The 7 National Park Trips in Brazil That Earn Their Price

1.Tijuca National Park and all its wonders

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $68Our pick

Join Thomas, Lucas, or another EcotuRio guide for a four to five-hour hike through Tijuca National Park. You’ll visit 35-meter Cascatinha Taunay, at least two smaller waterfalls, and possibly caves, climbing areas, and wildlife. The route and pace are adjusted to your group, but moderate fitness is needed.

“Had the best time with Thomas! He was full of energy and was so funny, interesting in his stories and facts about the what we saw, and he customized the tour to suit what we were looking for. He was so accommodating when our Uber dropped us off at the wrong place and was so patient waiting for us. We will remember this as a highlight of our trip to Rio!”

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2.Tijuca National Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 85 reviews · 4h 30m · from $79

Start with hotel pickup and ride into Tijuca National Park for a guided walk through Brazil’s largest urban rainforest. Visit Taunay Waterfall, Cachoeira das Almas, Gruta dos Morcegos cave, a heritage building, viewpoints, and forest trails. Guides including Thalles, Samuel, Dudu, and Sylvio lead tours in several languages.

“Great experience and great guidance. Down to earth with a lot of knowledge and good vibes in general. Big recommendation!”

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3.Tijuca National Park Small-Group Hike to Pedra Bonita

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 79 reviews · 5 hours · from $63

Ride from Rio’s South Zone into Tijuca National Park for a five-hour guided hike to Pedra Bonita, a 696-meter summit with views of Pedra da Gávea and the coast. English and Portuguese guides, including Tito, Alex, and Eddie, explain the forest, coffee farms, wildlife, and Rio’s past.

“Great half day trip - funny guide Alex. Collected on time & lots of information given & time for photoes.”

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4.Full-Day Trip to Iguazú National Park with Small-Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $162

Start with hotel pickup at 7:30 am and spend about nine hours exploring Iguazú National Park with a guide such as Fabio, Claudio, or Gabriel. You’ll use park trains, walk the upper and lower paths, and take an optional boat ride beneath the falls. The group is capped at about 14 to 15 people, while park and government fees are extra.

“We did full tour with boat ride and saw everything! But, it was an arduous tour requiring us to walk about 7 miles and climb over 150 steps up and down. My husband is 80 and I’m 74. We were able to do it, but could have skipped a few scenic overlooks. Tour guide was very good.”

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5.Tijuca National Park & Botanic Garden Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 39 reviews · 4 hours · from $65

You’ll tour Tijuca National Park and Rio’s Botanical Garden with a multilingual guide and hotel pickup. Expect forest roads, Vista Chinesa views, Taunay Waterfall, Mayrink Chapel, and thousands of tropical plants. The Botanical Garden entry fee is paid separately, and park access can change with weather or closures.

“So the guide told us that the Tojuca National Forest was closed and we could not go there. This was of course disappointing to say the least! She took us ( and another couple) to the Botanical Gardens and did a good tour of them - this was great. Afterwards she took us to a locals bar by the beach with a good view - this was really nice too - bit much she could do about the Tijuca park being closed. E had to pay for the Botanical gardens although we thought it was already paid. We got no money back for the national park.”

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6.Private full day: Lencois Maranhenses National Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 8 hours

Meet your guide at your Barreirinhas hotel for a private eight-hour trip into Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Walk between lagoons, swim if conditions allow, eat at a family-run restaurant in an oasis, and watch sunset from the dunes. Guides may include Diego, Pedro, or Juliana, with English, Spanish, and Portuguese support listed.

“The day spend in Lagunas was AMAZING! Heaven in earth - Lencois Maranhenses. Diego was so wonderful guide, a lot of attractions, many places and lagoons visited - walk and swim👌 Gugo - the best driver in area. Excellent team 👍 A lot of attention for a details and explanations.”

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7.Tijuca National Park and all its wonders!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $51Best value

Join Thomas or another certified guide from Ecotu Rio for a private 4-hour hike through Tijuca National Park. Starting at Praça Afonso Viseu, you’ll follow the historic circuit, visit Taunay Waterfall, Cascata da Baronesa, and Gruta dos Murcegos, and adjust the 6 to 12 km route to your group’s ability.

“Thomas is friendly, very adaptable, and transmits his knowledge and passion for Tijuca and Rio de Janeiro.”

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