Caio Rocha Aguiar Arrabal fell about 500 feet at Pedra do Macaco after posing for a photo.
MARICÁ, Brazil — A 44-year-old hiker died Sunday after falling from a rock viewpoint on the Pedra do Macaco trail in Maricá, near Rio de Janeiro, moments after posing for a photograph, officials and local reports said.
Caio Rocha Aguiar Arrabal fell about 500 feet from the exposed summit area on June 28. The rocky overlook is known for wide views of Maricá’s lagoons and is a common photo stop for hikers. The fall prompted a difficult rescue operation in steep, wooded terrain.
Video recorded by another hiker showed Arrabal on the rock before he began climbing down. A woman nearby warned him to be careful seconds before he slipped and fell. Witnesses screamed as he disappeared from view. Officials said he appeared to have tried to descend from the wrong side of the rock.
Emergency crews were called around 11:40 a.m. Firefighters and civil defense teams used ropes and other climbing procedures to reach the area. Matheus Moura of Maricá Civil Defense said rescuers had to move through dense vegetation and difficult access points before reaching Arrabal.
Authorities said the rescue and recovery effort took about four hours. Arrabal died from his injuries before crews could save him. Reports said he had been guiding a group on the trail, though officials said he was not licensed as a guide.
The Pedra do Macaco trail is about half a mile long and can take roughly 40 minutes to climb. The summit has exposed rock sections where visitors often pose for photos. Local officials said the site has seen previous accidents, and reports said warning or directional signs were limited or absent along parts of the route.
Arrabal’s death was one of two fatal outdoor incidents reported in Maricá in June. Earlier in the month, 59-year-old Rosemary Garcia died after falling at an adventure site during a group activity. The deaths have renewed attention on trail access, signage and oversight at popular outdoor areas in the region.
Officials have not announced criminal charges. The case remained under review after the recovery operation, with local authorities expected to assess the circumstances of the fall and the conditions at the trail’s summit.
Arrabal’s family mourned him publicly after the accident. His brother shared a tribute online, saying Arrabal died while doing what he loved. The trail remained known as a scenic but dangerous viewpoint as officials reviewed what happened.
Author note: Last updated July 1, 2026.