Sugarloaf Mountain

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.