Rio de Janeiro spans bustling neighbourhoods, golden shores and forested peaks – but now one special trail unites them all…
![Wild City](https://magztertemp.s3.amazonaws.com/1453305431/1526464336/articles/5b06925d09b96/Wild-City.jpg)
“Watch out for snakes,” exclaimed Thiago.
“How?” I thought. They could be anywhere.
The path was one-foot-ata-time wide and hidden like an old fold among the dark-green carpet of scrub that rose in front of us. The sun was sinking behind Rio de Janeiro’s ridges, its colours thickening as day cooled to dusk, and the jararaca vipers would be wriggling out soon.
Thankfully, we reached the Mesa do Imperador rocks – heaped giant, grey pebbles, scaly with lichen and low ferns – without a bite. The path disappeared into scuffs on the granite and we clambered and pulled our way up, reaching the top after a few minutes and dripping with sweat. Thiago gave me a final pull-up to the summit, his firm hand under my elbow.
“Worth the climb?” he asked, panting through his broad grin.
This story is from the June 2018 edition of Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
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This story is from the June 2018 edition of Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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