A visit to Rio de Janeiro isn’t complete without a visit to Cristo Redentor – Christ the Redeemer. The statue looms above the city from it’s perch on top of Corcovado Mountain, visible from almost anywhere in the city. A symbol synonymous with Rio de Janeiro, nearly 2 million people visit the statue yearly. Word of warning, it gets crowded quickly!
There are countless ways to visit Christ the Redeemer, depending on your budget, schedule, and willingness to get a workout in! Here are 5 ways to plan your visit to Christ the Redeemer.
If you’re in Rio, then ESSENTIAL THINGS TO KNOW FOR VISITING RIO will come in handy!
One of the most common ways of reaching the summit is the train. The train originates from Corcovado train station in the Cosme Velho neighbourhood. The closest metro stop would be the Largo do Machado, and from there it’s about a 40 minute walk or so.
The bus gets you to the train station itself, and from Leblon, Copacabana, Ipanema and Botafogo it is bus “Circular 1”. If you’re leaving from Center, Lapa or Glória neighbourhoods, it’s route “Troncal 8”
The train brings you almost to the top, where you can catch an escalator up or walk the 220 steps. The trains depart every 30 minutes, starting at 8 AM and takes around 20 minutes to reach the information centre. There can be a long wait for trains if you show up without a ticket, so you’re better off buying a ticket in advance, especially for the earlier trains. The price of the train ticket includes your entrance fee and the return ride down.
You can buy the tickets at the train station, online or at any of the pay stations listed here.
There is a shuttle van service that begins running at 8 am to get to Christ the Redeemer. There are three separate pick up points throughout the city.
One, in-between the neighbourhoods Catete and Flamingo, in the square just outside Largo do Machado metro station.
Second, in Copacabana which leaves from Praça do Lido. The closest metro station would be Cardeal Arco Verde Subway Station.
Third, Barra da Tijuca (Citta America Shopping Center).
The shuttle van will drive you up to the information centre, and from here you board a second bus to get to Cristo. The price includes the return trip to Corcovado and the entrance ticket.
Book the shuttle tickets here for departures from Largo Do Machado and Copacabana. Booking a departure from Barra de Tijuca is only available at the ticket office.
Numerous companies throughout Rio offer tours to Christ the Redeemer. Asking your hotel/hostel reception staff would definitely be the best, since they’ll have some insider info on a tour that works in your price range.
You can also walk to the Christ the Redeemer if you feel so inclined. The hiking trail to Cristo Redentor begins at Parque Lage, which is next to the Botanical Garden. The path begins in the back right hand corner of the park, where you’ll be greeted by a ranger and registered. It’s a strenuous hike that takes about 2 hours, so you’ll have your cardio in by the time you reach the top. There is no fee to hike up the mountain, but there is still an entrance fee for Christ the Redeemer.
Make sure to bring cash for your entrance fee, they only take card when you purchase your tickets at the information centre below, which you bypass when hiking. We saw people that had hiked all the way to the top, to get turned away since they didn’t have cash. (Your ticket includes the shuttle ride back down to the parking lot)!
How to get to Parque Lage by metro from Copacabana: Bus line 584 via Brs 2 – Figueiredo Magalhães will stop a two minute walk from the entrance to Parque Lage.
Safety note: Unfortunately, there have been reports of numerous muggings on the trail up Corcovado Mountain. While the Rio police are trying to crack down on these attacks, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re really set on hiking, leave all of your valuables at your accommodation.
We had decided we wanted to be at the information centre for opening, to beat the crowds. Luckily we had met three people from our hostel who had the same plan. Since we were staying in Lapa, it was a quick fifteen minute/30 riel uber ride to the Paineiras car park through Santa Teresa.
When we arrived around 7:45 there was about 10 people in line already, plus a couple tour guide operators. We bought our tickets and caught the third shuttle up to the base. The shuttle to the top winds you up the hill until you finally reach the top. Or well, almost the top. From here you take an escalator and a couple sets of stairs up, and THEN you’re finally at the top.
If you hike or get an uber/taxi up, there are a few options for getting back down into Rio. You can purchase a one way tram ticket back down, from the tram station at the top of Corcovado. Buses to Copacabana also leave from the top, so that’s an option as well.
From Paineiras car park there are a few taxis/vans waiting that will bring you back down the mountain, or if you luck out and the wifi is working for you, call an uber!
Loving beautiful Brazil? Check out these other posts as well to help you figure out where to go next!
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