Climb the famous Sugar Loaf, known locally as « Pão de Açúcar », during your stay in Rio de Janeiro!
Seen from the crest of Sugar Loaf, Rio is without doubt the most beautiful city in the world. It’s worth climbing the mountain at several times of the day, but sunset on a clear day is the best time.
The name Pain de Sucre is thought to have originated in the 16th century. Its name is due to its very particular shape, reminiscent of the blocks of refined sugar placed in clay molds to be transported by boat in the days of the sugar cane trade. The Portuguese gave it its name.
Flickr – diogo86
A visit to Pão de Açúcar is a must, but if you can, avoid going around 10-11 and 14-15, when most of the tourist buses arrive. Avoid cloudy days too. Two cable cars link the summit, which rises 396m above Rio. The first climbs the first 220m to Morro da Urca. From here, you can see the Baía de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay) and the winding coastline: on the ocean side of the mountain is Praia Vermelha. Morro da Urca has its own restaurant, souvenir stores, playground, open-air theater and heliport (helicopter tours are available).
Flickr – Rodrigo_Soldon
The second cable car takes you up to the famous Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar). At the top, the city unfolds beneath your feet, with Corcovado mountain and its Cristo Redentor to the west, and Copacabana beach and bathing-suit-clad locals to the south. If the breathtaking heights make you dizzy, a kiosk serves drinks such as caipirinha or cerveja (beer). Lifts leave every 20 minutes.
Flickr – Felipe S Oliveira
If you’d prefer to climb Sugarloaf, that’s also possible. You can book a tour with one of Rio’s many companies.
How do I get to Sugar Loaf?
To get to Sugar Loaf, you must first go to the Morro da Babilônia base in Urca, a district of Rio. Here’s a map showing how to get from Copacabana to Sugar Loaf on foot:
How much does the climb cost?
– Price for an adult – R$ 62,00 (19€)
– Price for young people aged 6 to 21 – R$ 31.00 (10€)
– Free for children under 6
Opening hours
Box office opens – 08:00
Box office closes – 19:50
The park closes 1 hour after the ticket office closes.
First trip Praia Vermelha / Morro da Urca – 08:10
First trip Morro da Urca / Pão de Açúcar – 08:20
Last trip Praia Vermelha / Morro da Urca – 20:00
Last trip Morro da Urca / Pão de Açúcar – 20:20
Last trip Pão de Açúcar / Morro da Urca – 20:40
Last trip Morro da Urca / Praia Vermelha – 21:00
Rides depart every 20 minutes. Ascent time is 3 minutes.
For more information, visit the official website.
See all other Rio activities and information
View of Rio by night, from the Sugar Loaf – Flickr – jackhynes
Where to sleep in Rio de Janeiro?
To find out where to stay in Rio, read our article on the best areas to stay in Rio to find out where to book your hotel or youth hostel in Rio for all budgets.