Rio Private Tour: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf & Lapa

Cable car to Sugarloaf's peak, then the statue overlooking the bay

A 7-hour private tour of Rio de Janeiro with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and round-trip transport in a comfortable air-conditioned van. You visit Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain (tickets purchased at each entrance), ride the cable car from Urca, walk through Parque Lage and the Botanical Gardens, explore the Selarón Steps and Arcos da Lapa in the bohemian Lapa neighborhood, and see the Olympic Boulevard street art mural and Mauá Square. The guide captures professional photography and drone video throughout the day. Morning or afternoon departures available. The itinerary can be customized to your interests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Sugarloaf Mountain2h
2. Christ the Redeemer2h
3. Dona Marta Lookout1h
4. Rocinha1h
5. Tijuca National Parkpass by
6. Rio-Niterói Bridgepass by
7. Niterói Contemporary Art Museumpass by
8. Copacabana Fortpass by
9. Bank of Brazil Cultural Centerpass by
10. Copacabana Beachpass by

Explore Rio's iconic sights

• Take cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain
• Drive through Tijuca Forest to Paineiras Visitors Center
• Ride to the top of Corcovado
• See Christ the Redeemer statue
• Visit Parque Lage and Botanical Gardens
• Enjoy Brazilian cuisine for lunch
• Explore Lapa neighborhood and Selaron Staircase
• Walk down Olympic Boulevard and visit Maua Square

The experience

The tour starts with a cable car ride from Urca station to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, where you get panoramic views of Rio's coastline, Guanabara Bay and the city spread below. From there, the guide drives you through Tijuca Forest to the Paineiras Visitors Center, then up to Corcovado to stand in front of Christ the Redeemer: the 30-meter Art Deco statue built between 1922 and 1931, with arms stretching 28 meters wide. Both sites are accessed by purchasing tickets at the entrance. The guide handles the logistics so you move through the day without arranging entry separately.

The afternoon portion takes you to Parque Lage, a historic park that originated from an old sugar mill and now sits at the foot of Corcovado Mountain, with native Atlantic Forest, imperial palms and artificial islands. Next is the Botanical Gardens, then down to the Lapa neighborhood where you walk the Selarón Steps: a staircase covered in colorful tiles from Brazil and around the world, created by Chilean artist Jorge Selarón over decades. You'll also see the Arcos da Lapa, an 18th-century aqueduct that anchors the bohemian district. The route continues along the Olympic Boulevard to see Eduardo Kobra's massive street art mural, and finishes at Mauá Square, which opens onto views of Guanabara Bay, the Museum of Art and the Museum of Tomorrow.

Throughout the tour, a fluent English-speaking guide provides context at each stop. You receive professional-quality photography and drone video footage of the day: the guide captures the moments at Sugarloaf, Christ the Redeemer and other sites so you have images beyond what your phone records. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, with transport in a private, air-conditioned van. You can choose a morning or afternoon departure to fit your schedule, and the itinerary can be adjusted based on what interests you most.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and round-trip private air-conditioned transport.
• English-speaking guide.
• professional photography and drone video of the tour.
• choice of morning or afternoon departure.
• customizable itinerary based on your interests.

Options for this experience

2 options

Up to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Portuguese08:00, 10:00 and 14:00

Up to 14 per booking · Guide in English or Portuguese08:00, 10:00 and 14:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 10:00 and 14:00

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Caio Tour Guide

Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure if you want to photograph Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer with clearer light and fewer crowds at the peaks. The private van and guide mean you move at your own pace through each neighborhood without coordinating with a larger group, and the drone footage gives you aerial perspectives of Rio's layout that ground-level photos can't capture.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Portuguese.

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 24h before the start.

What's the cable car ride like at Sugarloaf Mountain?

The cable car ascends from Urca station to the 396-meter peak, rising above the harbor at the mouth of Guanabara Bay. The mountain's name comes from its resemblance to the shape of refined loaf sugar. The ride itself offers views of the city and coastline as you climb, and the summit gives you a full panorama of Rio's landscapes and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

Do I need to buy tickets for Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf in advance?

You purchase tickets for both attractions at their entrances on the day of the tour. The guide will handle the process so you don't have to arrange entry beforehand, but the cost of admission is separate from the tour price.

What is the Selarón Steps and why is it famous?

The Selarón Steps is a staircase in the Lapa neighborhood between two streets, covered entirely in colorful ceramic tiles, mirrors and bits of tile from Brazil and around the world. Artist Jorge Selarón spent decades renovating and decorating the steps as a personal project, mixing blues, greens and yellows inspired by the Brazilian flag. It has been featured in music videos and is a popular spot for photographs among locals and visitors.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You can eat at a restaurant during the day, or the guide can recommend places in the neighborhoods you visit.

How long is the tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs for 7 hours. You can choose either a morning or afternoon departure time to suit your schedule.

What kind of photography will I receive?

The guide provides professional-quality photography and drone video throughout the day at the major sites: Sugarloaf, Christ the Redeemer, Lapa and other stops. You receive these files as part of the tour so you have polished images of the experience beyond snapshots.