Rio helicopter tours 2026 at a glance
Flights start from one of two heliports: Lagoa on Avenida Borges de Medeiros or the Pão de Açúcar park. The second one is at Morro da Urca, the middle mountain. A flight does not start from the summit of Sugarloaf. The cable car ticket shop also sells some flights.
The shortest flight is the direct Sugarloaf flight. It lasts 6 to 7 minutes and costs from BRL 640 as of 2026. It needs at least 3 or 4 people, depending on the helicopter, and passengers are served in the order they arrive. Hours of operation are 09:00 to 17:00. Do not read it as a guaranteed price for a single passenger.
Our picks: helicopter flights
The shared flight is the pure helicopter option, with a doors-off choice if you want an open view; pick the 25- or 40-minute route to have Sugarloaf on the way. The combination is mostly a day on the ground, with a nine-minute flight in it. The 35-minute flight heads for Christ the Redeemer.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. 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.
35-minute helicopter flight toward Christ the Redeemer
- 35-minute flight
- Water and coffee
A flight that heads for Christ the Redeemer.
Check availability →Sugarloaf with barbecue lunch and a helicopter flight
- Nine-minute helicopter flight
- Sugarloaf cable car ticket
- Barbecue lunch
Of the eight hours, the helicopter flight takes nine minutes; the rest is a panoramic city tour with a guide.
Check availability →
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 →Rio helicopter flights
Helicopter flights over Sugarloaf, the beaches and Christ the Redeemer, with live prices and availability. Check the flight length and what each option includes.
Flight options and prices
Prices in BRL for 2026. Flights from the cable car ticket shop are priced per person.
| Flight | Where you book | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Sugarloaf flight | Direct with the helicopter operator | 6 to 7 minutes | From BRL 640 |
| Praias (beaches) | Cable car ticket shop | – | BRL 608 per person |
| Cristo (Christ the Redeemer) | Cable car ticket shop | – | BRL 874 per person |
| Praias + Cristo | Cable car ticket shop | – | BRL 1,007 per person |
The three flights sold through the cable car ticket shop run on weekends only, depending on operations and weather. Ask for the flight length when you book. The Praias flight and the direct Sugarloaf flight may not be the same route. Check whether the cable car entry is part of the price or an extra.
For most visitors the short Sugarloaf flight is the simplest choice, if you can fill the seats with your group. The Cristo flight and the combined flight add the statue and the beaches.
What the Christ flight is and is not
The Cristo option is a circular flight that gives views of the statue on Corcovado. It is not a landing at the statue. Nothing guarantees a full circle around it, and clouds can cover the top. To visit the statue on the ground, read about the Christ the Redeemer tickets on the sister site, which also covers the Copacabana beach.
Before you book a flight
Four things that change the price or the plan.
Minimum group
The direct flight needs 3 or 4 people. A start without a minimum is not promised, so ask what happens if your group is smaller.
Weekends only
The flights sold with the cable car ticket run at weekends only, subject to operations and weather.
Start point
Do not guess the start point from the title of the tour. Lagoa and Morro da Urca are different places.
Getting to Sugarloaf →Ground ticket
If you also want to go up Sugarloaf, ask whether the cable car entry is included. The ticket prices are on the cable car page.
Cable car tickets →Other ways to see the view
A flight costs far more than the cable car, which is BRL 205 for a regular adult ticket as of October 2026. If the budget matters most, the cable car shows the same bay from the ground. Read about the cable car, join a guided tour or look at boat trips on Guanabara Bay to see the mountain from the water. The flight is the only option here that shows Sugarloaf, the beaches and the statue from above.
Planning a flight with a cable car visit
The direct flight runs from 09:00 to 17:00. The cable car opens at 08:30 on weekdays and 07:30 at weekends, and closes at 21:00. The last ride up is at 19:30. If you want both in one day, the cable car in the morning leaves the afternoon free, but the cable car is also busiest from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Flights depend on operations and weather, and clouds on the hilltops can limit the view. Keep a flexible day if you can. The flights sold with the cable car ticket run at weekends only, so a weekday plan needs the direct flight.
Rio helicopter tours: frequently asked questions
How much is a helicopter flight over Sugarloaf?
The direct Sugarloaf flight starts at BRL 640 in 2026 for 6 to 7 minutes. It needs 3 or 4 people, depending on the helicopter. Flights bought with the cable car ticket cost BRL 608, BRL 874 or BRL 1,007 per person.
Where does the helicopter take off?
From a heliport at Lagoa or from the heliport at Morro da Urca. It does not take off from the summit of Sugarloaf.
How long is the flight?
The direct Sugarloaf flight lasts 6 to 7 minutes. For the three flights sold with the cable car ticket, ask for the length when you book.
Can I fly at any time?
The direct flight runs from 09:00 to 17:00 and is served in the order of arrival. The other flights run at weekends only, depending on operations and weather.
Does the Christ flight land at the statue?
No. It is a sightseeing flight over the statue. Visiting the statue on the ground is a separate trip.
Is this site run by the helicopter operator?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not connected to the cable car operator, any helicopter company, Riotur or Visit Rio.