7 National Parks Tours in Brazil to Build a Day Around

1.Tijuca National Park and all its wonders

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

Join EcotuRio for a four to five-hour hike through Tijuca National Park with guides such as Thomas or Lucas. You’ll visit 35-meter Cascatinha Taunay, at least two smaller waterfalls, and possibly caves, monkeys, and climbing areas. The route and pace are adjusted to your group, with a maximum of 10 participants stated in the practical details.

“Our tour & hike through the Tijuca National Park was such a great experience! Thomas, our tour guide, helped us gain an overall understanding of the park's greatness and scale while still allowing us to focus on the small, beautiful details that set this park apart from any other. Thomas adapted the hike to our skill level and we enjoyed plenty of waterfalls. He was also a fantastic photographer! I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wishes to explore the hidden beauty of this park!”

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2.Tijuca National Park Tour

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

Spend about 4.5 hours exploring Tijuca National Park with Urban Jungle, traveling from your Rio hotel by car and walking through rainforest trails. Visit Cascatinha Taunay, Cachoeira das Almas, Gruta dos Morcegos, a heritage building, viewpoints, and other waterfalls with guides such as Thalles, Dudu, Samuel, or Sylvio. English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French are available.

“Excellent tour with Samuel , whose knowledge about the flora and fauna of the Tijuca forest was very thorough. A lot of information on Brazil, its forests and biome was shared by him , he was also wonderfully talented with regards to photographs and got some great photos of the entire tour , a shirt quick paced hike was the highlight of the tour , stopping to see ants , birds , monkeys and coatis . Highly recommend a guided tour of the forest with him .”

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

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

Travel from Rio’s South Zone into Tijuca National Park for a guided 3.5-kilometer hike to Pedra Bonita. In a group of up to six, you’ll learn about Atlantic Rainforest plants, wildlife, coffee farms, and reforestation before taking in Pedra da Gávea and the coast. English and Portuguese guides lead the tour.

“Our Guide was very friendly and could Tell us a lot about Rio. One of Our groupmembers had some Problems To hike But our guide kept an Eye on her and she also made it up To The top. It was exhausting But pretty easy. The view on top of The Hill worth it. I highly recommend this Tour.”

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

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

Spend about nine hours exploring Iguazú Falls with a guide such as Fabio, Claudio, Gabriel, or Fabrizio. Walk the park trails, ride the train to Devil’s Throat, and take a boat close to the falls. Pickup and return transport are included, but park and government fees, meals, and drinks cost extra. Expect stairs, crowds, and a very wet boat ride.

“Fabio was an excellent guide and made our trip so smooth and informative. Would highly recommend this trip.”

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5.Tijuca National Park & Botanic Garden Tour

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

You’ll ride from your hotel into Tijuca National Park for rainforest views, Taunay Waterfall, Mayrink Chapel, and Vista Chinesa. The tour then visits Rio’s Botanical Garden, home to more than 7,000 plant species. Multilingual guides lead the four-hour outing, with hotel pickup in key city districts and the cruise port.

“Guide super gentil, visite sous la pluie donc un peu compliqué d’apprécier tout à sa juste valeur. Nous n’avons pas compris pourquoi l’entrée du jardin botanique n’est pas incluse dans l’activité mais à payer sur place. Peut-être l’inclure dans la réservation et la payer en amont”

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6.Private full day: Lencois Maranhenses National Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 8 hours

Spend eight hours with a private guide in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Meet at your Barreirinhas hotel, ride by jeep to the dunes, walk between lagoons, swim, eat at a local family restaurant, and watch sunset. Guides speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with French also advertised.

“Onvergetelijk. Diego vertelt over het park, de fauna en flora en gunt je meer dan een duik in de prachtige lagunes! Fantastische ervaring, super driver!”

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7.Tijuca National Park and all its wonders!

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

Join Ecotu Rio for a private four-hour hike through Tijuca National Park with a guide such as Thomas, who speaks English, Portuguese, or Spanish. Walk 6 to 12 km through the Atlantic Forest, visit Taunay Waterfall, Cascata da Baronesa, and Gruta dos Murcegos, and learn how coffee farming and livestock shaped this remarkable urban park.

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

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