the tijuca forest is best known globally as the location of the statue of christ the redeemer, but other notable attractions include the cascatinha waterfall, the mayrink chapel, and a giant granite picnic table called the mesa do imperador.  

the world's largest urban forest, pedra branca, is a more serious hiking experience. covering over 77 square miles, pedra branca is over three times the size of the tijuca forest. it is a rugged, mountainous area with dense tropical vegetation and jagged mountain peaks - in the past, this terrain saved this forest from becoming farmland.