Rio de Janeiro tour: Christ Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps

Three landmarks, one guide, your choice of what comes next

A private 8-hour guided tour of Rio de Janeiro with a dedicated driver and multilingual guide, visiting Christ the Redeemer (by train through Tijuca National Forest), Selarón Steps, and Sugarloaf Mountain. You choose the focus (art, nature or history), and add optional stops like Santa Teresa, Cinelândia, Rio Cathedral, Pepino Beach or Taunay waterfall. Pickup and drop-off included anywhere in the city; entrance tickets advised by your guide; lunch optional at 9 hours instead of 8.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Christ the Redeemer2h
2. Selarón Steps30m
3. Sugarloaf Mountain3h
4. Cinelândia30m
5. Rio de Janeiro Cathedral15m
6. Pepino Beach10m
7. Santa Teresa1h

Explore Rio's iconic landmarks and culture

• Travel by train through Tijuca Forest
• Visit Christ the Redeemer statue
• Explore Selarón Steps mosaic artwork
• Enjoy panoramic views from Sugarloaf Mountain
• Visit Cinelândia historic buildings
• See Rio de Janeiro Cathedral
• Walk along Pepino Beach
• Visit Taunay waterfall in Tijuca forest
• Explore Santa Teresa neighborhood and Ethnicity wall
• View large mural artwork

The experience

You arrive in Rio with a full day ahead and no fixed itinerary. The tour starts with pickup from your hotel or any point in the city, then heads straight to Christ the Redeemer: the train climbs through Tijuca National Forest, one of the world's largest urban forests, and your guide handles photos at every stop. This is the fixed anchor of the day. From there, the route branches: you decide whether the next hours lean toward art (the Selarón Steps, a three-story mosaic staircase tiled with pieces from over 60 countries, and a massive mural in Santa Teresa), history (Cinelândia's grand colonial buildings and the Rio Cathedral's striking geometric form), or nature (Pepino Beach and Taunay waterfall back in the Tijuca forest).

Sugarloaf Mountain is the other fixed stop. The cable car takes you to panoramic views of the city and the bay, and your guide will point out neighborhoods and landmarks from above. Between the fixed points and your chosen focus, there is room to add a third direction or linger longer at one stop. The guide is licensed and speaks English, Spanish, Italian, German or French, so explanations happen in your language. A separate driver means you stay comfortable in the vehicle between sites. If you book the guide-driver option instead, the guide narrates only when parked, keeping the focus on the road.

The tour runs 8 hours without a meal stop or 9 hours if you want lunch included. Entrance tickets are not in the price, but your guide advises which ones to buy and in what order so you skip unnecessary queues. Pickup and drop-off happen anywhere in Rio (your hotel, a neighborhood, a specific street), so the day starts and ends on your terms. Last-minute bookings work best with a phone call to confirm availability.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off anywhere in Rio de Janeiro.
• private driver and licensed multilingual guide in English, Spanish, Italian, German or French.
• train access to Christ the Redeemer through Tijuca National Forest.
• Selarón Steps and Sugarloaf Mountain visits.
• your choice of art, nature or history focus with additional stops.
• guidance on entrance tickets and queue strategy.
• optional lunch (9-hour tour instead of 8).
• wheelchair-accessible vans available on request.
• infant car seats and specialized dietary options (gluten-free, vegan, halal, kosher) available with advance notice.

Options for this experience

13 options

Up to 5 per booking · Guide in Portuguese14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 3 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 1 per booking · Guide in French, German or Italian14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

See 10 more options

Up to 2 per booking · Guide in French, German or Italian14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 2 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 3 per booking · Guide in French, German or Italian14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 3 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 4 per booking · Guide in 6 languages14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 4 per booking · Guide in French, German or Italian14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 7 per booking · Guide in 6 languages12 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 10 per booking · Guide in 6 languages14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 13 per booking · Guide in 6 languages14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Up to 15 per booking · Guide in 6 languages14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

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 day14 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 13:00

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Way to Know Rio

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving with a full day and no plan: the guide builds the route around your interests (art, nature or history) while you stay in one vehicle. If you prefer a fixed itinerary with set stops and timing, a group tour with a published schedule will suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

What's the difference between the art, nature and history versions of this tour?

You choose one focus after booking. Art includes the Selarón Steps and a major mural in Santa Teresa; nature covers Pepino Beach and Taunay waterfall in Tijuca Forest; history takes in Cinelândia's colonial architecture and Rio Cathedral. Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain are fixed on every tour, so the focus shapes which other two or three stops fill the remaining hours.

Do I need to buy entrance tickets before the tour starts?

Tickets are not included in the tour price, but your guide advises you on which ones to purchase and the best order to visit sites so you avoid long waits. You buy them on the day or arrange them in advance based on the guide's recommendation.

Can I customize the stops beyond the art, nature and history options?

Yes. The tour description lists suggested stops, but you can request other places after booking by messaging the operator. Send details of what interests you and they'll build the itinerary around Christ the Redeemer, Selarón Steps and Sugarloaf Mountain, which are fixed.

Is lunch included, and how long does the tour take with it?

Lunch is optional. The tour is 8 hours without a meal stop or 9 hours if you include lunch. You decide at checkout whether to add it, and the price varies depending on the restaurant.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in different parts of Rio?

Pickup and drop-off happen anywhere in the city: your hotel, a specific neighborhood, a beach, or any address you provide. The driver collects you and returns you to the same location at the end of the day.