Meet your guide and small group of no more than four people at Copacabana beach and saddle up for a scenic bike ride along the seafront. Admire the ocean views as you pedal past the busy main beach, then glide along the white sands of Ipanema Beach, stopping to pose for photos along the way.
At the western end of the beach, leave your bikes and hop in a taxi for a ride through the hillside favelas to reach the starting point of your hike. Listen as your guide explains the difficulties of life in the favelas as you wind through the ramshackle buildings of the Vidigal favela, and hear how it became one of the city’s ‘pacified’ favelas.
Arrive at the very top of the favela, with the peaks of the Two Brothers looming overhead, and set out on the route to the summit. Accompanied by your guide, enjoy an around 2-hour round-trip hike to the top, following lush forest trails and perhaps spotting wildlife such as monkeys and tropical birds along the way. Pause to admire the spectacular views at the summit, which span the entire city, including the Tijuca forest, the Rocinha favela, and Sao Conrado beach. From your high vantage point, see if you can spot Rio landmarks such as the Christ the Redeemer Statue, perched high atop Corcovado mountain.
After hiking back down the hill and passing through the favela, pick up your bikes and cycle back to your starting point at Copacabana beach, where your tour ends.
