Parque Nacional da Tijuca and Christ the Redeemer

Parque Nacional da Tijuca is one of the world’s largest urban forests – a collection of trees that surrounds a city or town. A wide-ranging collection of trees, wildlife and spectacular views, Parque Nacional da Tijuca (or Tijuca National Park) is engulfed by Brazil’s second largest city: Rio de Janeiro. When some think of Rio, thoughts of beautiful women, perfect beaches or electrifying samba come to mind. But most overlook the country’s most visited, and arguably most inimitable, park – Tijuca National Park. The forest is a fragment of the Atlantic Rainforest, a rainforest that covers a large part of southeastern Brazil.

The history of Tijuca National Park is unique, to say the least. When the Portuguese first arrived in Rio, they immediately turned to the Atlantic Rainforest to strip its timber and to plant coffee and sugar for consumption. Seeing the immense effects of the deforestation, King Dom Pedro II in 1861 decided to turn the tides and plant trees and native plants in barren areas. Now Tijuca National Park is a Brazilian treasure that is protected by the state – thank you Dom Pedro!

The park is actually more of a jungle than a park – as its sprawling and extensive territory causes even some of the most advanced hikers to get lost. For those wishing to visit the park, there are a plethora of options. The park is divided into three sections: Floresta da Tijuca, Serra da Carioca and Pedra Bonita/ Pedra da Gavea. All of the sections are open 8am to 5pm (6pm in the summer). And, even better, entrance into the park is FREE. Getting to the entrance of Floresta da Tijuca, the most popular hiking section, is a little tricky: the best ways to get there are by either bus or taxi. If you want to take a bus (and save some money), the following buses will drop you at the entrance of the park: 301, 333, 308, 309, 345 and 448. From here, you can hike and check out some of the beautiful waterfalls (such as the Cascatinha de Taunay). For a complete run through of the area, grab a map right as you enter the park.

The park’s main attraction, Christ the Redeemer, is on the Corcovado (meaning “hunchback” in Portuguese) in the Serra da Carioca section. The Christ is an absolute must-see while in Rio: the views are some of the best in the world and who doesn’t want a picture in front of Christ emulating his iconic pose? To get to the Christ, you have some options:

By Foot
For those in good shape and looking for a workout, and I really mean “workout,” you can hike starting from Parque Lage. The hike to the top takes about 3-4 hours depending on your stamina. Note: if you want to visit the Christ after hiking, you need to purchase a ticket before you climb which can be done here.

By Train
Another way to get to the Christ is by train, which is located on Rua Cosme Velho, 513. The trains depart every 30 minutes and although tickets can be purchased at the station for R$ 50, the best bet is to reserve your ticket online here to avoid waiting in line.

By Van
Probably the quickest way to the Christ is to take a van. Catch a van on Rua Cosme Velho, 513 and pay R$50, which includes the round-trip van ride and entrance to the monument. You can also catch a van from Copacabana or Largo do Machado which will get you to the top for about R$ 51 on-season and R$ 41 off-season. These tickets can be purchased on the company’s website here.

Tijuca National Park is a must-visit while in Rio: whether you decide to hike the trails and enjoy the park’s waterfalls and wildlife, or if you just want to visit the famous Christ statue, Brazil’s most visited park certainly does not disappoint!

Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer with paragliders floating by.

A view from the statue of Botafogo neighborhood and the Pão de Açucar in the background.

Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Estádio Maracanã can also be seen in the distance.