Tijuca Rainforest Open Jeep Tour Rio de Janeiro

Tijuca National Park and the Atlantic Forest

Tijuca National Park protects the mountains that divide Rio into its northern and southern halves, and it is often called the largest forest surrounded by a city anywhere in the world. It belongs to the Mata Atlântica, the Atlantic Forest that once ran along most of the Brazilian coast and is now one of the most threatened rainforests on the planet. What you see today is largely the result of a remarkable replanting effort that began in 1861, after coffee farms had left the hills bare.

A Tijuca Forest jeep tour is ideal for travellers who want to understand this story without a long hike. In the open jeep you feel the cool, humid air, smell the damp earth and look straight up into the canopy as the road climbs. Your guide points out trees, flowers and animals and explains why this forest matters for Rio's water and climate.

Vista Chinesa and Mesa do Imperador

Two of the finest viewpoints in Rio sit along the park roads. The Vista Chinesa is a graceful pagoda-shaped pavilion built at the start of the twentieth century in memory of the Chinese labourers who came to plant tea here. From its balustrade you see the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, Ipanema and Leblon, Sugarloaf and Guanabara Bay in one sweep. Your guide uses this stop to explain the reforestation of the Atlantic Forest.

A little higher, the Mesa do Imperador, the Emperor's Table, is a massive stone table where the imperial family is said to have picnicked, with a view over the Jardim Botânico district and the lagoon. Both stops last about fifteen minutes. Note that forest rules close the Vista Chinesa road on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, so on those days the route is adjusted.

Capela Mayrink in the Alto da Boa Vista forest

Deep in the trees of the Alto da Boa Vista sector stands the Capela Mayrink, a small white chapel with a simple bell gable that dates back to the nineteenth century, when wealthy families owned estates in these hills. It was later rebuilt and is now protected as part of the national park, its whitewashed walls and blue-framed doors contrasting beautifully with the deep green of the forest around it.

It is one of the most peaceful and photogenic stops on the tour, and your guide tells the story of the estates that once occupied this part of the mountain. Expect around fifteen to thirty minutes for photos and a short look around. The chapel's setting, with tall trees and the sound of birds, gives a good sense of how quiet the forest becomes only a few minutes from the busy city.

Cascatinha Taunay waterfall

Cascatinha Taunay, the little cascade of Taunay, is the tallest waterfall in the Tijuca Forest, tumbling down a steep face of granite beside the main park road. It is named after a French painter who settled nearby in the early nineteenth century and was among the first to paint these mountains. The falls are especially full during the rainy summer months.

From the open jeep you step straight out onto the viewing area, which makes this an easy stop for all ages, about ten minutes long. Along the way your guide also points out the Cachoeira dos Macacos, the Monkeys' Waterfall, as the jeep drives past. Waterfalls like these are part of the reason the forest was replanted: the springs in these hills once supplied much of Rio's drinking water.

Guided rainforest walk

The highlight for many travellers is the guided rainforest walk of about one hour on an easy trail. This is not a hard hike; the path is gentle and suitable for most ages, and it lets you get close to the plants and animals of the Atlantic Forest. Your guide shows you tropical fruit trees, giant ferns, bromeliads and vines, and explains how they depend on each other.

Keep your eyes and ears open: the forest is full of birds and colourful butterflies, and small monkeys are often seen moving through the branches. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water and use insect repellent. After the walk the jeep takes you back down the mountain and drops you at your hotel, with plenty of the day left for the beach.