Brazil
The Sugarloaf cable car in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has received over 37 million visitors since it opened in 1912. Cable cars run every 30 minutes or when the car is full.
The ride is divided into two stages, each lasting threeminutes. The first stage goes fromPraia Vermelha(Red Beach) toMorro da Urca(Urca Hill)at an altitude of 220 meters or about 240 yards. The second stage goes fromMorro da UrcatoSugarloaf Mountainat an altitude of 528 meters or about 577 yards. Cable car speed varies from 21 to 31 kilometers per hour. Each car holds 65 passengers.
Originally designed byBrazilian engineer Augusto Ferreira Ramos,one of the founders of Companhia Caminho Aéreo Pão de Açúcar, the cable car system was completely renewed in 1972. The cables were changed again in 2002 and the electronic operating system was updated in May 2009.New cable cars with an upgraded ventilation system and tinted, anti-glare glass were installed in 2008 for the ride between Praia Vermelha andUrca. The Morro da Urca-Sugarloaf stretch got four new cars in the second phase of the renovations, imported from Switzerland for about 3 million euros.The Sugarloaf cable car system is considered one of the safest in the world.
The View
The 360-degree view you'll enjoy during the ride and from the top of Morro da Urca and Sugarloaf Mountain encompass theRio beaches—Flamengo, Botafogo, Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon—as well asthe Corcovado, Guanabara Bay, downtown Rio, the Santos Dumont Airport, the Rio-Niterói Bridge andDedo de Deus(God's Finger), a peak that rises from Brazil's coastal range (Serra do Mar) in Teresópolis,about 50 miles from Rio.
The Tourist Complex at Morro da Urca
Composed of three areas, the tourist complex at Morro da Urca hosts events as diverse as New Year's Eve celebrations,festivals, shows and wedding receptions.The amphitheater iscovered by a retractable roof and has a stage, grandstands, and a dance floor. The Disks, a covered area with three round platforms, and the garden, with sweeping views of Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf,complete the entertainment area. The complex accommodates up to 2,500 people in all.
Shops andFood
Pão de Açúcarshops at Praia Vermelha, Morro da Urca and Sugarloaf allsell souvenirs. You can buy jewelry at H. Stern on Morro da Urca or at Amsterdam Sauer on Sugarloaf.
Bar Abençoado (its name means "blessed"and this no doubt has everything to do with the view) serves great caipirinhas made from its own cachaça brand, as well as appetizers and a different version ofescondidinho, a type of meat and manioc casserole, made here with a mix of pureed arracacha and yams.
You can have coffee, sandwiches and other snacks at the top of Sugarloaf atPão de Açúcar Gourmet with its outdoor tables and benches for grand views.
Things to Know
- The Sugarloaf complex is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, walkers and those with limited mobility. There areelevators and ramps. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are available at Morro da Urca and the Sugarloaf.
- Helisight, a company offering helicopter tours of Rio de Janeiro, has a station at Morro da Urca.
How to Get There
The address is Avenida Pasteur 520, Urca. You can take a taxi which is the easiest way.You can also take the Metro (subway)up to theBotafogostation and walkto the cable car entrance. The cheapest way to get there is by bus.The 511 (look for the sign “Ataulfo de Paiva”) and the 512 (sign will say “Bartholomeu Mitre”) can both get you there. You will pay as you board the bus (cash only and no change will be given).
Tickets
Tickets for the cable car can be purchased online and you'll receive a 10 percent discount. A50percentdiscount is given to seniorsfrom 60 years old, people with disabilities, students, and people from 13 to 21 years old. If you purchase at the cable car, the ticket office opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 7:50 p.m.The complex is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tickets are valid for the round trip to the top of Sugarloaf. Hold on to your ticket and present it when you board the cable car at Morro da Urca.
The cost of the ticket depends on the level of service you decide on. For the basic cable car ride ticket, (priced January 2019), the cost at the ticket office is 110 Brazilian Reals (approximately $29.50 USD). Prices online are 10 percentless. If you want to go the luxury route, select the "Golden Ticket,"which includes a reception with a glass of sparkling wine in an air-conditioned lounge, boarding with no line at the first station and VIP access at other stations. The cost for that ticket purchased at the ticket office (priced January 2019) is 205Brazilian Reals (approximately $55 USD).
