Tijuca Forest at a glance
The Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer statue stand inside Tijuca National Park (Parque Nacional da Tijuca), in the middle of Rio de Janeiro. Most visitors only see the statue. The rest of the park is a forest with trails, viewpoints, waterfalls and rock summits, and much of it is free to enter.
General entry to the park is free. The Corcovado is the paid area, because the statue has its own ticket. The park publishes opening hours of 08:00–17:00 every day, including weekends and holidays, but individual sectors follow their own rules (see below). This site is an independent guide and has no link to the park administration.
Hours and access by sector
The same park, different rules. Read the sector you plan to visit.
Setor Floresta
The park protocol of February 2026 lists vehicle access from 08:00 to 17:00, access on foot or by bike from 06:00, and leaving the sector by 18:00. This is earlier than the general hours, so it matters if you want a morning walk.
Pico da Tijuca
The summit page lists 08:00–17:00. The trail should be started no later than 14:00. Access is on foot along the trail, with some climbing near the top.
Corcovado and the statue
The statue has its own tickets, transport and works schedule. Since 3 August 2026 escalator replacement has reduced the number of visitors allowed at once by 50 percent. Read tickets and prices and the Corcovado guide before you go.
Roads inside the park
The park protocol does not allow pedestrians on the Estrada do Corcovado, and elsewhere it restricts walking and cycling on it to certain hours. Use the marked trail instead. The hike guide explains the route from Parque Lage.
Our picks: Tijuca forest tours
Guided hikes through the national park around Corcovado, with park access included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tijuca rainforest hike to waterfalls and caves
A certified guide, park access, air-conditioned transfer and guide photos are included. Food, drinks and tips are extra, and wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
Check availability →Tijuca National Park guided hike to peaks, caves and falls
A certified local guide, park entry and air-conditioned transport are included, plus guide photos. Food, drinks and tips are not.
Check availability →Tijuca Forest and Rio guided trips
Guided half days, jeep trips and Corcovado combinations, with live prices and availability.
Places in the forest
Three stops that are easy to find and well documented.
Pico da Tijuca
At 1,022 m it is the highest point of the park. The way up is on foot, and the ascent is a proper hike, not a walk. Start early, bring water and check the weather, because cloud can cover the summit.
Vista Chinesa
A viewpoint with a pavilion built between 1902 and 1906. The park lists it as open daily from 08:00 to 17:00. It is a viewpoint that fits well into a half day in the forest or a guided trip.
Cascatinha Taunay
A waterfall in the forest. Swimming directly under the fall is forbidden. The park allows bathing only in a separate pool called Poço Job de Alcântara, below the stone arch bridge. This is not a general permission to swim at every waterfall.
Park rules that affect your day
These come from the park protocol and its visitor FAQ.
Water
Swimming in lakes and reservoirs is not allowed. Rivers can have local bathing bans, and signs show them. Obey the signs.
Wildlife
Do not feed, bother or chase animals. Take your rubbish with you. Stay on marked trails.
Drones
Recreational drones are banned at the Corcovado. At Paineiras and Parque Lage they need prior permission from the park.
Guides and overnight stays
The park does not run its own guide service, so guides are hired privately. Overnight stays are possible only with advance permission. If you book a guided trip, including a jeep tour, check the pickup area, language, duration, what the price includes and the cancellation terms.
Safety
The German Foreign Office advises hiking in nature parks in a group, on marked and busy trails, because of robberies. An open park gate or a guided tour is not a safety guarantee. Read the safety guide before you plan a long day.
Plan a day in the forest
Three simple rules.
Start early
Setor Floresta allows people on foot or by bike from 06:00, and the Pico da Tijuca trail has to be started by 14:00. A morning start gives you the most room, and it leaves the afternoon for the statue if you want both.
Keep the statue separate
The Corcovado has its own tickets and timed capacity, reduced by 50 percent during the escalator works. Treat it as its own trip and read how to get there before you combine it with a forest walk.
Watch the weather
Clouds can cover the summits. On windy days the park has closed or advised against visits, and no ticket or tour changes that. Check the park notices on the morning you go.
Tijuca Forest: frequently asked questions
Is Tijuca National Park free?
General entry is free. The Corcovado is the paid area, since the statue has its own ticket. Walking trails are free, and a separate fee applies only if you want to enter the monument.
What are the opening hours?
The park lists 08:00–17:00 every day. Setor Floresta allows foot and bike access from 06:00 and asks you to leave by 18:00. The Pico da Tijuca trail should be started by 14:00. Hours can change, so check the park notices before you go.
Can I swim at the waterfalls?
Not at every one. At Cascatinha Taunay, swimming under the fall is forbidden, and only the pool below the stone arch bridge is allowed. Lakes and reservoirs are closed to swimming.
Do I need a guide?
The park protocol does not require one. The park itself does not offer a guide service, so a guide is a private booking. A group on a marked, busy trail is the advice from the German Foreign Office.
Can I fly a drone?
Not at the Corcovado. At Paineiras and Parque Lage you need permission from the park first.
Does this site run the park?
No. This is an independent guide with no link to the park administration, the Santuário or any tour company.