Jeep Tour Corcovado + Tijuca Forest

The open-air jeeps provide a unique opportunity to enjoy Rio in the fresh air.

This tour combines a visit to the Statue of Christ and the Tijuca National Forest. The summit of this mountain can be reached by road or rail, the latter being preferred. The Statue at the very top of the mountain, faced with a soapstone mosaic in the finest art nouveau style, is reached via a flight of steep steps. The view from this vantage point, with the surrounding Tijuca National Park spreading below and a circle of mountains marking the horizon at the very back of Guanabara Bay, is nothing short of breathtaking.

Boarding the jeeps tour will proceed with our tour to visit the Tijuca Rainforest. The city is, literally, sliced down the middle by this impressive mountain range, which makes it possible to go to the beach in the morning and then enjoy the chill of the rainforest and the refreshment of natural pools and waterfalls in the afternoon. Tijuca forest is filled with attractions, from the obvious Statue of Christ to the pagoda-style belvedere at Vista Chinesa and the giant granite picnic table at the Mesa do Imperador. Also inside the Park, the gem-like Mayrink chapel boasts murals painted by one of Brazil's best-known twentieth century artists, Cândido Portinari.

Stop at the Vista Chinesa (a belvedere in the Chinese pagoda style). Here a stop for photos and our first contact with the history of the forest and the world's first preservation project when the Emperor Pedro II decided that the original forest should be restored, replacing coffee plantations. It passes the Mesa do Imperador, the mammoth granite table of Imperial picnics, and Cascatinha waterfall. the way, the rich variety of fauna and flora will be pointed out, as well as the importance of this park to the city of Rio de Janeiro. Return will be by the Solidão Reservoir and Gávea Pequena, residence of the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro.

During the tour your guides will be pointing out a variety of fruit trees and small animals.