Sunrise hike at Mirante Dona Marta - one of Rio’s best kept secrets
First of all, what is Mirante Dona Marta?
Miranda Dona Marta is a scenic viewpoint located in the Tijuana National park. At 360 meters above sea level it gives you one of the best (and one the most underrated) views of Rio de Janeiro. In my opinion, it’s the best view you can get without doing a big hike. At the top you will be able to see Christ the Redeemer from a different angle, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach as well as Downtown Rio.
Unlike other viewpoints in Rio, Mirante Dona Marta is easily accessible, making it a must-visit for those who want a stunning view without an intense trek.
If you’re also interested in doing a hike, I do recommend the hike to the Two Brothers Lookout. You can read more about that here.
How to get to Mirante Dona Marta
There are multiple ways to reach the viewpoint. The easiest one is obviously to drive. There is a pretty huge and free parking lot right next to the lookout point so if you have a car just plot it in to the GPS and go.
If you dont have a car, which most people dont have when visiting Rio, you will have two options. Hike to the top or do it as a guided tour. I have to say that this hike is not something I would recommend doing because it goes through one of the favelas that are not pacified and the trail is not clearly marked which means you can end up anywhere. So, instead I recommend doing it with a guide.This is the tour I did and was very happy with.
There are different tours you can take here. Most companies offer tours up to Mirante Dona Marta as a part of a day trip and later visit Christ the Redeemer. However, I would personally prefer to do the MIrante Dona Marta tour as a separate one so you have enough time to enjoy it and can head back to your hotel and relax afterwards. Remember that most of these tours are sunrise tours so you will be getting up at 4am. But if you dont have that many days in Rio and want to maximize then this is an option of cours.
You might be wondering why taking an Uber up is not an option. The simple reason is that there is no signal at the top. So, you will easily be able to book an uber to take you up, but then you will be stuck there and having to walk down to the city which takes about 2 hours. I have heard many stories of people not knowing this and booking an Uber up and asking people with cars to take them down later on. Of course you might get lucky, but my advice is just to skip it. Alternatively you can book a taxi and ask him to wait for you and take you down again, but that’s going to cost you.
What to Expect at the Viewpoint
The main viewpoint is a large platform with jaw-dropping views of Rio. There is also a helipad nearby, which offers a slightly different angle. If you have a drone this is the perfect spot to use it. I had so much fun flying around Christ the Redeemer and filming all the beautiful views!
Unlike most of the areas in Rio, this is free to enter. However there are no restrooms or snack bars so bring what you need.
Best Time to Visit
Both at sunrise and sunset there will likely be more people there than you would want, but in my opinion it wasn’t really a problem. Everyone got their pictures and got to take in the view. Another reason to do this as a separate tour is that most of the people there are on a tour that will also take them to Christ the Redeemer so they will leave before you have to and you will have it almost to yourself. So all in all I still think doing this at sunrise is the best time. However, the view is stunning no matter when, so if you are not a morning person dont let that stop you from heading up to this viewpoint.
Final Thoughts
Mirante Dona Marta is one of Rio de Janeiro’s best-kept secrets, so no matter when you visit or how you choose to get there you are sure to be glad you went!
Happy exploring!
Until next time,
Ingrid