🏞️ Pedra da Gávea – Why this name? History, legends and curiosities

guiarodrigoindio
Jul 4
2 min read

Pedra da Gávea is one of the most challenging and iconic trails in Rio de Janeiro. At 842 meters high, it is the largest monolith on the seashore in the world. From the top, the reward is a spectacular view of the entire city, the beaches, the Tijuca Forest and the mountains that shape Rio.

Why the name Pedra da Gávea?

The name comes from the time of colonial Brazil in the 16th century, when Portuguese sailors arriving in Rio would see this enormous rock formation from the sea. The shape of the rock, with its flattened upper part, resembled the crow's nest , which was a type of observation basket located at the top of the masts of ships.

So, the sailors said: "There is the rock that looks like the ship's crow's nest." And the name stuck: Pedra da Gávea .

Curiosities and mysteries of Pedra da Gávea:

🔹 The face carved in the stone: Many believe that the stone has a giant face, which would be a sculpture made by ancient civilizations. Some researchers and mystics argue that it is a Phoenician representation or of people who would have passed through the Brazilian coast thousands of years ago. Others believe that it is just a natural formation caused by erosion.

🔹 Mysterious inscriptions: On the side of the stone, there are marks and scratches that many interpret as ancient inscriptions. There are theories that speak of Phoenician messages, but this has never been proven.

🔹 Legends of portals and caves: Locals and adventurers tell stories of secret caves, underground tunnels and even supposed energy portals in the area.

🔹 Carrasqueira Challenge: The Pedra da Gávea trail has a famous and challenging section called Carrasqueira , a stone wall that requires simple climbing, but with a lot of attention and technique.

Geological history:

Pedra da Gávea is made up of granite and gneiss, very old rocks that date back more than 600 million years. It is part of the Tijuca Massif , which is also home to other famous mountains in Rio.

What to do in Pedra da Gávea:

Trail with adventure and light climbing
Contact with nature in the Tijuca Forest
Panoramic view of the entire city and the coast
Amazing photos at the top

⚠️ Important to know:

The trail requires physical fitness and, above all, safety on the Carrasqueira section. It is highly recommended to hire an experienced guide who brings the necessary safety equipment.