Landmark
Sugarloaf Mountain
Arne Müseler · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 deSome booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
Sugarloaf Mountain is a 396-meter peak on a peninsula at the mouth of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro. It is a monolithic granite and quartz formation that rises straight from the water. Visitors come for the glass-walled cable car ride and panoramic views of the city and harbor.
Don't miss
- Glass-walled cable car with 360° views, running from Morro da Urca to the summit
- Summit at 396 meters (1,299 ft) above the harbor
- Part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea'
- One of the largest urban rock climbing areas in the world, with over 270 routes
- Protected by the Sugarloaf Mountain and Urca Hill Natural Monument since 2006
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Sugarloaf Mountain
You can visit on your own (Paid entry). A tour adds transport and a guide, or combines nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inSugar Loaf Mountain Half-Day Tour4.2★ · 220 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$52 per personSee dates →
Best full dayBest of Rio in One Day: Christ Redeemer, Sugarloaf & Local Lunch5★ · 4,922 travelers8-9 hoursFree cancellationFrom$173 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleRio de Janeiro Private Tour: Christ, Sugar Loaf & Selarón Steps!5★ · 24 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$191 per personSee dates →Getting there
Know before you go
- The cable car has two stages: first to Morro da Urca (220 m), then to Sugarloaf. Each ascent takes about three minutes.
- Rock climbing is available on Sugarloaf and nearby Morro da Babilônia and Morro da Urca, with routes from 1 to 10 pitches.
- The mountain is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, inscribed in 2012.
A bit of history
The name was coined in the 16th century by the Portuguese during the sugarcane trade. The peak's shape reminded them of the conical molds used to transport sugar, known as sugarloaves. The cable car was first opened in 1912, the first in Brazil and the third of its kind worldwide.
Common questions
How do I get to the summit?
You take two cable cars: the first goes to Morro da Urca (220 m high), and the second goes to Sugarloaf's summit. The Swiss-made bubble cars offer 360° views.
How long is the cable car ride?
Each ascent takes about three minutes. The total route is 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) between the peaks.
When was the cable car built?
The original cable car opened in 1912. It was rebuilt around 1972–73 and again in 2008.
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