Almost all hiking places in Rio are risky. So are most lookouts and scenic places. Of course, some places might be safe enough, if you go in the right company at the right time.

Here I want to suggest some places where even the most paranoid can feel safe. (a) and (b) I consider totally safe. From what I know, no mugging has occured there ever. So if you dream of sitting by the beach with your laptop, read on.



a) military museum at the end of Copacabana going towards Ipanema, in front of Sofitel. It is right were the beach sand ends, next to the fisherman's village and the fish market. Opening hours 10-5, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday.

You pay aprox 2 R$ to get in, aprox 4 Reals if you want to see the museum fortress. There is a Confeitaria (pastry house) Colombo inside, one of the best views of Copacabana breach. I think it is impossible to get mugged inside the military compound. Only place where you can sit at the beach road safely, even with your laptop (take a taxi to get there and to get home, if you have a laptop)


b) Leme, end of Copacabana beach.
Daytime during weekends only, the safest hike in Rio de Janeiro. So unknown, even most locals don't know it. Find the military barracks, also at the extreme end of Leme (follow Avenida Atlantica past the very end, you will find the soldiers). Buy an admission ticket. You can go up the street (even with a car or a taxi (?), but it is healthier to walk). I asked, never ever in history a mugging has occurred there. You will have a great view at the top, also see some 60 year old huge cannons. You can see that hill from Copacabana beach, it is right after the Copacabana/.Leme beach sand ends

Note that most popular hikes (Pedra da Gavea, street to Corcovado) are infested with criminals who hold up tourists and locals.


c) Leme
When on Copacaban beach, looking towards the ocean, look left. When the sand ends, there is a huge rock, a hill. At the end of Copacabana beach, the end of Leme beach to be precise, at the very end of the sand (opposite to Mario's churrascaria). There is a little fisherman's walk on the rocks, going 400 feet into the ocean. From what I heard, there are military and police people around, the fishermen are law abiding but fierce citizens. Probably quite safe.


d) Morro da Urca.
This is the half way station of the cable car to sugar loaf. You can safely hike up there if you don't mind a strenuous walk straight up the hill and the forest. Need to have good shoes and firm step, but no climbing experience is needed.

Go to "Praia Vermelha", where the "bondinho para Pao de Acucar", the sugar loaf cable car starts.That whole area is patrolled by Policia do Exercito, the police of the real military forces, not to be confused with the military police (Policia Militar). So if you want to hang out with a girl or get a blow job in a car, that area is the safest bet even at night. Also this is the only beach where I would dare to bring an expensive camera to shoot girl photos. Unfortunately, the water is dirty and the beach is not very nice.


Diagonally across from the cable car, on the end of the small Praia Vermelha beach, there is a parking lot with a soldier, then a gate. Go in there, you have 1200 meters of jogging road each way. Very safe. any criminal would have to walk back past the policia do Exercito. Even tiny "miko" monkeys can be found in there.

At the end of the 1200 meters, a difficult path up Sugar loaf can be found. You should have real climbing experience, a local guide, and a safety rope. For climbers, it is a very easy climb, but for walkers and hikers, it is too dangerous.

Somewhere in the middle of the path, you can notice a clearing with some maior trampled path going up very steeply among trees. This is the path to Morro da Urca. Once you are up at the top, turn right first, on a narrow path through the bushes, till you hit the rock formation of sugar loaf. There are some shady people smoking joints up on the path there, but I doubt criminals would want to mug people up there.

Then turn back, past your point of arrival, and go all the way to morro da Urca cable car station, with tourists and restaurant. Then you can walk back down or take the cable car.


e) Jardim Botánico: The botanical garden has guards inside. Not sure if it is very safe, but it is fairly safe to walk around in there. It is not far from Copacabana, on the other side of Lagoa (the lagoon). There is also Parque Lage, adjacent to Jardim Botánico.

after talking to a policeman, a correction>

He agreed with me on a,b,d, but he said the fishermen's path in Leme is not safe, there are some thieves there.

Admin, please add this into the original report, after c)