Rio Highlights Express: Christ, Sugarloaf & Beaches Half Day Tour.

5.0 (27 reviews) 6 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

27 reviews

5.0

Sugarloaf from Corcovado Mountain by Luis Darin — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Christ Monument by Luis Darin — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Take a 6-hour, private tour to the main highlights of Rio with a private local guide. Ideal for those who have limited time in Rio, see Christ the Redeemer and the southern beaches of Rio; then take a Swiss-made cable car up to the impressive Sugarloaf.

Tour includes pickup and drop-off from the location of your choice in Rio.

Tour can be conducted at your pace and adapted to your needs. Maximum group size is four people.

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At a glance

Duration: 6 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–10
Guide: Portuguese, English, Spanish
Operated by: Luis Darin Private Tour Guide

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–12 years) · Adults (13–120 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Local guide
Included: Private tour
Included: Tolls and parking fees
Included: Transportation in an air-conditioned car driven by your tour guide.

Not included

Not included: Meals or drinks (if any)
Not included: Entrance fees: Christ the Redeemer Monument
Not included: Entrance fees: Sugarloaf Mountain.

Itinerary

Luis Darin Private Tour Guide In Rio

10 min

After leaving your hotel we’ll drive towards Cosme Velho neighborhood. On the way we’ll pass Palacio Guanabara and start the day going all the way up to the summit of Corcovado Mountain at 2,100 feet to visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

Places we will drive by on the way to the first attraction depend on your hotel location.
Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon

Passing by

One of the nicest areas in Rio this tidal lagoon connects with the sea and it is surrounded by a bike lane.
Cosme Velho

Passing by

On the way to Corcovado Mountain we’ll drive through this neighborhood that was once the home for most embassies in Brazil when Rio was the country capital.
Trem do Corcovado

20 min Admission not included

This is one of the ways to reach the Christ Monument on top of Corcovado Mountain.

The cogwheel train runs up and down the mountain every 20 or 30 minutes taking 120 passengers each time.

The admission ticket includes the visit to the Christ Monument.
Parque Nacional da Tijuca

Passing by

We’ll cross the Tijuca National Park on the way to Corcovado Mountain. The diverse fauna and lush vegetation of the park can be observed.
Centro De Visitantes Paineiras

Passing by

The visitors center was created in 2013 and houses an environmental education center and can be visited when going to the Christ Monument by minibus.
Santuario Cristo Redentor

one hour

The iconic monument, located inside the Tijuca National Park, is reachable by train or van, and the ride through Tijuca Forest is quite pleasant. Going by van we’ll make a quick stop at the Paineiras Visitors Center and take a shuttle van to reach the monument. The train does not stop at the visitors center. At the monument we’ll enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city.
Floresta da Tijuca

Passing by

Tijuca Forest is the largest reforested urban forest in the world. The forest takes 10% of the city area and houses the Tijuca National Park.
Mirante do Leblon

15 min

After the first highlight, we’ll drive along Rodrigo de Freitas Lake to reach Rio’s southern beaches. Starting at Leblon neighborhood, we’ll stop for pictures at Mirante do Leblon, or at Parque do Penhasco Dois Irmaos.
Praia do Leblon

Passing by

Very nice beach in the most expensive neighborhood in South America.
Ipanema Beach

Passing by

The most fashionable beach in town.
Praia do Arpoador

Passing by

A rock at the end of Ipanema Beach considered one of the best spots in Rio to observe the sunset during the summer.
Copacabana Beach

Passing by

This worldwide famous beach is also the area where most hotels are located in Rio.
Avenida Atlantica

Passing by

The seaside avenue in Copacabana is the most famous beach area in Rio.
Leme

Passing by

A less busy beach located at the very far end of Copacabana.
Praia do Leme

15 min

At the very end of Copacabana we’ll stop at Leme Beach for some more pictures.

From there we’ll drive to the second most visited attraction in Rio.
Guanabara Bay

Passing by

Guanabara Bay is 100 miles in diameter and has its 1 mile wide entrance at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Guanabara Palace

Passing by

This was the home of Princess Isabel, the daughter of Brazil’s second emperor. Today the beautiful building houses the headquarter of Rio de Janeiro State government.
Urca

Passing by

A small and picturesque neighborhood is located at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Morro da Babilonia

Passing by

This solid granite wall rises above the entrance of Sugarloaf cable car. Here we’re very likely to observe climbers trying to reach the mountain summit.
Trilha do Pao de Acucar

Passing by

If you’re a hiker and rather access the monument by hiking trail, we’ll start out ascent from Claudio Coutinho Trail at the left hand side of Praia Vermelha. The hiking trail will take us to Morro da Urca, from where we’ll take a cable car to reach Sugarloaf Mountain.
Praia Vermelha

Passing by

At the foot of Urca Mountain lies a small and beautiful beach with red sand and surrounded by mountains in both sides.
Claudio Coutinho Trail

Passing by

This flat trail located at the base of Sugaloaf Moutain is a place for a short walk looking for marmoset monkeys with Sugarloaf and the Red Beach as background.
Morro da Urca

Passing by

The round shape of this mountain next to Sugarloaf reminded the Portuguese a ship used to carry sugar.

This is the first step to reach Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car.
Sugarloaf Mountain

1 h 30 min Admission not included

Sugarloaf is a monolithic solid granite block over 1,200 feet above sea level, located at the very entrance of Guanabara Bay in Rio. The access to the monument is at Urca neighborhood. The monument can be reached by taking 2 cable cars straight to the summit of Sugarloaf, or by a combination of hiking trail and cable car.

The cable car station at Urca is at the foot of Morro da Babilonia, and the Swiss-made cable car will take us first to Morro da Urca, and then we’ll take another cable car to reach the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain.

If you’re a hiker and rather access the monument by hiking trail, we’ll start out ascent from Claudio Coutinho Trail at the left hand side of Praia Vermelha. The hiking trail will take us to Morro da Urca, from where we’ll take a cable car to reach Sugarloaf Mountain.

The views are spectacular during the entire trip. Once you reach the summit of Sugarloaf, we’ll enjoy Rio’s skyline from a different perspective.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Motel Comodoro
Shelton Hotel
Pousada Cantinho Da Paz
Meu Recanto
Internacional Airport
Hotel Emocoes
Hotel Caricia
Real Residence Copacabana
Hotel Atlantico Praia
Elegance Praia Hotel
Hotel Belas Artes
Casa Nova Hotel

and 259 more pickup points

We will pick you up from the pier, airport, hotel or rental apartment in Rio.

Please make sure to enter your hotel name.

In case of a rental apartment or unlisted hotel please enter the full street address.

Places we will drive by on the way to the first attraction will depend on your hotel location.

Tour is conducted in an air-conditioned vehicle driven by your tour guide.

Using your ticket

Infant seats are available on request if advised
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please advise any specific dietary requirements
Vegetarian option is available, please advise if required
Wheelchair accessible, please advise if wheelchair assistance is required

Cancellation

Free cancellation

If you cancel at least 2 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.