Rio Guide

Category: Activities

Pedra da Gávea Trekking: Climb the biggest monolith on a coastline of the world

Pedra da Gávea, meaning Topsail Rock, is the biggest monolith on a coastline of the world: 842 mt of granite above the sea level, in Tijuca Forest. It is a magnetic rock, surrounded by legends and having features of a human face. The trekking trail is on Estrada do Sorimã (Barra da Tijuca) and takes from 2 to 4 hours. It is simply outstanding and quite difficult: to reach the top of Pedra da Gávea you need to climb a wall of 30 mt, nearly vertical. But the view from the top is sublime: Tijuca rainforest, Corcovado, Pedra Bonita and Two Brothers Mountains, the Sugarloaf, the lagoon, the beaches and the islands, the ocean and the city of Rio all at a glance.

The legend. “LAABHTEJBARRIZDABNAISINEOFRUZT” – this is the inscription carved in the rock. Which, in Phoenician, means “Here Badezir, King of Tyre, Jetbaal’s oldest son”. And this is really a mystery, because Phoenicians never came here! The inscription was not reported until the 1800s, but in the meanwhile it gave rise to many stories…

July 15, 2012
Paragliding: try the most adrenaline-pumping activity in town

Free-flying over Rio can be addictive: almost 23.000 people jump into the void every year. Flights

Paragliding flights take off from Pedra Bonita ramp, in Tijuca National Park (São Conrado). The instructor will be with you during the flight, that will last from 15 to 20 minutes for a coast of about 330 BR$ per person (an extra charge is due for pictures and videos).

Useful Numbers

Rio Handgliding
Instructor Konrad Heilmann
Phone 1: +55 21 9843 9006
Phone 2: +55 21 2422 2411
Email: konrad@globo.com
Website: http://riohangliding.com/fly.htm

Rio Adventures
Phone 1: +55 21 2705-5747
Phone 2: +55 21 8290-1980
Phone 3: +55 21 7933-4162
Phone 4: +55 21 7744-3674
E-mail: info@rioadventures.com
Website: http://paragliding.rioadventures.com/

Paragliding instructor Eduardo Soares (Edu)
Phone 1: +55 21 7843 3319
Phone 2: +5521) 9814 6308
Email: eduvoolivre@yahoo.com.br
Website: www.rioturismoradical.com.br/paragliding.htm

Sky Center
Phone 1: +55 21 2437 4592
Phone 2: +55 21 7817 3526
Email: skycenter@skycenter.com.br
Website: http://www.skycenter.com.br/

You can also directly meet pilots on São Conrado beach

July 15, 2012
Tijuca Forest Hiking: Discover the biggest urban forest in the world

This is the biggest urban rainforest in the world, covering an area of about 32 km2 in Rio city center. Home to hundreds of species of plants and animals, this nature reserve is crossed by tens of jungle hiking trails, where you can see exotic trees, monkeys, lakes and waterfalls (the most impressive is the Cascatinha de Taunay). An easy path is the one to the Cachoeira das Almas (Waterfall of the Souls), where you can have an idyllic swim. Good hikers can climb up to Pico da Tijuca (1012 mt) and food lovers can enjoy a picnic in the park. Close to the entrance you can take also a jeap up to the top.

July 15, 2012
Helicopter Tour: Fly over Rio!

Once in your life you must fly over Rio! From the sky the city is simply sublime, with its green cliffs and islands against the blue of the Ocean. Helicopter tours last from 6 to 60 minutes and leave from Lagoa. The basic helicopter tour fly over the lagoon, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, the Sugarloaf and, of course, the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Longer trips also fly over Pedra da Gávea and Tijuca Forest. The tour is quite expensive (about 200BR$ for 6 minutes) but it is worth the price.

Helisight
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (near Parque dos Patins)
+55 21 2511 2141
+55 21 2542 7935

Home

July 15, 2012