Rio de Janeiro: Helicopter Flight over Christ the Redeemer & Beaches

Seeing Rio from 500 feet up changes how you understand the city's geography

You fly over six of Rio's most recognizable landmarks (Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana, Ipanema, Red Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon) in a private helicopter with up to three other passengers. The flight is about an hour, windows are yours for photography, and the route shows you how the city's geography actually connects. Infants sit on an adult's lap. The flight is not suitable for pregnant women past week 32.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 1,107.30 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Tour departing from the Urca Helipad 14 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 17:00 Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese The Sugar Loaf Helipad price does not cover the Pão de Açúcar cable car fee, which is paid separately and costs roughly R$ 100.00

Tour-Exit Heliponto Lagoon 13 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 16:30 Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese Panoramic flight from the Lagoon Helipad

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Step-by-step itinerary

Panoramic helicopter flight over Rio

• Fly over Christ the Redeemer
• View Copacabana Beach
• See Ipanema Beach
• Fly past Red Beach
• View Sugarloaf Mountain
• See Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon

What’s included

• Your experience includes a private helicopter flight for up to 4 passengers, a safety briefing before takeoff, and a flight voucher.
• The route covers Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, Red Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.
• Windows are positioned for photography.
• The helipad and helicopter are wheelchair accessible, and infants may fly on an adult's lap.

Times

• Every day 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00

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Before you book

Group Private 6 group tours ›

Live guide English, Spanish and Portuguese Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to Start time

Ages Adult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

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

Operated by Helisight

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Traveler reviews

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The experience

You probably know Rio from postcards: Christ the Redeemer perched on the mountain, Copacabana's curve of sand, Sugarloaf rising out of nowhere. But from the helicopter, those landmarks stop being flat images and become a landscape you can actually read. The flight covers all six major sights: Christ the Redeemer first, then down the coast past Copacabana's 4-kilometer waterfront and into Ipanema where the late-afternoon energy builds, then Red Beach tucked beneath Sugarloaf Mountain, and finally Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon with its calm water reflecting the city back at you. The whole thing takes about an hour, and you're flying low enough that photos come out sharp without needing a telephoto lens.

The helicopter holds four people maximum, which means no fighting for window seats or craning your neck around strangers. You get a window to yourself, or you share one with someone you came with. The pilot knows the route cold. He's not narrating like a tour guide, just flying the pattern that lets you see each landmark from the angle that actually shows you what it is. Red Beach is the one most people miss on the ground. From the air, you see why locals go there instead of the crowded beaches. Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon sits in the middle of the city like a mirror, and on a clear day you can trace the neighborhoods around it and understand how Rio actually fits together.

The voucher gets you on the flight. You show up at the helipad, they brief you on safety in about five minutes, and you're airborne. It's not a long experience. It's concentrated. You're not spending a full day on this. You're getting the view that takes months of living in Rio to piece together, compressed into one flight. Bring a camera or a phone with a good lens, because the light off the water and the way the mountains sit against the sky is the whole point of being up there.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 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.

How long is the helicopter flight?

Approximately one hour, covering all six major landmarks in a single route.

How many people can go on the flight?

Up to 4 people per helicopter, so you have a private or semi-private experience depending on your group size.

Can I bring a camera?

Yes. The flight altitude and window access are designed for photography. Bring a camera or smartphone with a good lens.

Is this suitable for pregnant women?

No, it is not recommended for pregnant women from week 32 onward.

Can infants fly?

Yes, infants are allowed and must sit on an adult's lap during the flight.

What landmarks does the flight cover?

Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, Red Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.

Is transportation to the helipad included?

The flight voucher covers the helicopter experience. Public transportation options are available nearby, and the helipad is wheelchair accessible.