the first piece of safety advice we can offer, before any potential journey, is to hire a local guide, especially if participants are not sure about the region, as many paths are poorly marked, and it can be easy to get lost.  

of course, it is not imperative for hikers to go with guides, but it is the safest way to navigate the terrain, as the guides are experts of the region - this is particularly important if there is climbing involved on the journey.

in addition to the extra safety hiking guides can provide, professional guides are fluent in portuguese and would be indispensable in case of an emergency to communicate with rescue crews.

we highly recommend all hikers to enjoy rio's mountain trails accompanied by an experienced and certified professional hiking guide, found through proper and reliable channels or recommendations.