The twin peaks at the end of Ipanema beach, climbed from the top of the Vidigal favela: a mototaxi ride through the community, an hour on a steep forest path, and arguably the best view in Rio.
Every sunset photo of Ipanema has the same two peaks at the end of the beach. The trail to the top of the higher one starts at the top of Vidigal, the hillside community below them.
Reach the start by mototaxi or van up Vidigal's winding main road, then climb for about an hour on a steep, well-trodden forest path with a couple of viewpoints on the way. From the 533-metre summit, Ipanema and Leblon curve away below, the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas shines beyond, Corcovado and the Sugarloaf stand on the horizon, and on the other side Rocinha spills down the hill towards São Conrado and Pedra da Gávea.
Go with a local guide from Vidigal: it's respectful, supports the community, and is safer. Mornings are clearest.
Short but steep; most of the effort is in the last half-hour.
Take a mototaxi or van from the foot of Vidigal, at the end of Leblon, up to the top of the community.
Walk past the last houses and a football pitch to the start of the trail into the forest.
A rocky lookout over Rocinha and São Conrado, with Pedra da Gávea across the bay.
Scramble the final rocky section to the top for the full view over Ipanema, Leblon and the Lagoa.
Descend the same way and stop at a Vidigal bar or café with a view on the way back down.
Vidigal residents offer guided hikes; ask at your hotel or arrange online. Agree the price before you start.
Mototaxis wait at the bottom of Vidigal on Avenida Niemeyer; the ride up costs a few reais.
Vidigal is a community, not an attraction: ask before photographing people, and spend money locally.
Rio practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences; Pexels photographs under the Pexels licence.
