A very family-friendly, short, and accessible trail that places you face-to-face with the heart-shaped Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in under 20 minutes.
Right in front of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, in Rio's South Zone, the Catacumba Municipal Park hides one of the fastest, easiest trails with the best "cost-benefit" view in the whole city. It is the ideal outing to do with children or for those looking to squeeze a quick dose of ecotourism into their itinerary without losing much time or breaking a sweat.
Formerly occupied by a favela (which was removed in the 70s), the hill was completely reforested and is today a beautiful conservation area, filled with outdoor sculptures by artists at its base. The ascent begins along stone-paved paths and soon shifts into a pleasant, shaded dirt trail.
In a mere 15 to 20 minutes of gentle hiking, visitors reach the Sacopã and Urubu lookouts. The vision is simply magnificent: the heart-shaped Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon spreads out below, surrounded by luxury buildings, the Jockey Club, Morro Dois Irmãos, and the vast blue sea of Ipanema and Leblon in the distant background.
Cariocando Tip: Parque da Catacumba is also a hub for light adventure. At the lower part of the park, companies offer canopy tours, ziplines, and climbing walls for kids and adults, making it a complete family outing.
