Meeting at 08:00 at Rio & Learn
Price: R$300 (includes transportation, picnic food, teacher guide, and lots of fun!)
Obs.: Wear comfortable clothes and trainers with a good grip, as we’ll be walking and hiking through the forest. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, insect repellent and a bottle of water. Rio & Learn will take care of the picnic!
Ready to escape the busy streets of Rio without actually leaving the city? Join our RioLIVE! Activity in Tijuca Forest and spend the day surrounded by waterfalls, trails, mountains and incredible views! Located right in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is one of the city’s greatest natural treasures. During this adventure, we’ll explore some of its most beautiful spots, hike through the Atlantic Forest, cool off in a waterfall and, of course, practice Portuguese along the way.
Tijuca Forest is the perfect place to discover another side of Rio. Beyond its famous beaches and landmarks, the city is also surrounded by an incredible tropical landscape filled with native plants, wildlife, waterfalls and mountains. Created in 1961, Tijuca National Park protects an important area of Atlantic Forest and is home to some of Rio’s most famous natural attractions. And with RioLIVE!, exploring the forest also becomes an opportunity to take your Portuguese outside the classroom!
Our first stop is Cascatinha Taunay, one of the most iconic waterfalls in Tijuca Forest. Surrounded by lush vegetation, this impressive waterfall is a perfect introduction to the beauty of the park — and, of course, a great place to take some amazing photos!
Next, we visit the charming Capela Mayrink, a small pink chapel hidden among the trees. This peaceful historical spot offers a beautiful contrast between architecture and nature and gives us another chance to learn a little more about the history of Tijuca Forest.
Now it’s time to start walking! From the area near the chapel, we’ll take a short and easy trail of less than 30 minutes to reach Mirante da Cascatinha. Once there, we’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of the forest and surrounding mountains. It’s the perfect warm-up for the bigger adventure ahead!
Ready for a challenge? At 1,022 meters above sea level, Pico da Tijuca is the highest point in Tijuca National Park. After driving to the trailhead, we’ll begin a hike of approximately two hours through the forest. One of the most memorable parts of the trail is the famous staircase carved directly into the rock near the summit. And once we reach the top, the effort is worth it: incredible panoramic views of Rio await us!
After all that hiking, there’s no better reward than a waterfall! Our final stop is Cachoeira do Horto, where we can cool off in the natural water, relax and enjoy our Rio & Learn picnic together.
Just keep an eye on your food, the local monkeys might be interested in joining our picnic too!
RioLIVE! is about experiencing Portuguese in the real world, and the forest gives us plenty to talk about. Throughout the day, you’ll practice Portuguese with your teacher and classmates while learning vocabulary related to nature, hiking, animals, directions and Brazilian culture.
Rio de Janeiro is famous for the unique way the city and nature exist side by side, and Tijuca Forest is one of the best places to experience it. Waterfalls, trails, incredible viewpoints, a picnic surrounded by nature and plenty of Portuguese practice, all in one unforgettable RioLIVE! adventure. Put on your trainers, grab your water bottle and get ready to explore!
Tijuca Forest is waiting for you!
Click on the links below to see how our last visits were on the Tijuca Forest Tour
Yasmin Teixeira is Rio & Learn’s RioLIVE! Supervisor, bringing a strong background in hospitality, tourism, and event operations, which makes her a perfect match for leading unforgettable experiences in Rio. With hands-on experience coordinating corporate events and service teams in major hotels, she’s skilled at planning logistics, ensuring high service standards, and delivering smooth, guest-focused execution from start to finish. Her international experience in Germany and a natural talent for welcoming and assisting people means she knows how to create a warm, organized, and engaging environment for our students. Yasmin blends professionalism, energy, and attention to detail, exactly what RioLIVE! needs to run with excellence.
Subscribe to A Dica do Dia and get short, daily lessons in Portuguese completely free.
