Rio: Christ the Redeemer, Selarón Steps & Santa Teresa

The Christ Statue Stands 38 Meters Above Rio, and the View Changes Everything

You visit the Christ the Redeemer statue at the summit of Corcovado Mountain with 40-50 minutes to take in the views; drive through the historic streets of Santa Teresa; and stop at the Selarón Steps ceramic staircase for photos. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Rio's South Zone, professional guide, and all transport between sites are included, leaving your afternoon free.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Tijuca National Park
2. Christ the Redeemer45m · entry included
3. Santa Teresa
4. Selarón Steps10m

Christ Redeemer and Rio neighborhoods tour

• Van ride through Tijuca Rainforest
• Arrive visitor center for snacks
• Take van to Corcovado Mountain entrance
• Visit Christ the Redeemer Statue
• Explore Santa Teresa neighborhood
• Visit Selarón Steps

The experience

The van climbs through Tijuca rainforest for about an hour before you switch vehicles at the visitor center and head up Corcovado Mountain. By the time you step out at the top, you're standing in front of one of the seven wonders of the world: the Christ the Redeemer statue, arms spread wide, 125 feet tall. Your guide gets between 40 and 50 minutes to walk you around up there, and honestly, that's enough time to feel the scale of it: the city sprawling below, the bay, the mountains folding into each other. You'll take the pictures everyone takes. You'll probably take more than you planned.

After you come back down, the tour shifts into something quieter. Santa Teresa is the old Rio: cobbled streets, hills, a neighborhood that feels like it's held onto something the rest of the city let go. You drive through it, see the colonial buildings and the laid-back rhythm of the place. Then comes the Selarón Steps, and this is where you stop and actually stand still. A Chilean artist named Jorge Selarón spent years covering a staircase in ceramic tiles: blues, yellows, greens, patterns that don't follow any rule except color. You get about 10 minutes there, which sounds short until you're standing in front of it and realizing you need to shoot from five different angles just to capture one section. The whole tour wraps back at your hotel in Rio's South Zone.

The half-day format means you're done by early afternoon, so if you want to keep going (grab lunch somewhere, wander into a neighborhood on your own). You can. The guide and driver handle all the transitions and the van ticket up the mountain, so you're not negotiating traffic or figuring out which vehicle goes where. Just show up at your hotel at the pickup time, and the rest is arranged.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Rio's South Zone.
• van transportation through Tijuca rainforest to Corcovado Mountain.
• van ticket to access the Christ the Redeemer statue at the summit.
• 40-50 minutes with a professional guide at the top.
• visit to Santa Teresa neighborhood.
• stop at the Selarón Steps ceramic staircase for photos.
• all transport between sites.

Options for this experience

4 options

Guide in 6 languages14:30

Guide in 6 languages08:30

Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese08:00

Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese14:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30, 14:00 and 14:30

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line Brazil

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want Rio's three most photographed landmarks in one half-day without arranging your own transport or tickets: the fixed schedule and included guide mean you see all three and still have the afternoon free.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, Spanish and Portuguese, at 08:00, 08:30, 14:00 and 14:30. In French, German and Italian, at 08:30 and 14:30.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the half-day tour?

The tour is a half-day experience. The exact departure time is confirmed when you book, and you're back at your hotel in the early afternoon.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected hotels in Rio's South Zone.

How much time do you spend at the Christ the Redeemer statue?

Your guide has between 40 and 50 minutes at the top of Corcovado Mountain to show you the statue and the views of Rio.

What is the Selarón Steps?

The Selarón Steps are a ceramic-tiled staircase created by Chilean artist Jorge Selarón. You'll have about 10 minutes to view and photograph them.

What's included in the tour?

The tour includes transportation between all sites, the van ticket to access Christ the Redeemer, hotel pickup and drop-off, a visit to the Selarón Steps, and a professional guide.

Can the tour operate during Carnival?

During Carnival, street parades and traffic may prevent the tour from reaching the Selarón Steps. Check with the operator if you're traveling during that time.

What should I bring?

Light clothes, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a bottle of water are recommended.