Sugarloaf Mountain

Last updated on February 26, 2024.

Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), is part of Rio de Janeiro’s UNESCO World Heritage listing and provides my favorite viewpoint of the city.

Admission

Sugarloaf is located in the wealthy Urca neighborhood. A round-trip ride on the cable car costs R$185 for adults (as of February 2024). Children age 3 to 12 and seniors over 60 can ride for R$92 (as of February 2024). Children under 3 are admitted for free. You can buy tickets in advance on the official website (recommended for high season). Don’t lose your ticket! You need to scan it to get on and off all cable cars.

Cable Cars

You have to take two different cable cars to get to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. The original cable car system was built in 1912 and rebuilt twice after that, in 1973 and 2008. They run along a route about 1,400 meters long and can carry up to 65 people.

Morro da Urca

The first cable car takes you to the top of Morro da Urca, the smaller of the two hills. From there, you get a few interesting views of the city.

Sugarloaf Mountain

The top of Sugarloaf Mountain is the next stop. This provided my absolute favorite views of Rio de Janeiro. I was able to see almost every point in the city, including Copacabana, Corcovado, Botafogo, and the city center. I’ll just let you judge the view by the photos.