Hikes for beginners, by level
In the Bora Trilha catalogue each trail has a level from 1 to 4: easy, moderate, hard, extreme. For a first time, start with the easy ones. But read the notes: some easy trails have a stretch that needs care.
Easy
- Pedra Bonita (Rio): 2.6 km round trip, well marked and busy, considered one of the safest in Rio.
- Morro Dois Irmãos (Rio): 3 km, about 40 min up, no confusing forks. Little shade up top.
- Pico do Jaraguá (SP): short but steep to the end; the descent is the riskiest part.
- Cachoeira dos Pretos (Joanópolis): a short path with wooden bridges; more outing than hike.
- Serra do Rola-Moça (BH): the Cerrado trail, 2.4 km, self-guided.
- Vale da Lua (Chapada): 1.5 km, with a lifeguard on duty.
- Poço Azul (DF): just the pools near the car park, 1 to 2 km.
Easy, with a catch
- Pedra Grande, Atibaia: steep for about 90% of the way, with scrambling and overgrown stretches; a guide is advised if nobody in the group has experience.
- Morro do Anhangava (Curitiba): beginners manage, but the final rock stretch has seen a helicopter rescue. Go in a group.
- Cachoeira Santa Bárbara (Cavalcante): the walk is short, but a Kalunga guide is mandatory and the pool is deep.
Moderate: the next step
Pico da Tijuca (well signed, no scrambling), Pedra da Macela, Pedra do Baú (Bauzinho; the Baú itself needs gear), the Bonete trail, Praia de Lopes Mendes, Cachoeira da Farofa, Cachoeira do Tabuleiro, Pico do Itacolomi, Morro do Canal (with iron rungs near the top) and Saltos do Rio Preto.
Hard and extreme: later
Hard: Pico dos Marins, Pico do Itaguaré, Pedra do Sino and Pico das Agulhas Negras. Extreme: Pedra da Gávea, with the Carrasqueira rock wall, and Pico Paraná, 12 hours or more in a day. For these, sources recommend a guide or an experienced group the first time.
Example: a first hike up Pico da Tijuca, hour by hour
| 08:00 | Drive in to Bom Retiro (cars enter from 8:00). A ranger notes one name and the group size. |
|---|---|
| 08:15 | Start of the trail, almost all in shade. |
| ~09:25 | Stone stairs and the summit, 1,022 m (about 1h10 up). |
| 10:00 | Down, about 1 h. Careful on the steps when wet. |
| ~11:00 | Back at Bom Retiro. Trail entry closes at 15:00. |
An example with the published times and hours. In the plan, pick "First hike" for the group's experience: the times adjust.
In the free preview you say the group's experience (first hike, now and then, all the time) and whether there are children. The plan adjusts the pace and the time to turn back.
The easy ones (pages in Portuguese): Pedra Bonita, Morro Dois Irmãos, Pico do Jaraguá, Cachoeira dos Pretos, Serra do Rola-Moça, Vale da Lua, Poço Azul, Pedra Grande, Morro do Anhangava, Cachoeira Santa Bárbara. All 26 trails.