Rock climbing on Pedra da Gavea

There are more than thirty climbing routes on Pedra da Gavea. Below you will find information about Passagem dos Olhos (The Eyes Traverse), the route we most often guide and most highly recommend.

If you are interested in information about climbing a different Gavea route, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

If you have never climbed before, check out the Pedra da Gavea hiking trail - a demanding ascent that is nonetheless suitable for all experience levels and also features a short pitch of rock climbing. For additional climbing options for first-time climbers, see other rock climbing destinations in Rio de Janeiro.

intermediate

PASSAGEM DOS OLHOS

One of the most unique routes in Rio de Janeiro, Passagem dos Olhos (The Eyes Traverse) is a route that is almost completely horizontal. It traverses around the mountain, along a line where the rock formation resembles a human face. The route is named The Eyes Traverse for passing along the “eyes” of this formation!

The experience:

Climbing The Eyes Traverse is a full day adventure. You will begin the day with a 90-minute trail hike to get to the base of the route. This is the same trail that goes to the summit of Pedra da Gavea.

The route starts with a vertical pitch to get us to the line of the eyes. From there, we traverse around the mountain face. As we are already at more than 700 meters of altitude, the views are simply stunning. Long, granite walls extend directly below us.

This horizontal and aerial nature of the route makes the experience of climbing The Eyes Traverse more challenging than its grade would suggest. It is important that you feel comfortable with heights, as well as the possibility of a “pendulum swing” that comes with climbing a horizontal line.

After we get to the other side of the mountain face, we continue on a short trail to the summit of Pedra da Gavea. Once at the summit, we enjoy a good rest, explore the best picture angles and appreciate the beautiful views! Fully recuperated, we hike back down to our starting point.

Prerequisites:

Multi-pitch experience
Outdoor climbing skills at or above the route's difficulty grade
Knowledge of techniques to ascend a fixed rope (to return to the route in case of a fall)

Price

One person: R$590
Two people: R$490 per person

Group size

Maximum participant to guide ratio is 2:1
All reservations are private - your guide will be exclusive to your reservation

Duration

6-8 hours in total

Availability

Every day, all year round

What is included

Certified rock climbing guide
Collective rock climbing equipment: rope, quick-draws and anchor building equipment
Any individual rock climbing equipment you may need to borrow (see below)

Equipment you will need

Your individual rock climbing equipment:

• rock shoes

• harness

• helmet

• ATC-type belay device and carabiner

• personal anchor

You can borrow from us if you don’t have your own set or are missing an item.
Please indicate any equipment needs in the booking form.

What else you should bring

Water (at least 2L per person)
Sandwich or snacks for the full day
Sunscreen and bug repellent
Backpack to carry your belongings and keep your hands and arms free. Hand bags and shoulder bags are not permitted.

Wear walking, hiking or running shoes. Flip-flops and casual sandals are not permitted.

Participant responsibilities

You are an equal partner in the safety and success of your climbing experience. Ensure that you read and understand your responsibilities as a participant

Assumption of risk

It is impossible to eliminate all risks associated with climbing. Our goal is to minimize your risk, but ultimately you must assume full responsibility for your participation. Ensure that you read and understand our assumption of risk terms

Cancellation and reschedulinG

Read our cancellation and rescheduling policy to understand what happens if you need to change your plans or if the conditions on the reserved day are not suitable for your chosen activity