Rio de Janeiro
Southeastern Region, Brazil
Heaven for healthy hedonists – hang glide, surf or hike by day, relax on the beach and party all night. Then, of course, there’s that carnival…
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Walk the Pista Claudio Coutinho
Last updated: 25 June, 2023
This wonderful rainforest and beach walk winds around Morro da Urca hill next to Sugar Loaf mountain, offering myriad beautiful mountain and ocean views of Rio and the Sugar Loaf.
The walk is easy – hugging the coast around Botafogo Bay – before climbing through dense forest, winding past myriad spectacular viewpoints and reaching the summit of the hill. It takes around 45 minutes to complete one way. There’s plenty of wildlife to see en route – tiny, tufted-eared marmoset and brown capuchin monkeys, brilliantly-coloured tanagers and hummingbirds. And it’s straightforward to catch the cable car up to Sugarloaf or back to ground level.
Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 8+
When: All year around
Duration: 45 mins (one way)
Getting there & doing it
This is a straightforward self-guided walk. The path entrance sits at the northern end of Praia Vermelha beach next to the car park and is clearly marked. The walk takes around 45-minutes and while safe and straightforward, is rocky and steep in parts. Bring walking shoes or trainers, water and sun protection.
It is possible to buy cable car tickets on Morro da Urca hill to ascend higher to the top of Sugarloaf, or to return to ground level.
When to do it
This walk is best done in the dry winter months (May to September), when there is less cloud cover and views are better.
The path opens at 6am (and closes at 6pm) – a full four hours before the first cable car up Morro da Urca, so early arrivals have the spectacular views from the summit with almost no other tourists. Snack and juice bars on Morro da Urca open after 10am.
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