02 Jun How to Visit Mirante Dona Marta for Sunrise in Rio de Janeiro
One of the best sunrise views in Rio de Janeiro is easily Mirante Dona Marta. From here you can see a sweeping stretch of the city and an intimate view of Sugarloaf mountain.
Now if you’re like most, waking up at the crack of dawn is a struggle. So if you’re wondering, yes, the viewpoint is still beautiful to visit during the day if you’re unable to make the early wakeup call. However, watching the sun rise beyond Sugarloaf mountain and the ocean horizon is so spectacular, I really, really encourage a visit at dawn.
To visit Mirante Dona Marta, here’s what you need to know…
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Getting to the viewpoint:
To get to Mirante Dona Marta located near the neighborhood Santa Teresa, it can be as easy as driving or Ubering to the parking lot and then walking less than 5 minutes up a flight of stairs to the viewpoint.
The problem can arise in returning back down to the city. You see, calling a taxi or Uber from Mirante Dona Marta is usually* not an option.
*This may have changed since I visited. A reader left a comment on this post below saying they were able to order an Uber back down.
Before I visited, I had read in guides there would be no connection to order a car from the viewpoint to go back down. But I ignored this warning, thinking I would have a different experience. Instead I found myself stranded with my friend frantically waiting for Uber to load and trying to figure out what else to do. Thankfully, a really nice family offered to drive my friend and I all the way down back to Gloria which was very gracious, but also lucky.
So then, how do you get back down if you can’t order an Uber or taxi? You can either 1. hitch a ride with someone else like me, 2. pay a taxi to drive you there and wait for you, or 3. walk from the viewpoint down the hill until you can find a taxi or Uber loads. Just know, it is a long way and I would not recommend doing it alone.
So truthfully, if you’re visiting completely alone, I wouldn’t risk it and instead I recommend taking a tour. I saw a lot of people at sunrise on what looked like a photography tour. And because the lighting and views are so incredible here, if you’re alone and want great photos this is a fun option! Here’s two on Viator and GetYourGuide.
Cost:
There are no entrance costs to Mirante Dona Marta, so it’s completely free besides taxi, Uber, or tour costs.
When to be there so you make it for sunrise:
Depending on the season in Rio, sunrise will be at different times. To figure out when you should be there, Google search what time sunrise is and then plan to be there about 30 minutes before. This is because the time Google shows you is when the sun actually comes over the horizon, but the 30 minutes before is some of the most beautiful lighting you can’t miss. It will most likely be between 4:30-5:30 AM.
Know Before You Go and Other Tips:
The main thing to know before visiting Mirante Dona Marta is what I mentioned previously, no taxis or Ubers will be available at the viewpoint. The second is to expect a lot of people. I thought, no way there’s going to be other crazy tourists waking up at 4 AM, but sure enough there always is.
Lastly, after enjoying the view from the lookout, make sure to head over to the other side of the parking lot to the helicopter pad. From here you can see a pretty amazing view of Christ the Redeemer.
Solo Travel Tips:
As a solo traveler myself, I can offer three pieces of advice if visiting Mirante Dona Marta:
1. If you go alone, don’t be too shy to ask someone to take your photo. This is an incredible view you’ll want to remember, so just do it!
2. Be mindful of how you’re going to get back down. Maybe a tour would be worth it.
3. If you don’t want to go alone, ask a friend! How can you meet friends in Rio you might ask? Get to know people on other tours, stay in a hostel, or try to get to know someone on Bumble BFF or a Facebook group.
Read more about how to make friends as a solo traveler here
More Resources for Your Trip to rio:
Planning your own trip? Here’s everything I used to book and coordinate my itinerary through Brazil.
Hostels
If you’re a budget traveler or looking for an easy way to meet others, Hostelworld is the best place to search. Discovery Hostel is the highest rated in Rio, but if you’re a digital nomad like me I suggest Selina Lapa or Selina Copacabana. Search for more hostels in Rio here.
Hotels
Booking.com has so many options from affordable stays to more luxurious. If you’re looking for stunning views, I recommend Rio 144 and Vila Santa Teresa.
Flights
Flights to Brazil and within Brazil can be pricey if not booked ahead of time. To get the best prices I recommend using Skyscanner. You can fly directly to Rio at GIG (Tom Jobim International Airport). There is another airport in Rio but it’s only domestic flights.
BUSES
No matter the destination, I always check Rome2Rio to see options on how to travel. However I found using Brazilian bus companies to book could be a pain because you need a CPF often. The most useful sites to me were BusBud & FlixBus.
Insurance
Travel insurance is a must for every trip, and I highly recommend it for Brazil. My go to is always WorldNomads which has a generous coverage and is made for backpackers. You can search for coverage here.
Tours & Experiences
There’s a lot of free thing to do in Rio but joining a tour does have its advantages, and if you’re a solo traveler looking to meet people then tours are a great option. In Rio you can find awesome experiences on GetYourGuide, Viator, & Airbnb Experiences (hit or miss but mostly good).
Safety
Read this blog post of 21 dos and don’ts to stay while traveling in Brazil
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Rim
Posted at 16:49h, 24 NovemberHi there,
thanks for this.
So, I am a blogger myself and a solo traveler. I am wondering how I am supposed to shoot and take photos with my iPhone if it’s not safe to do so?
On a side note, who shot your photos5 they are stunning and would love to get some shots like these
as well if u ever have a photographer recommendation or a photography tour, please put the links.
Last but not least, I did not understand how to get back home from the viewpoint if Uber and taxi are not an option.
Thanks
Caroline Rose
Posted at 16:15h, 28 DecemberHey! So it is totally safe to take photos at Mirante Dona Marta. I recommend being careful of your phone in Rio and looking around before taking your phone out and perhaps avoiding doing so in a busy street and where you feel it could be grabbed. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t take photos just be extra aware and don’t leave your phone un-attended to on a tripod. However at Mirante Dona Marta, you should be able to use a tripod no problem.
I can’t remember if I mentioned this in the blog post, but while I do usually travel solo, I did have a friend with me at Mirante Dona Marta who took my photo. However there are many photography tours available to here, I list two in the ‘gettting there‘ section.
As for getting back down, I suggest hiring a taxi to take you and wait for you if you are alone, or taking one of the tours I mentioned.
Hope that helps!
Brad
Posted at 03:54h, 21 DecemberWe were able to call an Uber from the parking lot to Ipanema; the driver brought some people up and then we hopped in for the way down
Caroline Rose
Posted at 16:17h, 28 DecemberNice! I’m glad you were able to call an Uber, I was hoping that changed. I’ll add an update in the post, thank you!