from many of the viewing points of tijuca, visible on the horizon is another famous national park - the serra dos órgãos parkthat, just about one hour drive outside the city, gives access to more trails, nature, and peaks ever more popular with climbing enthusiasts.

peaks are also a prominent feature in another park, further out at about three hours drive from the city - the parque national de itatiaia, the very first Brazilian national park was created in 1937 and is home the highest peak of rio de janeiro state - the pico das agulhas negras, touching the sky at nearly 3000 meters.

yet, national parks in rio state are not just about high-altitude greenery as the less know but equally beautiful parque national da restinga de jurubatiba is home to nearly 20 lagoons and about 40 kilometers of sand banks along the ocean shores, rich of flora and faunaof the mata atlântica.