Dois Irmãos Natural Park in Rio de Janeiro

How about enjoying an amazing and completely free outing in Rio de Janeiro? This route takes you to one of the city’s most iconic landscapes, perfect for those who love walking, exploring, and enjoying breathtaking views.

The Morro Dois Irmãos is a must-visit spot, separating the neighborhoods of Leblon and Gávea from the Vidigal and Rocinha favelas. The easiest way to get to the park is by car or rideshare app, but for those who prefer public transportation, bus line 553 – INT8 Rio Sul x Recreio dos Bandeirantes drops you about a 20-minute walk from the park entrance.

Put on your sneakers, bring water and sunscreen, and get ready to admire one of Rio’s most famous views, surrounded by nature and history. It’s a perfect outing for the whole family or anyone looking to reconnect with the city in an active and fun way.

The park, created by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall in 1992, covers an area of 39 hectares and offers spectacular views of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the Botanical Garden, Corcovado, and the coastlines of Leblon, Ipanema, and Arpoador. In addition to the lookout, considered one of the city’s most beautiful spots, the park also features sports courts, recreational areas, and trails, which can be explored following environmental protection rules established by the Brazilian Environmental Crimes Law.

The park can be explored at any time of day, and it’s a great place to take amazing photos. You can capture images both at the lookout near the park entrance, with panoramic views of Leblon, and on the stairway surrounded by the greenery of the hill, which leads to a second cliff viewpoint, offering stunning views of the coastline and the city. Upon reaching the park entrance, the cliffside lookout facing Leblon already reveals itself, offering a breathtaking view. Even for those who have seen photos or videos of the location, the live experience impresses with the grandeur and beauty of the city, making it an unmissable stop for anyone visiting Rio de Janeiro.

In the middle of the lookout there is a memorial in respect of the 228 men, women and children who disappeared on 01/06/2009 in the accident of flight AF 447.

The park can be explored at any time of day, and it’s a great place to take amazing photos. You can capture images both at the lookout near the park entrance, with panoramic views of Leblon, and on the stairway surrounded by the greenery of the hill, which leads to a second cliff viewpoint, offering stunning views of the coastline and the city.

The lookout is very well preserved and the cleanliness of the places is impeccable. Also for this reason, I found interesting the work done by a local artist extolling the street swiper woman - side by side with the wonder woman and the super powerful girls - as a way of recognizing one of the fundamental works for the Rio society that lives off tourism and local commerce . Especially as it is located so close to the Vidigal and Rocinha slums where the city's drug trafficking war is raging, this tribute has immense significance.

Going down the stairs and passing through the courtyard, there is a second lookout even closer to the sea where we spent time and took a few more pictures before returning.