Sugarloaf Mountain in a nutshell
Sugarloaf Mountain, Pão de Açúcar in Portuguese, is a rock on the entrance of Guanabara Bay in the Rio district of Urca. The summit is 396 m high. A cable car from Praia Vermelha takes you first to Morro da Urca, a separate smaller mountain at 220 m, and then on to the summit. The way back is the same. Morro da Urca is a stop of its own, not another name for Sugarloaf.
This guide covers what you need to plan a visit: cable car tickets and hours, guided tours, day trips with Christ the Redeemer, helicopter flights, boat trips on Guanabara Bay, sunset, the hike to Morro da Urca, the neighbourhood of Urca, history, how to get there, the best time and where to stay. The address of the cable car is Avenida Pasteur 520 in Urca. Prices are in Brazilian real (BRL) as of October 2026, and they change.
Our picks: Sugarloaf Mountain tours
Take the cable car ticket if you mainly want the views from both summits. Book the helicopter for a flight over the city, and choose the 25- or 40-minute option if you want Sugarloaf on the route. The guided hike is for those who would rather walk up than ride.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Shared helicopter flight over Rio
- Flight ticket
- Doors-off option available
A shared flight priced per person. Sugarloaf is on the route only with the 25- or 40-minute option, not on the 20-minute flight.
Check availability →
Guided Sugarloaf hike and climb
- Bilingual guide
- Certified climbing gear
- Accident insurance
Guided hiking and climbing on Sugarloaf itself, with a hotel transfer if you book the transport option.
Check availability →Sugarloaf cable car ticket
- Official cable car entry
- Round trip on both sections
- Free time at viewpoints
The official cable car entry, with the day left open for you to spend at the viewpoints.
Check availability →Sugarloaf Mountain tours and tickets
Cable car tickets, guided trips, Christ the Redeemer combinations and helicopter flights, with live prices and availability.
Tickets, tours and flights
The pages where you can compare and book.
Cable car tickets
Prices for every category, the Friday and Saturday peak windows, hours and queues.
Tours compared
Guided visit in the park, city tour with the cable car and what each one includes.
Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf
A full-day trip with both sights and how it compares with two separate days.
Helicopter flights
Start points, flight lengths and prices for 2026.
Guanabara Bay cruises
Boat trips past Sugarloaf and the public ferry to Niterói.
Plan your visit
The mountain, the views and the practical pages.
Sunset on Sugarloaf
When to go up and why the late afternoon is the busiest time.
Hiking and climbing
The trail to Morro da Urca, the descent ticket and climbing with licensed guides.
Morro da Urca
The middle station at 220 m, its views and the trail.
Urca and Praia Vermelha
The beach, the seawall and quiet streets below the mountain.
History of Sugarloaf
The name and the cable car of 1912.
How to get there
Metro, bus, taxi and parking.
Things to do
Twelve ideas around Sugarloaf.
Best time to visit
Weather by month and Carnival 2027.
Where to stay
Urca, Botafogo or Copacabana: which area fits your plans.
What a visit looks like
You board at the station on Praia Vermelha and ride up to Morro da Urca. There you change cabins for the second leg to the summit. Each leg takes about 3 to 4 minutes without a queue. The cabins have transparent sides and carry up to 65 people. Back down, you use the same two legs in reverse.
Mornings are quieter, when fewer people arrive. Between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. demand is higher and there can be a queue at boarding. If you want the evening light, book a window in the afternoon and read the sunset page. Views depend on the weather, and no ticket guarantees a clear day.
A few things to know before you go
The points that matter most for planning in 2026.
Two prices for adults
A regular adult ticket is BRL 205. In the 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. windows on Fridays and Saturdays it is BRL 230. Children up to 2 years and 11 months enter free with proof of age.
Cable car tickets →Open every day until 21:00
Monday to Friday the cable car opens at 08:30, Saturday and Sunday at 07:30. The last ride up is at 19:30. You board in the time window you booked and can stay until closing.
Hours and queues →The trail ends at Morro da Urca
The forest path from the coastal road leads to Morro da Urca, not to the summit of Sugarloaf. Going back down by cable car is a separate ticket, BRL 65, or BRL 32 reduced.
Hike guide →No zipline
A zipline planned at the park is not open, and construction has stopped. The cable car runs on its regular timetable.
Plan your ride →Beyond Sugarloaf
The other famous view of Rio has its own guide.
Christ the Redeemer, Corcovado, the Tijuca forest and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are covered by a sister site. Start with the Christ the Redeemer guide or go straight to the page on Christ the Redeemer tickets. If you want both sights in one day, read about the combination trips on this site.
Sugarloaf Mountain: frequently asked questions
How much does the Sugarloaf cable car cost in 2026?
A regular adult ticket is BRL 205 as of October 2026. In the 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. windows on Fridays and Saturdays the adult price is BRL 230. Children aged 3 to 12 and seniors from 60 pay BRL 102 in the regular windows. The full table is on the cable car page.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 21:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 07:30 to 21:00. The last ride up is at 19:30. There is no weekly closing day, but wind, rain or storms can interrupt operation, so look at the day's conditions before you set out.
Is Morro da Urca the same as Sugarloaf?
No. Morro da Urca is the smaller mountain at 220 m where the cable car stops first. Sugarloaf itself is 396 m high. A regular cable car ticket covers both stops. Reaching Morro da Urca on foot does not give you a free ride to the summit. Read more on the Morro da Urca page.
Do I need to book ahead?
Booking online is the safe choice. You choose a date and a time window for boarding. Tickets are also sold at the ticket office, but only while seats are free, and a window that is sold out online is not available there either. Afternoon windows fill first.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
Citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia have needed a visa again since 10 April 2025, applied for as an e-visa. German citizens can enter visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days within six months, as of October 2026. For other nationalities, check your government's travel advice before you book.
Is sugarloafmountain.org the official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the site of the cable car operator, the city of Rio de Janeiro, Riotur or Visit Rio, and it has no connection to any tour operator or hotel.