Paragliding Rio de Janeiro: Cristo Redentor & Pedra da Gavea Views
You fly without an engine, riding thermal currents over the city.
Paragliding in Rio de Janeiro is a tandem free-flight activity where you fly with a certified instructor, soaring past landmarks like Cristo Redentor, Pedra da Gavea, Pedra Bonita, Morro dos Dois Irmãos and Rocinha. No experience needed. You'll spend 8 to 15 minutes airborne, with GoPro video of the flight included, and transport to the launch point at Pedra Bonita's ramp.
What’s included
- Certified instructor for the tandem flight.
- 8 to 15 minutes of airborne time.
- complete paragliding equipment.
- GoPro video of your flight.
- transport from meeting point to Rampa da Pedra Bonita.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Eduardo Martins Paragliding Rio
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The flight itself requires no prior experience. A trained instructor handles the launch and controls the paraglider while you're strapped in, experiencing the sensation of free flight without engine noise. You take off from Rampa da Pedra Bonita, a natural launch point that sits high enough to catch the thermal currents rising off the city. The whole outing takes about two hours from meeting point to return.
Once airborne, you'll see the landmarks the city is built around: Cristo Redentor to one side, the granite peaks of Pedra da Gavea and Pedra Bonita below, the favela neighborhoods like Rocinha, and the sweep of Praia de São Conrado where the city meets the Atlantic. The flight lasts between 8 and 15 minutes depending on wind and thermals. A GoPro camera captures the view, and you get the video afterward. All equipment is provided, and transport from your meeting point to the launch ramp is included.
The activity is open to children from age 14 onward and welcomes all fitness levels. Guides speak English and Spanish. Pregnant travelers should not participate. The meeting point is accessible by public transportation, and the facilities themselves are wheelchair accessible, though the launch itself involves a steep terrain approach.
Is this one for you?The flight itself is brief, 8 to 15 minutes airborne, so this suits anyone who wants the aerial view of Rio without committing a full day to the activity. The steep terrain approach to the launch point and the physical sensation of free flight mean it works best for travelers comfortable with heights and able to walk uphill to the ramp.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 17 years); Child (14 to 15 years). Children under 14 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What does the flight actually feel like without an engine?
Paragliding is a free-flight mode where you and the instructor rise on natural air currents and thermals rather than powered thrust. You're harnessed to the paraglider and the instructor, who manages the wing and descent. The sensation is of drifting and gliding rather than the push of an engine.
How high do you fly, and what can you actually see from up there?
The flight path takes you past Rio's major landmarks: Cristo Redentor, Pedra da Gavea, Pedra Bonita, Morro dos Dois Irmãos, Rocinha, and the beaches of the south zone. The exact altitude and duration depend on wind conditions and thermal activity on the day, but the flight lasts 8 to 15 minutes.
Do I need any experience or special fitness to paraglide?
No experience is necessary. You fly with a certified instructor who handles the technical aspects. The activity suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for pregnant travelers and requires participants to be at least 14 years old.
What happens with the video? Do I get to keep it?
A GoPro camera records your flight, and the video is included with your booking. You receive it after the activity so you have a record of the views and the flight itself.
Where exactly do you launch from, and how do you get there?
You launch from Rampa da Pedra Bonita, a natural ramp high on the mountainside. Transport from your meeting point to the launch ramp is included in the booking. Public transportation options are available near the meeting point if you prefer to arrange your own arrival.
Paragliding Rio de Janeiro: Cristo Redentor & Pedra da Gavea Views
2h · EN · ES
from US$ 175 per person
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