Rio de Janeiro: Helicopter Tour Without Doors at Christ the Redeemer

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.91 (11 reviews)

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/31

Duration25m–35m

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN · PT +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Your legs dangling over Rio, Christ the Redeemer rising ahead

You board a doorless helicopter, fly the length of Rio's beach from Barra to Ipanema, hover at two photo stops with your feet out over the water, circle Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, and land back at the base with the city still spinning in your head. Safety gear for your phone is included, and bad weather gets you a reschedule or your money back.

25m–35m

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter tour over Rio beaches and landmarks

Fly over Praia da Reserva
Pass by Barra Beach
Fly over São Conrado Beach and favelas
Pass by Leblon Beach
Pass by Ipanema Beach
Stop at stone dividing Ipanema and Copacabana
Fly over Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
Stop at Christ the Redeemer for photos
Return to base

The Experience

The helicopter lifts off from Praia da Reserva on Avenida Lúcio Costa, and the city drops away beneath you. No doors. Just you, the harness, and the open air as the coast unfolds—Barra Beach first, then São Conrado with the favelas climbing the mountainside, then Leblon and Ipanema spreading out like a map someone drew in sand. The flight moves fast but not rushed, and your guide points out the stone that divides Ipanema from Copacabana, the first photo stop where you can lean out and shoot with your feet hanging over the water. It's the kind of moment that feels impossible until it's happening.

Then you're climbing toward Christ the Redeemer. The statue grows from a speck to something real, and Sugarloaf Mountain sits off to the side like a guardian. This is the second stop—the one everyone comes for. You hover there long enough to get the shot, to feel the scale of it, to understand why the city spreads out the way it does from up there. The Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon sits below like a mirror, and the whole southern zone of Rio opens up in one frame. The helicopter tour without doors in Rio de Janeiro isn't about speed or tricks; it's about being in the right place at the right angle, with nothing between you and the view.

The flight depends on a minimum number of passengers, so if the group is light, you might get rescheduled to another time—the operator guarantees a new date or a full refund if weather turns bad or the numbers don't work out. Seat selection is drawn by lot among the three passengers, so you don't choose your spot, but the helicopter itself is small enough that every seat has a view. Safety equipment for your phone comes with it, so your photos don't end up in the Atlantic. The whole thing runs in the afternoon or at sunset, depending on what you book, and you're back at the base before the light goes flat.

What’s included

Your experience includes the helicopter flight without doors, safety equipment for your smartphone to protect it during photos, and two designated photo stops—one at the stone dividing Ipanema and Copacabana, and one at Christ the Redeemer with views of Sugarloaf Mountain. You depart from and return to the base at Praia da Reserva on Avenida Lúcio Costa.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Helicopter Rio

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want an unfiltered view of Rio's coast and Christ the Redeemer from the air, with the thrill of flying doorless and shooting photos with your feet out. The flight depends on minimum passenger numbers and weather, so book with flexibility built in—that's what makes the guarantee of a reschedule or refund matter.