while there are dozens of hills and mountains,  two of the most popular remain the rocky hills called pedra do pontalin recreio dos bandeirantesand the pedra da tartaruga in barra de guaratiba.

pedra do pontal has been a landmark in rio de janeiro for decades - it is meeting point for surfers and artists alike, while the hard to reach pedra da tartaruga is a favorite spot for rock-climbers due to the stunning views of the area.

the parque national da tijuca was once the biggest urban forest in the world, but when rio de janeiro expanded westward the pedra branca state park was included in the metropolitan area and this state park replaced it as the biggest urban forest.