Scale this mountain on foot or by cable car to see impressive views of Rio’s beaches, rain forests and its most famous statue.

Located on the coast of the southeastern corner of Rio de Janeiro, Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) resides within forests, water and hills at the edge of Guanabara Bay. Rock climbers conquer the mountain using appropriate gear, but most visitors take the glass-sided cable car to the top. Originally built in 1912, the cable car transports 65 visitors per trip and offers panoramic views the entire way.

Sugarloaf Mountain offers remarkable views of nearby beaches, local rain forests, adjacent hills and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. The lush rain forests provide a sharp contrast against the surrounding granite hills. Historians attribute the mountain’s name to the 16th-century practice of molding sugar into a cone-like shape. These “sugar loaves” were common during the peak of Brazil’s sugarcane trade.

The mountain draws crowds year-round, but the best times to visit are each day early in the morning and 90 minutes before sunset. Make sure you have clear skies and bring your camera to capture Rio’s scenic beauty from 1,300 feet (396 meters) above sea level. Right beneath you is Copacabana Beach, which connects to Ipanema Beach at its southern end. To the west, enjoy views of Rio’s iconic member of the “New Seven Wonders of the World,” the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Cable cars depart every 20 minutes from morning until evening. Before reaching the top, you will board two cable cars. One stops at Morro da Urca and the other stops at the peak, Pão de Açúcar. Be sure to check with the ticketing office if you visit during major holidays as cable-car trips typically close around noon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and close completely on Christmas and New Year’s Day. If visiting between December and March, be prepared for the cable car to close early on weekend evenings to accommodate seasonal performances.

Access to Sugarloaf Mountain is from Praia Vermelha at the southern entry to Guanabara Bay. You can walk to Guanabara Bay from nearby Copacabana Beach, or use boat or bus if you are coming from farther afield.

Plan a trip to see Sugar Loaf Mountain

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Yoo2 Rio de Janeiro, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Botafogo

￥326,179

per person

Aug 11 - Aug 14

found 11 hours ago

Roundtrip flight included

Tokyo (TYO) to Rio de Janeiro (GIG)

9/10 Wonderful! (1,010 reviews)

The hotel is small, but cozy; breakfast was excellent. We found everyone most accommodating, very helpful. There has to be a great management too to hire people with charisma & willing to help at any time. It would have made our stay much easier though if there would have been a bottle of water in the room & tissues. Also the lighting in the room was poor. We found the location fantastic, as there are many stores, supermarket, Mall & restaurants at walking distance. The Marina across the hotel was great to walk or run. I will definitely stay there again.

Reviewed on Jun 17, 2026

Santa Teresa Hotel Rio de Janeiro - MGallery Collection

Santa Teresa

￥401,078

per person

Aug 11 - Aug 14

found 11 hours ago

Roundtrip flight included

Tokyo (TYO) to Rio de Janeiro (GIG)

9.2/10 Wonderful! (439 reviews)

Our 4th stay at MGallery and it doesn’t disappoint due to the helpful staff, cosy rooms, pool and excellent food. Santa Teresa’s a lovely oasis in Rio’s suburbs, yet within easy reach of all its attractions.

Reviewed on Jun 5, 2026

Grand Hyatt Rio De Janeiro

Barra da Tijuca

￥332,816

per person

Aug 11 - Aug 14

found 11 hours ago

Roundtrip flight included

Tokyo (TYO) to Rio de Janeiro (GIG)

9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,006 reviews)

It is located directly across from the beach. I like that. You must cross a busy highway to get to the beach. there are restaurants on the property. They do not offer inclusive meal plan. You can purchase food from street vendors on the beach side of the street. There is no night life and no shopping near. It is peaceful quiet and pleasant but unless you have transportation or use a lift service there is not much to do. I was glad to spend my time here. Unfortunately, I was not able to tour as much as I wanted to. They don’t seem to make offers on how to use tour services. So you are left to your own devices to find out. Since I have a late flight I asked for a late check out. That request was denied. They allowed me an hour and a half to stay in the room.I had to checkout.So even though they allowed me to stay on the property I was temporarily homeless.it felt very awkward sitting poolside with my luggage. It is a beautiful place and location. The staff is friendly and helpful. Since this was my first time in Brazil I didn’t know what to expect. I felt left on my own to discover and find tour packages. The language is Portuguese it is a good idea to learn it before you come. The television had a translation button but it didn’t translate. The tv shows were about 97% Portuguese. I didn’t come to watch tv so I didn’t mind, but again where’s the music dancing and night life. It is June which is their winter. It was rainy bring a jacket.

Reviewed on Jun 19, 2026