Already hiked Pedra da Gávea and looking for another equally (or more) challenging hike in Rio de Janeiro? How about hiking Pedra da Gávea - again! That's right, there's a second trail up Pedra da Gávea - a secret way. Okay maybe not truly secret, but definitely lesser known. If you've ever heard
Hiking Pedra da Gávea
Pedra da Gávea, the largest coastal monolith in Brazil, rises 2,769 ft / 844 m nearly straight up from the ocean, separating Rio de Janeiro's neighborhoods of São Conrado to the east and Barra da Tijuca to the west. It's visible from all over Rio de Janeiro's Zona Sul and Zona Oeste, but as far
Hiking Morro da Urca
Morro da Urca is located in the neighborhood of Urca on the eastern edge of Rio de Janeiro's Zone Sul, and is home to the first stage of the famous cable car that shuttles tourists to the summit of Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain). Be sure not to confuse this hill with its big brother - Pão de
Hiking Morro Dois Irmãos
Morro Dois Irmãos (aka Dois Irmãos) is an iconic rock formation at the western end of the Ipanema/Leblon beaches in Rio de Janeiro's Zona Sul. Chances are that if you've seen a photo of Rio that doesn't involve Giant Stone Jesus, you've seen Dois Irmãos. At 1,749 ft (533 m) it's taller than Pão
Hiking Pedra Bonita
Pedra Bonita is one of Rio de Janeiro's most popular hikes - and for good reason. The views afforded by this granite monolith are some of the best in the city, and since Pedra Bonita is also home to the city's paraglider/hang glider launch ramp, the summit can be accessed relatively easily
Hiking Corcovado
WARNING: There have been a large number of assaults on people hiking the trail to Corcavado in the past couple of years. Corcovado, also known as "the mountain that Giant Stone Jesus lives on", is a 2,329 foot (710 m) granite peak in the Tijuca Forest - and a centerpiece of Rio de
Japan’s Most Dangerous Hike: The Okuhotakadake – Nishihotakadake Traverse
The most dangerous thing you will encounter on most hikes in Japan is probably dehydration or perhaps one of the giant Japanese hornets if you're unlucky enough to catch one on bad day. However, the number one killer of hikers and people in the outdoors is not bears, snakes, ax-murderers, or even
Hiking Yarigatake (槍ヶ岳) in Japan
Yarigatake (槍ヶ岳) is perhaps one of the most recognizable peaks in Japan. Located in the center of the Kita Alps, it's a must for anyone serious about peak bagging in the Land of the Rising Sun. It can be accessed via numerous trailheads and is possible to conquer in a day (a very tough day). I
Hiking Mount Haku (白山) in Japan
Mount Haku (白山, Hakusan) is one of Japan's Three Holy Mountains (三霊山) along with Mount Tate and Mount Fuji (what that means, I have no idea). The mountain is on the border of Gifu (岐阜), Fukui (福井), and Ishikawa (石川) prefectures in Japan's Hokuriku Region (北陸地方). Ishikawa is home to the most