Urca at a glance
Urca is the district at the foot of Sugarloaf, at the entrance of Guanabara Bay. The cable car station is here, at Avenida Pasteur 520, and so are Praia Vermelha, the Mureta da Urca seawall and the Fortaleza de São João. Most visitors come for the mountain. A few hours on the waterfront add a different side of the trip.
If you came for the ride up, start with the Sugarloaf cable car tickets guide and plan the waterfront for before or after.
Praia Vermelha
Praia Vermelha lies in Urca on the Praça General Tibúrcio, right beside the mountain. Stand-up paddling, kayaking and canoeing are practised here. Ask on the spot about rentals.
Water quality differs from beach to beach in the bay, and it drops after rain and near drainage outlets. Look at the latest bulletin of the state environment agency (INEA) before you swim, and do not treat a good result on one day as a standing permit.
Our pick: a climb from Urca
This climb starts on the Pista Cláudio Coutinho in Urca, so it begins in the neighbourhood itself.
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.
Sugarloaf tours and Urca day trips
Cable car tickets, boat trips from the bay, city tours and helicopter flights, with live prices and availability.
The Mureta da Urca
The Mureta da Urca is a seawall on Rua Cândido Gaffree and a meeting place with a view over Guanabara Bay. People go there at sunset to sit on the wall and watch the light change over the water. Bring a layer for the evening and plan how you get back after dark.
For the other sunset option, the cable car, see the Sugarloaf sunset guide.
Fortaleza de São João
The Fortaleza de São João stands in Urca and is one of the forts you see from the water. Check the current visiting rules, the fees and whether you need to register in advance before you plan around it.
You also get a view of the fort from the water. A bay cruise passes it, see the Guanabara Bay boat tours.
Getting to Urca and staying nearby
Practical points for the district.
By metro and bus
From Botafogo metro station, exit E (Mena Barreto), buses run to Urca. Bus 513 goes to UNIRIO, and from there it is about 260 m on foot to the cable car station. Other lines include the 107 and the 167. The full routes are in how to get to Sugarloaf.
By car
The cable car has no park-and-ride lot of its own. An arrangement with a nearby garage offers BRL 20 for up to 6 hours when you buy your ticket online and park on the day of your visit. Vans, buses and trucks are excluded.
Where to sleep
Urca is a base next to the cable car, and Botafogo gives you the metro link. The two areas are compared in where to stay in Rio.
Staying careful
Theft and robbery happen in Rio, also during the day, so take more care after dark. That applies in Urca as well. Keep your phone and camera out of sight while you walk, and read is Rio safe for the full picture.
The waterfront at the marina
Boats lie along Avenida Portugal, the road beside the bay. It is an easy walk with water on one side, and you do not need a plan or a ticket for it. Add the Mureta da Urca for the evening light.
More ideas for the rest of your days are in things to do around Sugarloaf.
Urca: frequently asked questions
Where is Urca in Rio?
Urca is a district at the foot of Sugarloaf, at the entrance of Guanabara Bay. The cable car station is at Avenida Pasteur 520.
Can I swim at Praia Vermelha?
Many people do, but water quality changes. Check the latest bulletin of the state environment agency before you go in, and be careful after rain.
What is the Mureta da Urca?
It is a seawall on Rua Cândido Gaffree with a view over the bay. It is a meeting place, and sunset is the usual reason to go.
Can I visit the Fortaleza de São João?
Check the current visiting rules, the fees and whether you need to register in advance before you plan.
How do I get to Urca by public transport?
Take the metro to Botafogo, exit E (Mena Barreto), and continue by bus. Bus 513 goes to UNIRIO, and the cable car station is about 260 m from there.