Active Pursuits

Adventure Sports -- Rio Hiking (tel. 021/9721-0594; www.riohiking.com.br) has evolved into Rio's adventure-sport specialist, offering a range of exciting outdoor sports that take full advantage of Rio's extraordinary geography. To date, Rio Hiking offers rock climbing, rafting, ocean kayaking, cycling, scuba diving, surfing (with lessons), and rappelling. Depending on the sport, half-day adventures cost from R$80 to R$150 (US$40-US$75/£22-£40), full-day adventures from R$150 to R$250 (US$75-US$125/£40-£67), guides and transfer to and from your hotel included. The white water-rafting trip takes you to a river about 2 hours north of Rio with Class III (and sometimes Class IV) rapids. The descent takes about 3 hours. Cost is R$190 (US$95/£51). The company also offers 3-day trekking trips. Rio Adventures (tel. 021/2705-5747 or 021/8204-7559; www.rioadventures.com) offers a couple of 1-day adventure-sport options from Rio. On the rappelling trip, you drive past Barra de Tijuca to beautiful Guaratiba, hike for an hour to a cliff overlooking an undeveloped beach, then rappel down a 377m (115-ft.) rock face. Then you hang out, swim for bit, and head back. For a fun outing that's sure to bring out the inner-Tarzan or Jane, try the tree canopy ride in the Tijuca Forest. While safely secured in a harness, you climb 15 to 50 feet above the ground and make your way from tree to tree across swing-bridges, tunnels, and walkways. Minimum age is 12. Cost is R$190 (US$95/£51) per person for two people, including transportation and lunch. With a bigger group the price goes down significantly.

Bicycling -- Rio by Bike (tel. 021/2247-7269 or 021/9798-1804) offers guided tours of the city as well as bike rentals. The most popular tour goes along the beaches of the Zona Sul and then through the tunnel to Urca and the Flamengo waterfront as far as the Museum of Modern Art (MAM). A visit as far as downtown or Glória can also be arranged, or those who prefer to cycle around the Lagoa can discuss their preferences with the guide. Bicycles for the guided tour cost R$120 (US$60/£32) for up to four people. Those who prefer to explore Rio's waterfront on their own can just rent the bicycles, R$10 (US$5/£3) per hour or R$60 (US$30/£16) for a full day. A refundable deposit of R$50 (US$25/£14) is required to rent the bike.

Golfing -- Rio's only public golf course is out in Barra da Tijuca. Golden Green (Av. Conde de Marapendi 2905; tel. 021/2434-0696) is a 3-par 6-hole course located inside a private condominium but open to the public without a membership. Golden Green is open Tuesday to Sunday from 7am to 6pm. Greens fees are R$50 (US$25/£14) Tuesday to Friday and R$60 (US$30/£16) on weekends and holidays. One of the city's best courses (18 holes) is the elegant Gávea Golf Club, Estrada da Gávea 800, São Conrado (tel. 021/3332-4141). However, the club -- like virtually every golf course in Brazil -- is private. The Copacabana Palace Hotel and the Sheraton Rio Hotel are a few of the hotels that have an arrangement allowing their guests to tee off. If you are a golf fiend, check first with your hotel of choice for privileges.

Jeep Tours -- Although we always thought they looked kind of goofy, the open jeep tours are incredibly popular with visitors to Rio. The most popular tours are the ones through the Tijuca Forest combined with a visit to the Corcovado (R$95/US$48/£26 per person). For information and bookings call tel. 021/9298-3071 mobile, or 021/2484-2279; www.indianajungle.com.br.

Hang Gliding -- For a bird's-eye view of Rio's beaches and mountains, check out Just Fly Rio (tel. 021/9985-7540 mobile, or 021/2268-0565; www.justfly.com.br). Flight instructor Paulo Celani used to be an agricultural engineer, until he decided he'd much prefer to fly for a living. That was more than 20 years ago. Since then Paulo has soared in tandem with hundreds of people ages 5 to 85. There's no experience or special skills necessary, aside from a willingness to run off a ramp into the open sky. It's one of the most exciting things you can do in Rio, well worth the R$200 (US$100/£54) per flight, pickup and drop-off included. Tip: If you are keen on flying, contact Paulo on the day you arrive in Rio. As the activity is weather dependent (and what may be a great day for the beach may not be the best flying weather), you can let Paulo contact you when flying conditions are best.

Hiking -- Rio Hiking (tel. 021/9721-0594; www.riohiking.com.br) offers guided hiking trips to most of Rio's peaks. The 4-hour Sugarloaf trip, which includes a short stretch of rock climbing, costs R$120 (US$60/£32). The 6-hour Pedra da Gávea hike offers terrific views, a waterfall in the middle, and an ocean dip at the end. Cost is R$150 (US$75/£40). Less strenuous is the Tijuca Forest tour, which involves a tour of the forest, stops at a waterfall and a couple of lookouts, and a 2-hour hike to Pico de Tijuca. Cost is R$170 (US$85/£46), with the option of returning via the fascinating hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Guides Denise Werneck and Gabriel Barrouin know Rio well, speak excellent English, and are a delight to be with.

Sea Kayaking -- The Bay of Guanabara is perfect for kayaking. The guides at Rio Hiking (tel. 021/9721-0594; www.riohiking.com.br) organize kayaking tours out of Praia Vermelha in Urca out and around some of the small islands. The fiberglass kayaks aren't quite up to North American quality, but it's nice to be on the water. Cost is R$160 (US$80/£49) for a half-day tour, including transfers, refreshments, and English-speaking guide.

Surfing -- California's not the only hot surfing spot in the world. Rio has a number of good spots to catch the waves. And if the waves aren't as big as in Hawaii, the water's certainly warmer than Vancouver Island. The surfing beach closest to the main part of Rio is Arpoador Beach in Ipanema. Waves are between 1 and 3m (3-10 ft.). São Conrado Beach is off and on. Sometimes there are good 2m (6 1/2-ft.) waves, sometimes it's dead. Out in Barra de Tijuca the main surf beach is Barra-Meio, a 1km-long (1/2-mile) stretch in the middle of the beach (around Av. Sernambetiba 3100). Waves average around 2m (6 ft.). Carry on down that same beach another 6.5 to 8km (4-5 miles), and you come to Macumba-Pontal, a 2.5km (1 1/2-mile) beach with waves up to 3m (10 ft.). If you've brought your board and just need transport, there's a surf bus that departs the Largo do Machado at 7am, 10am, 1pm, and 4pm and goes along Copacabana, Arpoador, São Conrado, and Barra de Tijuca as far as Prainha, past Recreio. Call to confirm departure times (tel. 021/2539-7555 or 021/8702-2837; www.surfbus.com.br); tickets cost R$3 (US$1.50/£1) each way. If you need a board, Hot Coast, Galeria River, Rua Francisco Otaviano 67, loja 12, Ipanema (tel. 021/2287-9388), rents short boards, fun boards, and long boards for R$40 (US$20/£11) a day. You need to book ahead if you want a board on the weekend. If you're looking for lessons there's a surf school conveniently located in Ipanema. The Escolinha de Surf Paulo Dolabella (tel. 021/2259-2320) is in front of the Caesar Park Hotel. The regular lessons are Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 10am and 3 to 5pm, but you can also arrange for a lesson on the weekends or other days. Drop-in rates are R$30 (US$15/£8) per hour, including the equipment. However, like true surf dudes, they will neither have nor answer phones; you have to go find them. Riohiking (021/9721-0594; www.riohiking.com.br) also offers a half-day surf lesson and includes transportation, gear, and a lesson, R$150 (US$75/£40).

Trekking -- Rio Hiking (tel. 021/9721-0594; www.riohiking.com.br) offers a number of guided 2- to 3-day treks in the mountains or rugged coast around Rio. Particularly recommended is the 2-day trek in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (R$440/US$220/£119), where the Atlantic rainforest is pristine and the views extraordinary. Avid hikers will certainly enjoy the spectacular hikes in Itatiaia National Park. Located about 3 hours from Rio, on the border of the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo, the park is home to the highest peak in the state, the 2,787m (8,000-ft.) Agulhas Negras. This 3-day trip takes you to some of the most region's best scenery and includes a visit to the waterfalls in the lower part of the national park, a full-day hike to the highest peak in Rio state, and on the third day a 4-hour hike to the stunning rock formations of the Prateleiras (shelves), with an optional rappel. This 3-day package costs R$660 (US$330/£178) per person and includes accommodations, food, specialized guides, and transportation. All you have to bring are sunscreen, hiking boots, warm clothes, and a raincoat.