the tijuca forest is one of
the best places to get an impression of what rio de janeiro
would have looked like before
colonization. in fact, the 46 square miles of forest da tijuca are rich with tropical
rainforest, trails, peaks, caves, waterfalls, and unique
flora and fauna.
this partially man-made forest, is the
second
largest urban reserve in the world, losing its title to the
neighboring parque da
pedra branca, also located within rio de
janeiro city's limits.