Bucket list experience:
Rio’s most famous mountain crouches like a sphinx over a perfect half-moon bay just close to Copacabana. It’s a stunning sight – its haunches carpeted with forest, its slopes reflected in the calm water.
The views from the top are even more breathtaking; especially in the late afternoon when the sun shines buttery-yellow on the sands of Copacabana, before dropping behind the Christ statue; and the lights of Rio twinkle on like stars.
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Destination Guide >Sugar Loaf is actually two mountains – Sugar Loaf itself (Pão de Açucar) and neighbouring Urca Hill (Morro de Urca). Both summits are reachable by two ten-minute cable car rides (one paid ticket for both), setting off from the cable car base station in Urca neighbourhood. The first ascent is up Urca Hill, the second stage takes you up Sugar Loaf itself.
The nearest metro station, Botafogo, is a 10-minute bus or 5-minute cab ride away. The cable-car station is about 10 minutes by cab from Copacabana, 20 minutes from Ipanema and 10 minutes from Santa Teresa.
There are some rather pricey and mediocre café/juice bars on the summit of Morro de Urca, but they’re good enough for a snack or coffee.
The cable car runs all year round.
Catch the first cable car up at 8am to avoid the queues and catch the best morning light or a ride up at around 3.30pm for the afternoon light and sunset (the last ride is at 6pm).
Like Corcovado, it’s unpleasantly busy in high season – Christmas and New Year, Carnival and during the Brazilian school holidays in June – and the queues can be tortuous. Avoid if possible.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[2.9 miles]
Good-value hipster hotels in upcoming Botafogo with Christ and Sugarloaf views from rooms and the rooftop bar
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Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region, Brazil[3.2 miles]
Rio’s iconic, grand dame hotel has wonderful character, is steeped in history and has a choice beach location.
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Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[3.3 miles]
A 5-star location at 2-star prices – for great value and views, this Copacabana beach tower is hard to beat.
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Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region, Brazil[4.3 miles]
Chic, discreet boutique hotel in a stunning hillside setting away from the beach, with wraparound views of Rio.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
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…
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region, Brazil[0 miles]
Rock climb and/or abseil Rio’s most famous landmark, with spectacular bays, beaches and mountains as a backdrop.
Best for ages: 13+ | £35 | 5 hours
Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region, Brazil[1.2 miles]
A wonderful rainforest and beach walk that winds around Morro da Urca hill next to Sugar Loaf mountain, offering myriad beautiful mountain and ocean views.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 45 mins (one way)
Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region, Brazil[3.3 miles]
This world-famous 4km crescent is the epicentre of Rio’s beach scene and the perfect place for beach sports and people-watching. It;’s not great for swimming – water quality is especially poor when the tide comes in.
Best for ages: Any | Free
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[5 miles]
Samba is the sound and rhythm of Rio, and Lapa is its heartland neighbourhood.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[4.6 miles]
An Instagram favourite, these colourful mosaic steps were created by Chilean immigrant Jorge Selaron. Visit the bottom end in Lapa (off Rua Joaquim Silva) – the upper reaches in Santa Teresa lie close to a favela and are unsafe.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[5.1 miles]
Even if you’re not religious, this landmark cathedral is worth a stop to admire the building alone. A towering brutalist cone, its dark, cavernous interior is lit with long strips of iridescent modernist stained glass.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[5.4 miles]
This neo-Gothic Verdigris-covered fantasy palace, built during the days of the Empire of Brazil, is Rio’s former customs house. It’s now a small naval museum that you can visit. Tours depart from the nearby Navy Cultural Centre.
Best for ages: 18+ | £15
Rio de Janeiro , Southeastern Region, Brazil[5.5 miles]
Brazilian star-modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer’s most famous Rio building sits sentinel over Guanabara Bay like a giant concrete flying saucer. Inside, the ‘MAC’ houses the main collection of Brazilian artist Joao Sattamin, plus works by other Brazilian artists like Aluisio Carvao, Dionisio Del Santo and Lygia Clark.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
