The Sugarloaf Mountain cable car, known locally as the Bondinho, carries visitors from Praia Vermelha over Urca Hill to the summit of Pão de Açúcar in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The standard adult ticket is now R$205, confirmed by the operator’s own support pages, higher than the R$199 that several travel guides still quote. You can book in advance through Viator to confirm your fare before travelling.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Av. Pasteur, 520, Urca, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22290-240 |
| Hours | Daily, 8:30am–9pm (last boarding 7:30pm) |
| Adult ticket | R$205 |
| Child ticket (3–12) | R$102 |
| Under 3 | Free |
| Nearest transit | Botafogo metro station, Exit E, then a short bus and walk |
| Typical visit duration | A few hours, though each cable car leg takes about 3 minutes |
Why book Sugarloaf Mountain tickets?
- 🏛️ Brazil’s first cable car: opened in 1912 as the first cable car in Brazil and the third in the world.
- 🎟️ A skip-the-line upgrade exists: the Acesso Rápido ticket adds priority queues and a VIP lounge.
- 🌿 Two mountains in one ticket: ride from Praia Vermelha to Urca Hill and on to Sugarloaf itself.
- 📜 Step-free access throughout most of the park: ramps, lifts, and loan wheelchairs cover almost every level.
- 💰 Free for young children: under-3s travel free with a paying adult.
Opening hours for Sugarloaf Mountain
The park is open every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays, from 8:30am to 9pm, with last boarding at 7:30pm. The operator advises checking the website on the day of your visit, since hours can shift for events or weather.
Bosque das Artes, the open-air art space at the summit, keeps its own hours: Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm, and Friday to Sunday, 8:30am to 5pm.
Ticket prices for Sugarloaf Mountain
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard adult (all countries) | R$205 |
| Child, 3–12 years (all countries) | R$102 |
| Age 60+ (all countries) | R$102 |
| Disabled visitor and one companion | R$102 per person |
| Youth, 13–21 years (all countries) | R$102 |
| Promotional rate for Brazilians (born or resident in Brazil) | R$160 |
| Rio de Janeiro state resident, adult | R$89 |
| Rio de Janeiro state resident, child (3–12) | R$44 |
| Under 3 | Free |
All discounted rates require proof of eligibility at the gate, from ID to proof of residence. An Acesso Rápido ticket, with priority queues and a VIP lounge, is also available, though its current price isn’t confirmed on the pages checked, so verify this at booking. The official site doesn’t state whether prices include tax. Book through Viator if you’d rather have your ticket confirmed ahead of time.
How to get to Sugarloaf Mountain
By metro: get off at Botafogo station, Exit E (Mena Barreto), then walk to the 513 bus terminus on Rua Voluntários da Pátria. Get off at UNIRIO and walk 260m to the park.
By bus: routes 107, 513SP, 518, 519, and 167 all serve Urca.
By ferry: visitors from Niterói, Ilha do Governador, or Paquetá can take the ferry to Praça XV, then walk to Largo da Carioca or take the VLT light rail to Cristiano Ottoni station and catch bus 107 towards UNIRIO.
By car: the operator specifically advises against driving, since there’s no dedicated visitor car park nearby.
Parking
Sugarloaf Mountain has no car park of its own, and the operator’s official advice is not to drive. Nearby public parking is limited and metered.
How long to spend at Sugarloaf Mountain
Each cable car leg takes around 3 minutes, but most visitors spend several hours taking in the viewpoints, restaurants, and cultural spaces across both Urca Hill and the summit.
Accessibility at Sugarloaf Mountain
The cable cars and most of the park are accessible, with eight access platforms, lifts on every level, and a dedicated access ramp on Urca Hill called the Plano Inclinado. Adapted toilets and loan wheelchairs are available. A few spots, including the Time Capsule exhibit on Urca Hill and the Bosque das Artes and Clássico Sunset Club restaurant at the summit, aren’t fully accessible.
What to see at Sugarloaf Mountain
The cable car journey rises in two stages, from Praia Vermelha to Urca Hill and on to the summit of Pão de Açúcar, with views over Guanabara Bay, Corcovado, and the beaches of Rio’s Zona Sul.
Urca Hill offers the widest open space along the route, with viewpoints, a snack bar, and a restaurant, plus the Cocuruto exhibit telling the story of Brazil’s first cable car through digital displays and historic objects.
Praça dos Bondes, also on Urca Hill, displays two earlier generations of the cable car cabins, alongside a viewpoint over Morro da Babilônia and the Praia Vermelha station below.
The summit of Sugarloaf is where Bosque das Artes hosts changing art exhibitions in the open air, alongside the city’s best-known sunset viewpoint.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book online in advance | This avoids the ticket office queue at the Urca entrance. |
| Carry ID for any discount | Every discounted category, from child to resident rates, needs proof on the day. |
| Skip the car | The operator’s own advice is not to drive, since nearby parking is limited and metered. |
| Time your visit for sunset | Regular DJ sunset sessions run on selected dates, best checked on the park’s social media beforehand. |
| Confirm the day’s hours | Hours can shift for events or weather, so check the website on the day of your visit. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does a ticket cost? | The standard adult rate is R$205, with discounts for children, seniors, students, and Brazil or Rio state residents. Booking in advance confirms your fare ahead of time. |
| Is Sugarloaf Mountain wheelchair accessible? | Yes, the cable cars and most of the park are accessible via ramps, lifts, and loan wheelchairs, though a few spots aren’t fully accessible. |
| Can I drive there? | It isn’t recommended. There’s no dedicated visitor car park, only limited, metered public parking nearby. |
| How long does the visit take? | Each cable car leg takes about 3 minutes, but most visitors spend a few hours at the viewpoints and restaurants. |
| Is it open every day? | Yes, including weekends and public holidays, though hours can vary by season or event. |
Things to do nearby
Praia Vermelha, the small beach right outside the base station, is a short walk for a swim or a rest before or after your visit.
The Urca neighbourhood offers a quiet, charming waterfront promenade, popular with locals for an evening drink with a view of the bay.
Fort São João, a historic military fort near Praça General Tibúrcio, sits a short walk from the base station.
Botafogo Beach, a little further along the bay, offers views back towards Sugarloaf and the Rio–Niterói Bridge.
Christ the Redeemer and Corcovado, Rio’s other iconic viewpoint, is a short drive or train ride away, and pairs naturally with a Sugarloaf visit on the same trip.
