking Tour by Russo Guide. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Rio de Janeiro?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour?
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Included: Guide: English, Portuguese; Bottled water; and In-vehicle air conditioning. Not included: Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 183 listed pickup locations in and around Rio de Janeiro. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour offered in?
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It is offered in Portuguese and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Small-Group Tijuca Forest Guided Tour?
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Across 38 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works. One thing to know: Expect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
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