Rio de Janeiro: Christ, Sugarloaf & Selarón Steps Full Day

Four cable car rides and a mountain view that doesn't quit

You get hotel pickup, a professional guide in multiple languages, and a full-day route through Rio's four main sights: Christ the Redeemer, Selarón Steps, Maracanã Stadium, and Sugarloaf Mountain via cable car. Lunch and Sugarloaf entry are optional add-ons, so confirm your package before the tour starts. The whole day runs 8–10 hours depending on crowds and traffic.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 77 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Without Sugarloaf ticket and without lunch 07:00 and 08:00 Guide in 5 languages Without Sugarloaf ticket and without lunch: With this option, you will have free time for the matching activities to explore independently. Duration: 8 hours. This full tour of Rio takes about 8 hours; the duration is approximate and can vary with traffic. Full day in Rio: lunch is at your own expense. Ticket to Sugarloaf Mountain is not included. Air-conditioned van with hotel pickup and drop-off from the South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Leme) and West Zone (Barra da Tijuca). Pickup is included.

All-inclusive full-day option 07:00 and 08:00 Guide in 5 languages Tickets and barbecue included: Set out on an unforgettable day discovering Rio's famous sights, paired with a tasty Brazilian barbecue lunch. Duration: 8 hours. All-you-can-eat Brazilian barbecue. Drinks and desserts are not included. Pickup is included.

Full tour conducted in Mandarin 07:00 Guide in Chinese Guided tour in Mandarin. Pickup is included.

None of these options right for you? See 12 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Rio city tour

• Pass by Copacabana Beach
• Pass by Ipanema Beach
• Stop at Visitors Center
• Go up Corcovado Mountain by van
• Visit Christ the Redeemer statue
• External visit Maracanã Stadium
• Pass by Sambadrome
• Visit Rio de Janeiro Cathedral
• Stop for photos at Selarón Steps
• Take cable car to Urca Hill
• Take cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain
• Enjoy barbecue lunch

Stops and time spent at each 10 stops

1. Copacabana Beach passing by
2. Ipanema Beach passing by
3. Tijuca National Park passing by
4. Christ the Redeemer 1h 30m
5. Maracanã Stadium 10m
6. Sambadrome passing by
7. Rio de Janeiro Cathedral 15m
8. Selarón Steps 15m
9. Morro da Urca 20m
10. Sugarloaf Mountain 1h 30m

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from South Zone or West Zone hotels, a professional multilingual guide leading the full-day tour via air-conditioned van, entrance fees to Christ the Redeemer, internal access to the Metropolitan Cathedral, a photo stop at the Selarón Steps, and an external visit to Maracanã Stadium.
• If you book the full option, barbecue buffet lunch at a traditional Brazilian steakhouse and Sugarloaf Mountain cable car tickets are also included.
• Drinks are not included with lunch.

Times

• Every day except Tuesday 07:00
• Tuesday 07:00 08:00

Before you book

Group Up to 19 1 private ›

Live guide English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Chinese Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 12h before

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

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

Operated by C2Rio Tours & Travel

Prices and times updated today

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The experience

The Selarón Steps hit you differently than the photos suggest. You're standing in front of thousands of hand-painted tiles (blues, yellows, reds, all fitted together by a man who spent decades on this one staircase), and your guide is already explaining the story while you're still processing the color. That's the rhythm of this Rio day: you move through the city fast enough to see everything, but not so fast that you miss the details. Hotel pickup starts the morning, and you're heading toward Copacabana and Ipanema first, passing the beaches that made Rio famous, then climbing toward Christ the Redeemer through Tijuca Forest. The van takes you most of the way up Corcovado Mountain, and when you step out at the statue, the city spreads below you in a way that makes the postcard version look small.

After Christ, you're moving again: past the Sambadrome (just a glimpse from the van, no stop), a quick external look at Maracanã Stadium where the Bellini Statue stands, then inside the Metropolitan Cathedral with its cone-shaped design that catches light in an unexpected way. The Selarón Steps are where you actually pause, camera out, because there's no rushing past something that took one person forty years to build. Then lunch arrives: a traditional Brazilian steakhouse with a barbecue buffet, and this is where the tour splits. Some people have lunch and Sugarloaf included, others don't, so check your booking. The guide will know which option you chose.

Sugarloaf Mountain is the finale, and it's worth the wait. Two cable car rides (first to Morro da Urca, then up to the summit), and the views shift each time you rise. On a clear day you see all the way across the bay. The guide is with you the whole time, speaking English, Spanish, French, Italian, or Portuguese depending on the group, and the van is air-conditioned between stops, which matters in Rio's heat. You're back at your hotel by late afternoon, having covered the main landmarks without arranging transport, tickets, or timing yourself.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, at 07:00 and 08:00. In Chinese, at 07:00.

Can children come?

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

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.

Is Christ the Redeemer ticket included?

Yes, entry to Christ the Redeemer by van is included in all packages. Sugarloaf cable car entry is only included if you book the full option with lunch.

What's the difference between the full option and the basic option?

The full option includes barbecue lunch at a Brazilian steakhouse and Sugarloaf Mountain cable car tickets. The basic option includes Christ the Redeemer only. You skip lunch and Sugarloaf. Both include all other stops and hotel pickup.

How long is the tour?

8–10 hours total, including hotel pickup and drop-off. The exact time depends on traffic and how long you spend at each stop.

Is hotel pickup really included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in the South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Leme) and West Zone (Barra da Tijuca). You'll need to confirm your hotel address when you book.

Are drinks included with lunch?

No. The barbecue buffet lunch is included in the full option, but drinks are not.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Most time is spent in the air-conditioned van or on cable cars. There is walking at each stop, but nothing strenuous.

Can I skip Sugarloaf if I book the full option?

The full option includes Sugarloaf as part of the itinerary. If you want to skip it, book the basic option instead.