Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea, UNESCO World Heritage protected landscape in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, bringing together Sugarloaf Mountain, Guanabara Bay, Tijuca National Park, and several beaches within a single protected area. Forested hills, urban neighborhoods, and open sea sit side by side in a way that is rare for a city of this size.
Before the Portuguese arrived in the early 1500s, the entire area was covered by Atlantic rainforest. Over the following centuries, large sections were cleared for sugar and coffee farming, which permanently changed the shape of the hills.
The Christ statue on Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain are not just landmarks but part of how people from Rio see their own city. Walking through any neighborhood, residents encounter these shapes constantly because they are visible from almost everywhere.
Different parts of the area can be reached by bus or cable car, and morning hours generally offer clearer views than afternoons. Sturdy shoes are a good idea for paths leading to viewpoints, as many trails are steep and uneven.
Tijuca National Park, which forms part of this World Heritage Site, is considered one of the largest urban forests in the world. Much of it was replanted in the 1800s after earlier plantations had stripped away nearly all the original vegetation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
