Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car Ticket Rio de Janeiro

The Sugarloaf cable car from Praia Vermelha

The Sugarloaf cable car starts at Praia Vermelha in the Urca neighbourhood and works in two stages. The first ride goes up to Morro da Urca, at about 220 metres, and the second continues to the summit at 396 metres. The line opened in the early 1910s and was among the first cable cars in the world, so the trip is also a small piece of history. Enclosed glass cabins give wide views on both stages.

Sugarloaf Mountain tickets are exchanged at the ticket office on arrival with the voucher you receive after booking. Your ticket is valid for return rides on both routes, and you can stay in the park during opening hours. Arrive a little before your selected time, since queues form at busy hours and at sunset.

Sugarloaf Mountain summit and its views

At the top of Sugarloaf you stand above the entrance to Guanabara Bay with the whole of Rio laid out around you. To one side are the curve of Copacabana and Leme, and to the other the Botafogo waterfront, the airport runway at Santos Dumont and the bridge to Niterói. On a clear day, Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado is easy to pick out across the city.

Many people ask whether Sugarloaf is worth it. Yes, if you plan the visit for good weather, since the panorama is the whole point. Walk the paths around the summit, look for small marmosets that sometimes appear in the trees, and take your time at each viewing point. Plan roughly one and a half to two hours in total.

Morro da Urca and the park

Morro da Urca is the middle station and a destination in its own right. It has terraces, an open-air area and a small amphitheatre where events are held, and a shorter walk gives you a different angle on Sugarloaf and the bay. You will pass through it on the way up and down, so spend a few minutes here rather than rushing to the summit.

There is a food court and a restaurant at the park, where you can buy snacks and drinks, but food and drinks are not included in the ticket. The best time to visit Sugarloaf Mountain for the light is late afternoon, when the sun drops behind the mountains; early morning is calmer and often clearer.

Skip-the-line and sunrise access

The skip-the-line ticket gives you priority access when you exchange your voucher, which is helpful at peak hours such as late afternoon, weekends and holidays. It is the same cable car ride with the queue at the ticket exchange removed, so it suits anyone who is short on time or travelling with children.

The sunrise access option opens in the early morning, with a window between 04:15 and 11:00, and includes the cable car ride at sunrise plus a gourmet breakfast at the park restaurant between 06:00 and 08:00. It is a quiet way to see the city waking up, and the light over the bay is beautiful. Please note that anything ordered beyond the breakfast is not included.