Sugarloaf Mountain, or Pao de Acucar in Portuguese, is a peak located above the city of Rio de Janeiro, at the estuary of Guanaraba Bay. The peak is located on an uphill of 396 meters, and the name is related to the shape of concentrated sugar. There is an incredible view of the whole city from the Sugarloaf Mountain, and you can reach it by a cable car, which you will surely enjoy riding. This hill or mountain is of many that surround Rio, and rises straight from the ends of the water around the city. Sugarloaf Mountain has been a part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage since 2012.
If the day is clear, there is a view of Flamengo, Botafogo, Urca and Copacabana beach from the top of Pao de Acucar. You can also see Corcovado Hill and the huge statue of Christ the Redeemer, as well as Dois Irmaos and Pedra de Gavea.
There are three different ways to get to the top.
The first way is by cable car
At the station in Urca (at the bottom of the mountain), you can take the cable car. It will take you to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain with a stop in Morro da Urca, a smaller top located halfway up. The ascent by cable car takes about 7 minutes, and the ride is pleasant. You will enjoy the view of the entire city.
The cable car usually runs every 20 minutes, and is opened every day.
The price of the cable car ride is 110BRL, descend is free, but you have to, but you have to announce that you have duly paid for the climb to the top.
Many visitors choose to take the cable car up, and go down on foot.
Other way of climbing is a combination of hiking and cable car. From the station in Urca, visitors can go by foot to Morro da Urca, and the rest by cable car to Pao de Acucar.
Hiking is relatively easy and it takes about 40 minutes. The trail leading to the top is surrounded by tropical vegetation of the Atlantic forest with monkeys, lizards and butterflies. Tickets for the cable car can be bought in Morro da Urca, so you do not have to buy them at the foot of the mountain, but halfway up.
Cable car climbing is charged 40 BRL from Morro da Urca.
The last way is reserved for real adventurers. There are many routes leading to the top, and the paths are divided by difficulty. The easiest path is Costao, it is recommended for beginners, but there are also much more difficult paths such as Coringa, which is reserved for experienced climbers with equipment. In any case, we advise you to take the equipment with you or rent it. We also advise you to take a guide with you who knows the path very well for more difficult trails.
