Jeep Tour

Jeep Tour is a family-run tour company that was launched in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 by its founder, Andre, who the company says is still hands-on today. Some of the team have been with it since the beginning, and it says it has served hundreds of thousands of visitors over more than 25 years.

Its signature is the vehicle. The tours use former military 4x4s that have been remodelled into open-top, convertible-style jeeps approved for tourism, so passengers ride with the breeze and an unobstructed view. The company keeps its own garage, beside the Quinta da Boa Vista park, with mechanics, painters, electricians and upholstery staff to maintain the fleet.

The best-known trip is the Rainforest Tour, which lasts about four hours. Pick-up from your hotel is between 08:00 and 09:00 for the morning tour or between 13:00 and 14:00 for the afternoon. The route heads into the Tijuca Forest, with stops at waterfalls where swimming is possible, the Vista Chinesa viewpoint and an easy trail, and the company mentions sightings of monkeys, toucans, iguanas and insects. A local guide, hotel pick-up and drop-off and all tickets and entrance fees are included.

For the forest tour, the company recommends bringing a camera, sunglasses, a hat, water, comfortable shoes and layered clothes suited to the weather, plus a swimsuit and towel for the waterfall.

The company runs many other routes. They include The 4 Wonders, combinations of Christ the Redeemer with Sugarloaf or with the forest and Santa Teresa, the Botanical Garden with the rainforest, favela tours, a city and samba experience, the historic city centre with Santa Teresa, and a trip to Petrópolis. Its website states that tours are wheelchair accessible, and lists tourism certifications including Cadastur and Turismo Consciente RJ.

Jeep Tour suits families, groups and first-time visitors who want to see the forest and the main sights without arranging transport themselves, and the open vehicles add a sense of adventure. The forest tour is a good way to experience Tijuca National Park, whose forest was replanted from 1861 and now covers almost 4,000 hectares, without a long hike.

Bookings are handled by email at [email protected], by phone on +55 21 2108-5800 or on mobile and WhatsApp at +55 21 99314-5009. The company is registered as Rio Jeep Tour Locação de Veículos e Turismo Ltda.