The Top Day Trips From Rio de Janeiro

One of the most exciting cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro is a trip of a lifetime, highly recommended to check out at least once. While the city itself is vibrant and electric, there are plenty of things to do in the surrounding area that warrant exploring.

Paraty

A beautifully preserved Portuguese colonial town, Paraty is known for its beautiful town center and coastal location. The town is a stunning contrast to the vibrant streets of Rio, a fascinating window into Brazil's history and culture outside of the city life.

Serra dos Órgãos National Park

One of the most beautiful national parks in South America, the jagged peaks of Serra dos Órgãos might seem a world away from the lively city of Rio, but is only a short one and a half hour drive. The most iconic view of the park is the God's Finger and the surrounding peaks, that stretch like huge fingers jutting up from the park. There are plenty of hiking routes along with group tours that take you around the incredible natural sites of the national park.

Ilha Grande

An island of paradise just a few hours from Rio, Ilha Grande is the perfect spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Around the coast you'll find numerous gorgeous beaches to relax on, many of them often with hardly any people on them for you to enjoy in peace. It's also a popular diving spot, with a number of shipwrecks and beautiful marine life in the azure blue waters.

Prainha Beach

While the city of Rio itself has some beautiful beaches such as the iconic Copa Cabana, the best of the best are located a little way from the city center. Prainha is a stunning sandy beach in an isolated cove that makes for a great seaside escape from the busy city beaches. It's fairly easy to get there from the city center by driving along the coastal roads for just under an hour.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Rio de Janeiro's iconic peak, Sugarloaf Mountain rises up almost 400 meters over the coast of the city. While it's located right next to the city, you should spend most of the day exploring the mountain and its surrounding island. Sugarloaf Mountain is well connected and easy to get to, with two cable cars taking visitors up to the peak. From the top you'll get unrivaled views out over the city.

Tijuca Forest

For those looking for an escape to nature a bit closer to Rio, Tijuca is a vast area of rainforest just outside the city center. In fact the forest is actually included in the city's boundaries, although it's big enough that you'll probably want most of a day to explore. With a number of hills and mountains in the park, you'll also find some picturesque views over the city and out towards the famous Christ the Reedemer statue.

Conclusion

Surrounded by beautiful coastline, tropical islands and gorgeous beaches on one side and vast rainforests teeming with rare wildlife on the other, Rio offers plenty of day trips for anyone.