Hiking activities in Brazil
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Rio Adventures
Offering a range of outdoor activities, Rio Adventures leads hikes through Tijuca National Park, including short treks up Pico Tijuca – an easy one-hour hike to a rocky summit that affords fantastic views over the Tijuca forest and the beaches of São Conrado and Barra. For something more challenging, the company offers ascents up Pedra Bonito.
Rio Adventures also offers sightseeing tours, rock climbs (Pão de Açúcar, Corcovado and Pico da Tijuca), rafting excursions (to Paraibuna River, 175km northwest of Rio) and parachuting and paragliding trips. It employs experienced guides, who speak Portuguese, English and Spanish, among other languages.
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Circuito do Abraão
The Circuito do Abraão is a short jaunt 1.7km return hike that leads past two small beaches to the claustrophobic moss-covered stone ruins of Ilha Grande's other former prison, Lazareto, shut down in 1954. This easy hike affords some pretty views of Pico do Papagaio and takes you past an old aqueduct adjoined by a large swimming hole called Poção, perfect for a picnic and a dip. Along the way you can hear all sorts of birds and jungle creatures, and you may run into local kids jumping into the water on their way home from school.
Before hitting the trail, let people at your pousada know where you're going and when you'll be back, stock up on water and bug repellent and…
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Parque Nacional da Serra Dos Órgãos
The lush greenery of the mountains makes a lovely setting for a scenic drive, but if you’d like to see the greenery from the inside, head to Parque Nacional Da Serra Dos Órgãos. The national park has extensive trails through Mata Atlântica rain forest and has a variety of rich plant and animal life. Dedo de Deus (God’s Finger), Cabeça de Peixe (Fish Head) and Verruga do Frade (Friar’s Wart) are among the more imaginative trail names. Unfortunately, most of the trails are unmarked and off the extents of available maps. Those interested in hiking or climbing one of the peaks should inquire at Rios Brasileiros Rafting in Petrópolis.
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Hiking the High Country
Climbing and trekking enthusiasts will want to pit themselves against the high country's more challenging peaks, cliffs and trails. The park's diminutive upper entrance station - almost two hours from Itatiaia town - is reached via an extremely rugged unpaved 15km road from a junction called Garganta do Registro, on the border between Rio state and Minas Gerais.
Prominently visible as you enter the park are the dramatic pointy profile of the Agulhas Negras (at 2787m, the highest peak in the area) and a bit further on, the boulders of the Prateleiras.
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Tangará Ecological Hikes
Popular with a mix of Brazilians and foreigners, Tangará offers scheduled hiking trips, including climbs up Pedra da Gávea, ascents through rain forest to the top of Corcovado and hikes to waterfalls hidden in Horto (near Jardim Botânico). Hikes take place on Saturday and Sunday. Unlike pricier organized tours, transport isn’t provided, so you’ll have to take a bus or taxi to the designated meeting place. Call or check the website for the latest scheduled trips.
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Travessia Rui Braga trail
At the time of writing, the brand new Travessia Rui Braga trail, starting at the foot of Prateleiras, was scheduled to open in late 2007, linking the upper and lower parts of the park and allowing visitors to experience Itatiaia's alpine and Atlantic rain forest ecosystems in a single long day hike (nine hours one way, descending).
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Porto do Babazinho
Porto do Babazinho is home-base for longtime local guide Sebastião de Souza e Silva (aka ‘Babazinho’), who leads and arranges a variety of adventuresome outings, from windsurfing lessons and rentals, to daylong and multiday hiking, canoeing and animal-spotting excursions, all at reasonable rates.
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Rio Hiking
Founded by a mother-son team back in 1999, this popular outfit offers hiking trips ranging from easy to strenuous and covering a variety of terrains around Rio. Favorite treks include going up Pedra da Gávea – a challenging climb up a steep and rugged trail (three hours up to the summit), with great views over the coast from the top, and Pão de Açúcar. You can also arrange kayaking, diving, river rafting and numerous other adventure sports here.
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Andrenalina
Many of the area's best-known sights are outside of the national park on private land. Given the lack of public transportation, the easiest way to visit them is by taking a tour through a local agency. Andrenalina specializes in adventure sports and treks.
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Baba's Place
Remotely set in the Serra do Tepequém, Baba's Place has simple rooms with shared bathroom, and fine hiking, swimming and animal-spotting.
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New Frontiers Adventure Tours
A competent local outfit with experienced guides, it organizes all types of trekking tours, primarily from its website.
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Três Picos
For a longer hike in the low country, try the 5-hour, 15km return trip to Três Picos (1600m).
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