Sunrise hikes
Watching the day break from a summit means starting in the dark, by headlamp, and arriving before the light. Four hikes from our catalogue where you can, shortest to hardest, and what changes at night.
Pedra da Macela, Cunha (1,840 m)
The shortest way to a sunrise above 1,800 m: about 5 km round trip and 300 m of climb, on a road-like path with no forks and a steep final stretch. Sunrise is crowded: groups arrive around 4:40. The gate is shut to cars but walkers pass. The only water is the spring at the start. At night the wind at the top is strong and cold, and bats fly low over the path after dark. Camping at the top was allowed in a 2015 report; check.
See my sunrise on MacelaExample: a sunrise on Macela, hour by hour
| 04:00 | Parking before the gate. Fill up at the spring at the start: there's no other water. |
|---|---|
| 04:10 | Start walking, by headlamp, ahead of the 4:40 groups. |
| sunrise | The summit. Your day's exact sunrise time comes in the preview. |
| after | Down in daylight, careful on the steep last stretch. |
Macela's up and down times aren't confirmed by the sources; the plan works out yours from the distance and the climb.
Morro do Anhangava, Quatro Barras (1,420 m)
About 30 km from Curitiba. According to the IAT page the trail is open every day, 24 hours, but registering at the base on arrival is mandatory. The climb takes 1 to 2 hours, with a final rock stretch that needs care, even more so in the dark or wet. Poorly signed forks: download the track first.
See my sunrise on AnhangavaMorro Dois Irmãos, Rio (533 m)
No gate and no official hours; sources mention going before dawn for the sunrise, as well as late afternoon for the sunset. About 40 minutes up from the Vila Olímpica football field in Vidigal.
See my sunrise on Dois IrmãosPico dos Marins, Piquete (2,420 m)
The big one: sunrise groups leave the base between 1 and 3 am for about 4h30 of climbing. Cold and strong wind at the top, with a hypothermia risk, and below 0 °C in winter. It has its own guide: Pico dos Marins in November.
In the preview, choose "See the sunrise" under "What you want": the plan counts back from sunrise and tells you when to wake up and when to leave.
Sources: Mochileiros (2015), IAT, QBtur, 2024 Rio guides and Marins reports from 2017 to 2025.
The trails in this guide (pages in Portuguese): Pedra da Macela, Morro do Anhangava, Morro Dois Irmãos, Pico dos Marins.