What happened on 20 April 2026
Early on Monday 20 April 2026, Rio’s Civil Police ran an operation in Vidigal together with prosecutors and police from the state of Bahia. According to Brasil de Fato, which ran the report of the state news agency Agência Brasil, the target was members of a criminal faction from Bahia believed to be hiding in the community. Residents reported heavy gunfire, and Avenida Niemeyer, the coast road between São Conrado and Leblon, was blocked for a time.
About 200 people had climbed Morro Dois Irmãos for the sunrise. The trail back runs through Vidigal, so they could not come down. Jornal Opção reported that the visitors were only able to start the descent at around 7:20, after the police had partly secured the area, and walked down past police vehicles. Neither report mentions injured visitors.
For anyone booking this hike, the point is simple: the summit has one way down, and it goes through the favela. A guide can wait or turn back, but cannot open the route during an operation. The US State Department adds that hikers in Rio should use increased caution in isolated areas and near popular tourist spots. Rio’s city information app COR-Rio announces police operations and road closures, and Germany’s Federal Foreign Office points travellers to it. More on the official advice and recent incidents.
The trail itself
The path from the top of Vidigal to the summit is about 1.6 kilometres long and rated as moderate, according to Catraca Livre. Reviewers describe it as harder than they expected, steep in places and very slippery after rain. On sunrise tours the first part is walked in the dark. Wear shoes with real grip and carry water. One reviewer, caught in the rain, writes that the guides had to help her down because her trainers kept slipping.
Rain from November to March
The UK Foreign Office names November to March as the rainy season in Rio and warns that flash floods and landslides are common where mountains meet the coast, tourist areas included. One reviewer describes rebooking with the operator because of the weather. With free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, checking the forecast the day before costs nothing.
Costs that are not always included
Saira Ecotour’s listing names transport and the entrance as included, but some reviewers report paying for the mototaxis and an entrance on the day. Rodrigo Indio and Catharina Emanuelle include the ride to the trailhead. Ask in writing what is covered before you go, and bring small notes in reais in any case, for tips and anything extra.
