Reaching the summit of Sugar Loaf

Published on June 21, 2024 at 4:00 pm

Sugar Loaf is not a typical Brazilian dish, but one of Rio de Janeiro's star attractions. The particular name of this mountain comes from the Portuguese colonists who named it this way in the 16th century, because its shape reminded them of refined sugar blocks. Measuring 396 metres above sea level, a Brazilian engineer, Augusto Ferreira Ramos, had a cable car built there in 1912.

This made the ascent easier. Passenger capacity increased tenfold between 1972 and 2009. The cable car was renovated again in 2009 to install new cabins.

Summary

How do I get to the top of the mountain?
The visit
In popular culture

How do I get to the top of the mountain?

There are several options available to you:

Climbing For the more daring and courageous, it is possible to climb Sugarloaf. The climb takes around 4 hours. The Sugarloaf mountain, Morro da Babilonia and Morro da Urca together make up one of the world's largest urban climbing areas, with over 270 routes.
To reach the top of the mountain by cable car, you'll need to make a change. First of all, you'll need to take a cable car from the station next to Praia Vermelha beach. The first stop is at Morro de Urca. You can quench your thirst and refresh yourself in the many bars and restaurants with a coconut juice or a caipirinha, the legendary Brazilian cocktail. Morro de Urca also has a heliport. There is also an amphitheatre with a musical show.

You'll need to take a second cable car to reach the summit of Mount Sugarloaf. Each cable car ride takes around 3 minutes and leaves every 20 minutes or so.

The visit

Once at the top, you can enjoy a unique view of the city. From here, you can admire Rio and its various bays, the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, the Botafogo district, as well as the international airport with its planes passing close to the summit. The beach at Praia Vermelha is also magnificent to see at sunset.

Practical info

⏰ Opening times

The Sugar Loaf cable car is open every day from 8am to 9pm. If you want to get there by climbing, the Morro da Urca trail opens at 6am and closes at 6pm. To avoid the crowds and make the most of the view, it is advisable to get there before 10am. If, however, you wish to admire the sunset, it is advisable to get there around 2 or 3 pm.

💰 Price

If you choose to go via the climbing route, the price will be €49.20 for an adult. This price includes the presence of an English-speaking, multi-lingual guide and the climbing equipment needed for the ascent. Children under 10 are not allowed on the route.

Practical info

There are several levels of service for the cable car. The standard ticket includes a return trip on the cable car. It costs 120 Brazilian reals (€18.40). If you book online, the price will be 10% lower. A premium ticket is also available. This ' Golden Ticket ' includes a glass of sparkling wine in an air-conditioned lounge, no queuing at the first station and VIP access at the other stations. The cost of this ticket is slightly higher than the standard ticket, given the additional services. The Golden Ticket costs 210 Brazilian reals (€32.20).

In popular culture

A monument as mythical as Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain has a strong presence in popular culture. Some films set in Rio de Janeiro have at least one scene in this location. Among the best-known films are Irving Rapper's "A Woman Seeking Her Destiny", Lewis Gilbert's "Moonraker", in which James Bond takes the cable car and escapes his enemy Shark, and more recently Michel Hazanavicius's "Oss 117: Rio ne répond plus", in which Jean Dujardin's character Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath encounters his wrestling enemies. The Simpsons series also uses this location as an important element in the episode "Adventures in Brazil".

The logo for the 2016 Summer Olympics also refers to Sugarloaf Mountain.

by Editorial Team

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