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
5 Awesome Hikes in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is more than beaches and samba. The city is surrounded by, and quite literally in the middle of, the Floresta da Tijuca (The Tijuca Forest). There are many amazing hikes in Rio de Janeiro and spectacular vistas awaiting your exploration, so get out of your catatonic, cachaça
Hiking Corcovado To Cristo Redentor (Giant Stone Jesus)
LOOK! Up there on the cliff! It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Superman! Well, actually it's not Superman, it's Giant Stone Jesus - sorry to disappoint you. Although now that I am thinking about the two of them, Giant Stone Jesus vs. Superman in a battle to the death would certainly be
Florianópolis Part III: Lagoinha do Leste
This is Part 3 or a three-part story of my trip to Florianópolis. To get yourself up to speed, start with Part 1. Brazil has some beautiful beaches; Brazil also has some beautiful people. Usually these two things can be found together, but sometimes you find yourself wanting only one of these