Pedra Bonita hike in Rio de Janeiro

At a glance

What the hike is

Pedra Bonita is the easy summit of western Rio. You get the height and the open view without the long climb that its neighbour, Pedra da Gávea, demands. Tijuca National Park, run by the federal agency ICMBio, gives the walk at about 20 minutes from the start, which makes it a good first hike for families and anyone short on time.

The same mountain holds the ramp where hang gliders take off. Many people walk up in the morning and fly down afterwards: hang gliding in Rio.

The trail step by step

1. The car brings you up to the park’s vehicle checkpoint (guarita). The trail starts here.
2. At the guarita your group fills in a simplified risk term and leaves one phone contact, as the park’s visitor protocol asks.
3. You walk up through the forest to the rock summit, about 20 minutes by the park’s estimate.
4. At the top you have time for the view and photos, then you return the same way to the checkpoint.

The park does not publish the length, the elevation or a difficulty grade for this trail, so we do not give them here.

Best time for photos

The park sets no official sunrise or sunset times for this summit. What the hours allow: you can enter from 8:00, and in summer you can stay until 18:00, so late-afternoon light is possible on a summer day if you start the trail before 16:00. As general advice, clear mornings after a dry night tend to give the cleanest views, and haze often builds through the day. Your guide checks the weather the evening before.

For a summit shoot at the first or last light that opening hours allow, see our sunrise and sunset photo hike.

Rules and registration

• Simplified risk term at the guarita, with one phone contact per group.
• No overnight stays and no pets.
• Parking holds 24 cars for trail visitors. The upper lot is kept for loading flight equipment.
• Recreational drones need prior authorization from Clube São Conrado de Voo Livre.
• Hours may change in extreme weather, and the park can close in exceptional cases.
• Photos in public areas during opening hours do not need a special permit, as long as they follow the park’s rules. A shoot outside hours needs an ICMBio authorization.

What to bring

• Water and a snack. The park pages do not mention water on the trail.
• Shoes with grip for rock and forest ground.
• Sun protection and a light layer for wind at the top.
• A phone with charge for the group contact you leave at the guarita.

Closures

On 28.10.2026 we found no current closure on the park’s official pages. Closures do happen at short notice: on 21.08.2026 ICMBio closed Pedra Bonita and other park areas after a Civil Defence warning of strong winds. We check the park’s channels again on the eve of your hike.

How we help

We find you a guide who knows the trail, so you won’t get lost, you walk at your own pace and get the shots from the best viewpoints. A photographer and a transfer from your hotel come on request. We pick a start time inside park hours, check the forecast with the guide and keep in touch on the day.

Pedra Bonita fits into a half day, so it combines well with a beach afternoon or a private tour of Rio. If you want something longer, compare the peaks on our hiking in Rio page.

Our fee is already included in the price. Price on request, proposal within 24 hours, and you pay nothing before you confirm.