Among the many great things I did while in Rio de Janeiro this was one of the most exciting. Guito, the guide and head of Jungle Me, took me to three peaks in the Tijuca forest. He explained a lot, about Brazil's and Rio's history and about the flora and fauna in the park. So, I learnt a lot about hollow trees, thorny palm trees, the difference between Amazonian and Atlantic rain forest etc. The views were stunning.
As a female solo traveller I am always happy when I am with a guide who is professional and good company - which was the case with Guito.
The hike itself was not difficult, except from one small stretch leading up to Tijuca peak that was steep and might cause vertigo in those who suffer from vertigo easily. The heat made the trekking more demanding, so being in good shape is recommandable.

I did two tours with Jungle Me, the Corcovado/Cristo Redentor and the Tijuca Three Peaks. Traveling by myself, Jungle Me was the only hiking company in Rio that would accommodate just one person. They were flexible in the dates and even asked if I wanted to put a trip on hold when the weather was less than perfect (so I could enjoy a better view later in the week). Both were beautiful, challenging hikes with the best views in Rio. Each trek started with a brief but thorough history lesson on Rio and the specific routes traveled. Our guide Guito was extremely knowledgeable of the local environment and pointed out interesting flora and fauna along the way. I highly recommend them, great hikes, great guides and a no-hassle procedure.

Excellent tour of Babylonia favela and the jungle above. Guito, our guide was joined by Nelson from the local reforestation committee. The history and progress of the favela was explained to us perfectly and challenged our pre-conceptions. The trek to the top of the hill revealed spectacular views of the city and Copacabana beach and various points of interest were noted to us on the way, most notably the old hideaways of drug dealers. We were even treated to a cup of Acai juice on the way down accompanied by a lot of football chat with some locals. All in all, a fantastic day, a highlight of our Rio trip.

Regarding our Jungle Me experience, we rate it top notch, meaning excellent. From the moment Thiago from Jungle Me picked us up at our holiday apartment and through the entire day we felt like we were among friends providing us with a welcome history of Brasil amid a beautiful natural setting. Thiago's personalised service made the day very special. The tour guides did a great job. We definitely recommend Jungle Me.