The geotechnical characterization of the rock mass for rock-embedded pile foundations describes the particularities and their conditioning factors, in this type of project ranging from prospecting to completion of the foundations. Depending on the investigations, the project may be designed and implemented using a better safer, more economical and faster technique. The investigation activities involved: a) site: determining the Rock Quality Designation (RQD)and recovery using test cores, and b) laboratory: determining the physical indices (dry and saturated specific mass, porosity and water absorption), and uniaxial compressive strength, and petrographic analysis. The characterization of the rock mass involved in building the foundations does not finish at the design phase but continues steadily as the project progresses, with the controlled accuracy to refine methods, re-dimension structures and adopt solutions for the overall project. Based on this, expedite rock drilling was also accompanied for the geotechnical characterization and control of the pile foundations, which was a good control tool for this type of foundation. It is also used for confirming the cap rock and verifying less resistant layers, before or during pile driving, simplifying the services, at a faster rate and lower cost. The analysis of the physical indices was compatible with the indices existing for this type of rock and the analyzed rock masses demonstrated good characteristics to support a foundation.