Lonely Planet Experiences: Sugarloaf Mountain & Urca Discovery
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
From USD 99.00
Office phone number: +55 21 9 8372 1107
Lonely Planet Experiences: Sugarloaf Mountain & Urca Discovery
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Embrace the Carioca lifestyle on this tour that teaches you how to be a true Rio local! Visit the original city neighbourhood of Urca, where you’ll sample local flavours, ride around the local way, and get a whole new perspective on Rio de Janeiro with a view from way up high!
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Get to know the lovely neighbourhood of Urca, where the city of Rio de Janeiro was founded
- Discover why Cariocas love having a beer by the “mureta da Urca”
- Savour some delicious empadinhas (stuffed pastries) from a local vendor
- Ride the famous cable car from Praia Vermelha up to Urca Hill and the Sugarloaf summit
- Treat yourself to amazing views of Guanabara Bay, Copacabana, and downtown Rio from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 - 4.5 hours
- Meeting point:
Copacabana Palace Hotel, Avenida Atlântica, 1702 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. We’ll meet right by the statue outside the hotel.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 1.30 PM
- Ending point:
Copacabana Palace Hotel.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation during the tour, cable car fee up Sugarloaf Mountain.
Exclusions: Food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
On this Rio de Janeiro tour, we’ll start where it all began by exploring one of Rio’s quieter neighbourhoods, Urca. You’ll discover the cosy streets of this district that just also happens to be where Rio de Janeiro was officially founded as a city.
To reach this area of town, we’ll take the subway to Botafogo so you can experience how locals get around Rio while also getting an orientation to the city (perfect if you’ve just arrived!). Hoping off at Urca beach, we’ll wander along the coast to one of locals’ favourite hot spots in town: the Urca wall, or like Cariocas like to call it, the “mureta da Urca.” Here, we’ll grab a beer and you’ll get to taste Rio’s best range of stuffed empadinhas — pastries similar to a pie.
Once we’re refreshed from our beers, we’ll follow along the inner streets of Urca’s first houses. Then, it’s time to head to the Red Beach for a must-stop at the Claudio Coutinho walking path. This path leads adventurous hikers to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain — but don’t worry if you didn’t bring your hiking boots, as we’ll take the cable car up instead.
On our journey to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, we’ll stop first atop Urca Hill, where you’ll get your first breathtaking moment enjoying the Botafogo inlet right below us.
We’ll then proceed to the second cable car for another ride to reach the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. This is the perfect finale for your tour, as the stunning 360-degree view will show you why Rio is known as ‘the Marvelous City.’
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation during the tour, cable car fee up Sugarloaf Mountain.
Exclusions: Food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please wear light, comfortable clothes for walking, and bring a hat and sunscreen.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: If the Sugarloaf cable ride is not available for any reason, we will refund the entrance fee.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +55 21 9 8372 1107
Email address: info@riodejaneirourbanadventures.com
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