When you think of going hiking, exploring the Brazil mountains, or even practicing the sport of โmountaineeringโ, several countries will come to mind, and Brazil won’t be one of the first options. However, mountaineering is becoming more and more popular in Brazil. And yes, there are MANY mountains in this country, which not only offer contact with nature and local fauna but also majestic and unforgettable landscapes.
Despite the facilities that modernity offers us, such as processed and high-fat products, and crazy diets with no scientific evidence, physical activity is on the rise. And the practice of mountain climbing and mountaineering is only growing. This is no different in Brazil: every year, more tour agencies are opening up to offer adventurers a unique experience.
Brazilโs mountains are gaining buzz as adventure hubs, with trails revealing more than just stunning views. Eco-tourism initiatives now offer guided hikes paired with local storytelling, spotlighting Indigenous heritage. Some peaks host pop-up yoga retreats, blending nature with wellness trends. These ranges prove Brazilโs highlands are as dynamic as its coastlines.
If you are looking at traveling all around Brazil, we also have our complete Brazil travel guide, which you can read later.
Here we will explore far beyond the state of Rio de Janeiro (these things related to cristo redentor): Brazil, from north to south, can offer you a special adventure. The state of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, for example, located in the far south of the country, is very cold all year round, with rare hot days, even in summer.
If you are a mountaineer and are looking at all Brazil has to offer, here is a complete list of all the mountains in Brazil.
So you can climb a mountain in Santa Catarina and be lucky (or for many, unlucky) enough to be treated to a blizzard. On the other hand, we have the state of Roraima, in the far north of the country, where temperatures are scorching, reaching 100ยบF (38ยบC).
I believe that by this point you’ve taken note that Brazil is a country of extremes, where diversity is the rule: you’ll find extreme cold, heat, humidity, sertรฃo (as well as deserts), and much more! And that for adventurers is one of the most interesting things there can be.
Facing diversity responsibly and overcoming your fears are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. And I invite you to live these experiences in my beloved Brazil!
The 8 Most Incredible Mountains in Brazil
1. Brazil Mountains: Pico da Neblina
Pico da Neblina is a Brazilian mountain in the north of the country, specifically in the state of Amazonas, close to the venezuelan border. Recognized as the highest peaks in Brazil, it rises to an altitude of 9,819 feet (2,993 meters) above sea level, according to data from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics).
The climate change in the Pico da Neblina region is strongly influenced by its latitude, near the Equator, and by variations in altitude, resulting in two distinct climatic types: the humid tropical and the high-altitude tropical.
Despite incentives for local tourism, visits to the park are scarce due to the poor infrastructure, which makes access difficult. However, for the adventurous, this can be an attractive option, as trails and transportation by small boats provide breathtaking views of natural landscapes and guarantee a journey full of excitement and adventure. The place also attracts climbers seeking the challenge of reaching the summit of the highest mountain in the Americas outside the Andes.
2. Brazil Mountains: Monte Roraima (Mount Roraima)
Mount Roraima is one of the state’s most emblematic landmarks, standing out for its sedimentary formation from marine sand, sculpted over time by the action of rain and wind, resulting in an imposing plateau or mesa with a surface area of 34 kmยฒ.
Filled with intricate labyrinths between walls that rise up to 1,312 feet (400 meters) high, Mount Roraima enchants with its diverse natural beauty. This mysterious place for many, located in the state of Roraima, is home to a variety of animal and plant species, including carnivorous plants.
Located in the far north of the country, in the Serra de Pacaraima, Mount Roraima marks the triple border between Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana, positioned above the equator.
Standing as one of the highest points in Brazil, with an altitude of over 1,312 feet (2,700 meters), Mount Roraima distributes its extension between the three countries: Brazil holds only 5%, while Guyana has 10% and Venezuela, the largest share with 85%.
This region, characterized by a mixture of rainforest and savannah, is protected by the Mount Roraima National Park.
3. Brazil Mountains: Pico 31 de Marรงo (March 31 Peak)
Pico 31 de Marรงo, the second highest peak in Brazil at 9,750 feet (2,972) meters, is located in the Serra do Imeri, on the border with Venezuela. On the Brazilian side, it belongs to the municipality of Santa Isabel do Rio Negro,middle of the amazon rainforest, with the nearest town being Sรฃo Gabriel da Cachoeira, about 86 miles (140 km) away as the crow flies. Located within the Pico da Neblina National Park, which extends over land demarcated for the Yanomami Indians, access to the area is restricted and requires a special permit from both the ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) and the Yanomami Association of the Cauaburรญs River and Affluents (AYRCA) to avoid conflicts.
Only discovered in 1964, during the first attempt to reach the summit of Pico da Neblina by a Brazilian military expedition, the top of the mountain Pico 31 de Marco was conquered the following year by another military expedition that also sought to reach the highest point of Pico da Neblina
4. Brazil Mountains: Pico da Bandeira (Bandeira Peak)
Pico da Bandeira, located in the Caparaรณ National Park, on the border between the states of Espรญrito Santo and Minas Gerais, stands out as the third highest mountain in Brazil, reaching an altitude of 9,488 feet (2,892 meters), behind only Pico da Neblina and Pico 31 de Marรงo. Although it lies on the border between Minas Gerais and Espรญrito Santo, 70% of the mountain, including its summit, is in Espรญrito Santo state.
The name โPico da Bandeiraโ was given by Emperor Dom Pedro II in 1859, when he ordered the installation of an imperial flag on its summit. At the time, the peak was considered the highest and most imposing point in Imperial Brazil. Although it no longer ranks as the highest mountain in the country, Pico da Bandeira is still the most accessible of the three, as well as holding the title of the Brazilian high mountains with the greatest topographical isolation, ranking 21st globally and 5th in the Americas.
Known as one of the coldest spots in the Southeast, Pico da Bandeira has an average temperature of around 59ยบF (15ยฐC) in summer and can reach 6ยบF (-14ยฐC) in winter. The peak can be accessed from both Minas Gerais and Espรญrito Santo, with the main entrance being on the Espรญrito Santo side, through the Capixaba Gate of the Caparaรณ National Park, located in the district of Pedra Menina (Pedra da Mina), municipality of Dores do Rio Preto, about 155 miles (250 kilometers) from Vitรณria, Espรญrito Santo.
5. Brazil Mountains: Pico das Agulhas Negras (Agulhas Negras High Peaks)
Pico das Agulhas Negras, at 9,153 feet (2,790 meters) high, stands out as the highest point in the Rio de Janeiro state, the third highest point in Minas Gerais state, and the fifth highest mountain in Brazil. Despite being located in a tropical region, the peak often registers sub-zero temperatures during the winter and occasionally snow in particularly wet years.
From the summit of Pico das Agulhas Negras, you can glimpse various points in the region, such as Morro do Couto, the second-highest mountain in the park. Also visible are the Funil Dam, the Serra Fina, the Visconde de Mauรก region, and the broad Paraรญba Valley, where the cities of Brazil’s most populous axis, the Rio-Sรฃo Paulo axis, are located, as well as the Paraรญba River, which gives the valley its name.
The area is very popular tourist attraction who seek accommodation in the farm hotels near the park during the winter months, and with adventurers who set up camps near the peak to practice extreme sports such as mountaineering, trekking, and abseiling, in the form of tourism known as adventure tourism.
6. Brazil Mountains: Monte do Couro (Couto Hill)
Like Pico das Agulhas Negras, Morro do Couto is also located in the stunning sino de Itatiaia National Park and is only surpassed by its in size. As a result, Morro do Couto is the second-highest point in the region and the ninth-highest mountain in the country, with an altitude of approximately 8,792 feet (2,680 meters).
Despite its grandeur and grandeur, Morro do Couto offers a quiet trail, ideal for beginners, and is the first mountain to be reached from the park’s gatehouse, which can be reached in just two hours on an easy hike. Once there, the view is considered one of the most breathtaking, allowing you to admire a vast and exuberant landscape that stretches from Pico das Agulhas Negras and Pedra da Capivara to the Paraรญba Valley and the Rio do Salto Valley.
Another route to the summit is to start from Pico das Prateleiras and follow the mountain ridge to the top. From there, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Pico das Agulhas Negras and Serra Fina. Despite being one of the most visited national parks in the country, there are still several unexplored trails and routes to be discovered.
7. Brazil Mountains: Pico Paranรก (Paranรก Peak)
Located between Campina Grande do Sul and Antonina, in the Serra do Mar Paranaense, Pico Paranรก is one of the most impressive mountains in Brazil, both for its natural beauty and its rich history.
Emerging majestically from the Atlantic Forest, Pico Paranรก rises 6,158 feet (1877 meters) above sea level, presenting one of the greatest topographical differences in the country. However, it can be reached from the west, on the First Paranรก Plateau, where the gradient is less steep. However, even on this route, the mountain is not an easy conquest. It requires considerable physical effort and good health. In addition, it requires skill in dealing with exposed stretches, including climbing and scrambling, due to the successive staircases along the route.
Therefore, it is not recommended for beginners in trekking and mountaineering and is reserved for those with experience and willingness to face the challenge it presents.
This is certainly a destination I intend to return to as soon as possible. But, as I said above, only venture into it if you have experience and are physically ready. Before taking on this challenge, I prepare myself for at least two months, increasing the load in weight training, strengthening, and running workouts (especially in steeper places).
8. Brazil Mountains: Pico dos Trรชs Estados (Three States Peak)
Pico dos Trรชs Estados is a unique mountain whose summit marks the meeting of the geographical divides of the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and state of Sรฃo Paulo. With an altitude of 8,827 feet (2,660 meters), located on the border between Itanhandu and the municipalities of Queluz – SP and Resende – RJ, in the southeast of the municipality, Pico dos Trรชs Estados is a highlight of the Serra Fina Traverse, which begins in Passa Quatro, at Fazenda Toca do Lobo, where mountaineers stay overnight after three days of intense hiking.
The trail to the summit is recognized as one of the most challenging in Brazil, with its ascent in just one day being particularly arduous. The rugged terrain, with an accumulated gradient of 4,156 feet (1,267 meters), combined with the scarcity of water and the intense cold, makes this journey a real test, even for the most experienced trekkers. It is essential to have excellent physical condition and previous experience in other long-distance treks, with camping and backpacking.
Brazil Mountains: Wrap Up
The mountains of Brazil offer an impressive variety of breathtaking landscapes, exciting challenges, and unforgettable experiences for lovers of nature and outdoor sports. From the imposing peaks of Pico Paranรก to the majestic elevations of Mount Roraima, each mountain has its own history, unique characteristics, and singular beauty. Whether it’s for experienced climbers looking for new challenges or adventurers in search of less explored trails. Don’t forget to visit these mountains too: volcanic hills, calcado mountain, serra dos รณrgรฃos, morro da urca, caparao national park, mantiqueira mountains, serra da neblina region, serra da mantiqueira and guiana highlands.
Brazil’s mountains are real treasures to be discovered and appreciated by all who venture into them. However, take into account your physical fitness, your tolerance of extreme cold and abrupt climatic changes, and your extensive knowledge of climbing equipment and techniques to face the incredible challenges of these mountains. Keep in mind to find a mountain in Brazil that is at your level of expertise. If you’re advanced, for example, Pico Paranรก. If you’re new to these adventures, Morro do Couto. May these eight most incredible mountains in Brazil continue to inspire and captivate all those who seek to explore the natural wonders of this extraordinary and largest country
