Rio's Full-Day Tour: Selarón Steps, Christ & Sugarloaf
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the vibrant Selarón Steps
- Visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue
- Ride the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain
- Enjoy panoramic views of Rio's beaches
- Savor a delicious Brazilian lunch
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Selarón Steps, Christ the Redeemer, and Sugarloaf Mountain
- Round-trip transportation from Rio de Janeiro hotels
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Itinerary
Pass by: ✅ Full Tour ❌ Mini/Express Tour We will pass by several points of interest along the way, such as Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and other notable sights. Please note that the specific route may vary depending on your hotel location and starting point. In some cases, we may not pass by Copacabana or Ipanema beaches.
Pass by: ✅ Full Tour ❌ Mini/Express Tour Ipanema Beach, famously known for inspiring the iconic song "The Girl from Ipanema," is a beautiful destination that truly deserves its fame and admiration. However, please note that whether we pass by Ipanema Beach depends on the location of your hotel and the specific route of the tour.
Pass by: We pass through the Tijuca National Park, one of the largest urban forests in the world and home to many attractions, including the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, located within its boundaries.
✅ Full Tour ✅ Mini/Express Tour Reaching the Christ, we'll take you with our tour vehicle from its base to nearly the summit. The very top is reached by climbing a flight of stairs to arrive at the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue. The view, from this vantage point, with the surrounding Tijuca National Forest spreading below and a circle of mountains closing the horizon at the very back of the Guanabara bay is truly spectacular. After some time to walk around and take photos, we make the way back down.
✅ Full Tour ❌ Mini/Express Tour The lunch takes place at a self-service buffet restaurant, which may vary depending on the day and logistics. It can be at Me Gusta Restaurant, Fagulha, or other similar restaurants. All options offer a wide variety of salads, hot and cold dishes, and desserts, including vegetarian and vegan choices
✅ Full Tour ❌ Mini/Express Tour From Santa Teresa to Lapa, there is the famous Selaron steps, a stairway decorated with colorful tiles. Known for its energetic bohemian vibe, “Lapa” is the most buzzing area in town day and nighttime.
Pass by: ✅ Full Tour (pass by) ❌ Mini/Express Tour Have you ever heard of the Lapa neighborhood? If not, it should! It's very easy to know that you've arrived in Lapa. There is a famous monument that is the official image of Lapa, the large white arches aqueduct postcard of Rio.
Pass by: ✅ Full Tour (drive through) ❌ Mini/Express Tour We then drive through Rio’s downtown through some of the coolest touristic areas catching sights and culture.
Pass by: ✅ Full Tour (pass by) ❌ Mini/Express Tour Known for sheltering the Sugarloaf Mountain and for the privileged view it offers to Guanabara Bay, Botafogo beach hides a little explored and pulsating alternative life with bars, restaurants and cultural centers.
Pass by: ✅ Full Tour (pass by) ❌ Mini/Express Tour Calm beaches close to Flamengo landfilled park with largest manmade park of the world, fully planted with tropical vegetation.
✅ Full Tour ❌ Mini/Express Tour The Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro stands out among the buildings in the Center of the city. Its unique architecture catches the attention of everyone passing by and surprises those who visit it! Its appearance and history are unconventional and make it one of the most curious spots in the wonderful city!
✅ Full Tour ✅ Mini/Express Tour We will then go up the Sugarloaf Mountain. A series of two cable cars will take you to the top of Sugar Loaf. At the top, again some of the most breathtaking views of Rio, this time from a different vantage point than at Corcovado.
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible; participants should be able to navigate stairs and uneven terrain.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; infants must sit on laps during transportation.
- The tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather conditions.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat or sunscreen for sun protection.
- Carry a camera to capture the stunning views and landmarks.
- Ensure you have a valid ID for hotel pickup and entry to attractions.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infants Required On Laps
Traveler reviews
Christ the Redeemer Approved. So Do I.😇
Hian was fantastic at herding our group of 18 — fun, sharp, and wonderfully multilingual! He switched seamlessly between Spanish and English, and even spoke Japanese. The van’s small steps made getting on and off easy. It rained all day, but Christ the Redeemer in the fog felt magnificent. I was grateful just to be there, and the rain gifted us a stunning full-arch rainbow! He wrapped up the tour with a fun drawing game and small gifts. Staying in his cheerful “tourist guide” voice the whole time, he dramatically declared each gift — saving the best Rio tote bag for last, announcing “this one is too good, I’m keeping it for myself!” — then called my name anyway! I actually won it! I was absolutely cracking up. Pure joy from start to finish! 😂🎉 Highly recommend this tour:)
Brilliant history tour
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A huge thank you to Gregtur for a fantastic tour of Rio! Everything was run perfectly on time, and our tour guide was absolutely outstanding. She was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much about Rio's history, culture, and landmarks—teaching us many things we never knew before. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Rio and would definitely use Gregtur again in the future. Thank you for such a memorable experience!
Amazing perfect full Rio day
Amazing full day in Rio!! See all the main attractions in one great day. Guide was amazing!! Gustave! Spoke three fluent languages and had a wealth of knowledge for us!!
Perfect one day Rio day trip
Amazing day trip to see all the main attractions. Gustavo was perfect!! Spoke 3 languages and was so informative and full of good energy!! The lunch was great and pace was perfect. Simply the best one day trip you can take!! Highly recommend
This one is a must do
If I could have done only one tour in Brazil this was the one to do. I am glad I did the full day tour even though I wasn’t a fan of the salty lunch. The rest was perfect and our guide Marco was awesome. He spoke Spanish and English and made sure everyone understood and showed us how to take the right photos. The driver was nice. I loved this tour