Rio de Janeiro Helicopter Tour: Christ the Redeemer & Beaches
See Rio from 500 feet: helicopter views of Christ the Redeemer and the lagoon
You board a helicopter for a 30-minute panoramic flight over Rio's main landmarks: Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, the Botanical Garden, and Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Hill. If weather blocks the statue, the route shifts to the beaches instead. Flights require a minimum of 3–5 passengers depending on aircraft type, and your voucher is your entry to the helipad.
Step-by-step itinerary
Rio de Janeiro panoramic helicopter tour
- Fly over Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
- Pass by Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
- View Christ the Redeemer statue
What’s included
- Your booking includes the helicopter flight voucher.
- The operator handles all logistics: you arrive at the helipad at your scheduled time, board the helicopter, and fly the panoramic route over Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, the Botanical Garden, and Christ the Redeemer (or the beaches if weather requires a reroute).
- The flight lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Times
- Every day 10:00 15:00
Before you book
Operated by Helisight
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
What does Rio actually look like when you're not standing in it? That's the question a helicopter tour answers in about 30 minutes. You take off from the helipad, and within minutes the city spreads out below: Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon first, then the Botanical Garden with its grid of palms and the green sprawl of Parque Lage, and if the weather holds, Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Hill comes into view, the 38-meter statue framed against the mountains behind it. The flight path swings over the beaches too, so you're seeing the whole postcard at once, not just the landmark.
The minimum group size is 3, 4, or 5 passengers depending on which helicopter they use that day, so you're not flying solo. There's usually a small group in the cabin with you. If clouds roll in and Christ isn't visible, the pilot reroutes over the beaches and the lagoon instead, so you still get the flight. It's just a different angle on the city. The whole thing is fast and straightforward: you get a voucher, show up at the helipad, and you're airborne. No long waits, no walking around. Just the view and the noise of the rotors.
Rio from the air is different from Rio on the ground. The scale changes. The Botanical Garden stops being a place you walk through and becomes a pattern of green. The lagoon becomes a mirror. And Christ the Redeemer, which you've seen in a thousand photos, suddenly has depth and context. You see the hill it sits on, the city wrapped around it, the way it actually dominates the landscape. It's the kind of perspective you can't get any other way.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Rio's iconic landmarks and the city's geography all at once without spending hours on the ground. The short flight time and fixed route mean you're not committing a full day, and the aerial view is something you can't replicate from any viewpoint in the city itself.
Compare the 6 alternatives
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): 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.
What happens if Christ the Redeemer is hidden by clouds?
The pilot reroutes the flight over the beaches and lagoon instead. You still fly the full route. The landmarks just change.
How many people fly at once?
The minimum is 3, 4, or 5 passengers depending on the helicopter model. Larger groups may be split across multiple flights.
How long is the flight?
The tour is approximately 30 minutes in the air.
Do I need to arrive early?
Arrival time depends on the operator's check-in window. Your voucher will specify the helipad location and departure time.
Is the flight wheelchair accessible?
All areas and surfaces at the helipad are wheelchair accessible. Discuss boarding specifics with the operator when you confirm your flight time.
What if fewer than the minimum passengers book?
You can either pay for the remaining minimum seats to fly that day, or wait until other passengers join your group.
Are service animals allowed?
Service animals are allowed on the ground at the helipad but cannot board the aircraft.
Rio de Janeiro Helicopter Tour: Christ the Redeemer & Beaches
7m–8m · EN · ES · PT
from US$ 250 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.