Trails in Rio de Janeiro are arguably the closest one can get to the best of two often clearly distinct worlds, deep natural wilderness just a few kilometers away from the bustling life of the big city - The rewards that come from the sometimes exhausting, sometimes easy hikes are unique to the combination of these two settings, that some would say is unique to the 'cidade maravilhosa'.

While leaving an hotel in botafogo in the morning by foot, taking a walk up to corcovado, coming down in time for dinner and then going party in Lapa might seem surprisingly easy for the small physical distance between these places, one must bear in mind that a hike up a mountain amidst the wilderness is an unusual effort for most people, and a careful approach of such activities is therefore imperative.