Tijuca National Park

We needed to seek some reprieve from the crowd and blockos (street parties), and so decided to take a drive to the Tijuca National Park, where one can find a waterfall, and spend a few hours relaxing.

If not for Torsten, I wouldn´t have known that there was a waterfall in Rio so close to the city!  Located about 20 mins drive from the apartment, we saw a lot of people around the area as we approached and tried to find a place to park.

Warning Sign
"Life in Danger"

The waterfall is split into three sections : The 1st section is easiest to reach as it is just steps from the entrance where the cars are parked, however it was extremely crowded, and contains just a small pool.

The 2nd and 3rd section is for the more agile as a certain level of climbing is required.  We decided to head to the 3rd section as I was told that it was the nicest, though the climb both up and down was not easy.

There was even a sign enforcing this with "Dangerous Trek. Life in Danger" warning message, and with chains built along steep cliffs to help people passing through the path.

Steep climb!

Supported only by chains on the mountains

Torsten & Sandra before
the human traffic hold up

The hardest part was climbing up an elevated section (down was much more tricky as it required burrowing through a small hole, and carefully watching one´s step.  This resulted in a human traffic hold up!), with the only assistance to get to the next section, was using the roots of a tree that grew deep into the ground as steps to climb up and down.

We were all breaking out in sweat by the time we reach the 3rd section, and was glad to quickly popped into the cool water of the cascading waterfall.  Even took the opportunity to get some natural massage from the pounding of the water from the waterfall.

At the highest section
of the waterfall

Enjoying a cool
natural massage

Chinese Vista

After about 1.5 hours at the waterfall, we decided to head back down.  Torsten took the liberty to bring me to a place called "Chinese Vista", a short drive up the hills, also located within the Tijuca National Park.

View from Chinese Vista

We arrived at a place which had a Chinese style pavillion made of concrete, and it wasn´t called Chinese Vista for no reason, as the views from here were beautiful.  One could get a great view of Cristo Redentor, Pao de Azucar and the surronding neighbourhoods from up above.

We stayed here for a while before returning to the car, and saw a crowd gathering at the car park, with their cameras pointed at a tree.

On closer look, we found a group of monkeys trying to feast on the fruits from one of the jackfruit!

Torsten, Sandra & I

Monkeys eating jackfruit!