20 Jun A Guide to Visiting Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro

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Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Sugarloaf Mountain or Pão de Açucar is one of the most iconic symbols of Rio de Janeiro next to Christ the Redeemer. In fact, it’s literally on a tote bag I bought in Rio (yes, I’m that tourist). Because of this, it’s also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, and for good reason. While you will deal with crowds and have curated stores that make it feel like an amusement park up top, there’s still something so magical about taking the cable car up and looking back on the Rio cityscape.

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Sunrise over Sugarloaf mountain in Rio de Janiero Brazil from the Mirante Dona Marta viewpoint
View of Sugarloaf mountain from from Mirante Dona Marta

How to Visit:

You can visit sugarloaf mountain in a few ways:

1. Tour

Many people go on a tour, which I don’t think is totally necessary just because it’s so easy to go on your own. HOWEVER, if you’re traveling alone or only have a short time in Rio then I think it IS worth it to do a tour package hitting a lot of destinations within Rio, of which Sugarloaf is one of the stops. Check out some highly rated options below.

2. Hiking/Climbing

You can hike/and or climb part of or all the way.  If you only want to hike, what you’ll actually do is walk the first half to Morro da Urca which is about 45 minutes and apparently an easy trail, then take the second cable car to Sugarloaf. This is a good option if you want to savor some views and get some exercise but still have the experience of the cable car. Hiking up will begin at the base, on Google Maps it’s Trilha do Morro da Urca and also on AllTrails.

 If you want to rock climb Sugarloaf, you’ll need a tour like this one. 

3. Cable Cars

The third option is to take the cable cars all the way there and all the way back. There’s actually two rides both ways, the first to Morro da Urca and the second to Sugarloaf. 

Taking the cable cars was my preferred way to get to Sugarloaf vs hiking. Even as someone who likes to hike, the cable cars felt quintessential to the touristic experience and I much preferred to put my effort into other hikes in Rio.

Also read: The Ultimate List of Things to Do in Rio

Getting to Sugarloaf Mountain

The start of your Sugarloaf journey will begin at the base of Morro da Urca.  If taking the cable cars, you can Uber or take a taxi straight there by entering “Sugarloaf cable car” into the address bar.

Ticket & Cost

At the box office of the cable cars you can wait in line to purchase a ticket which costs R$120 for adults (~ $25USD ). Make sure to have both cash and card, sometimes they don’t always accept one or the other. 

If you’d rather skip the line since it can be pretty long, you can also purchase your ticket ahead of time online. This way you can skip the line, head straight to the desk that says online tickets and pick yours up there to head up.

Get your tickets to Sugarloaf mountain here.

View from Sugarloaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro Brazil

When Should You Go

The cable cars to Sugarloaf mountain are open from 9 AM – 6 PM. Visiting at any point is amazing, but sunset is definitely the best to see up top and then heading down in the dark over the city lights. 

If you decide to visit for sunset though, plan to be there much earlier than you think. The line may be long and because of that, it takes a bit to get up there. If you arrive too close to when the sun sets, chances are you’ll miss it so allow yourself a time cushion and consider purchasing tickets online ahead of time.

Visiting Sugarloaf as a solo traveler:

A trip to sugarloaf mountain is totally a doable activity if you’re alone. It’s a safe area, more than easy enough to find, and there are so many other tourists around to take your photo from the top.

If you prefer to go with others though, I suggest joining a tour or making friends in other ways so you have someone to go with.

Also read: 21 Do’s and Don’ts to staying safe in Brazil

Other places to visit around:

If you want to plan other activities around Sugarloaf mountain, there are several options:

1.  Get a drink at The Hills, a new restaurant literally right next to the cable cars so you can enjoy a drink and watch them take off behind you. 

2.  Enjoy a view of the bay and sailboats at Pobreta da Urca. This is also an incredible place for sunset and for a mini picnic on the stone wall.

3.  Sunbathe at Praia Vermelha, a small beach next to Sugarloaf mountain.

I hope this blog post was helpful! To make coordinating and booking your trip easier, check out additional resources below.

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 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 with 21 do’s and don’ts to stay safe while in Brazil

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