Rio de Janeiro travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs
Private Rio Tour: Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Essentials
+41 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 7–8 hours
- Price from
- $230 / person
- Location
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 366 reviews
- Languages
- PT, EN, ES
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- BE FREE TRANSPORTADORA TURISTICA
Description
Enjoy a personalized visit to Rio de Janeiro’s essentials with a private guide and driver. The tour covers key highlights such as Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, and the Selarón Steps, with the flexibility to adjust stops according to personal interests. A local expert shares insights along the way, with the convenience of hotel pickup and drop-off included. Lunch is not part of the package, allowing guests to choose from the city’s best restaurants for a more authentic dining experience.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 40 times a day, 6:30 AM–1:00 PM
- Next available
- Fri, Oct 30
- Adult
- $130
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $460.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 29.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Santuario Cristo Redentor
Ride the train through the Rainforest to get to the Christ the Redeemer Statue and visit it.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Ride the cable cars up to the mountains to have a stunning view of the city and the coast
Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura
The gorgeous library the Portuguese built to preserve their literature. A must see!
Escadaria Selaron
Staircase decorated with colored tiles from all over the world. Amazing !
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian
Unique arquiteture. A must see !
Santa Teresa
Visit this charming neighborhood near the City Center
What's included
Included
Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver
Certified Tour Guide
Pickup and drop-off in hotels, airports, seaport, you say where!
Complimentary bottled water
'On the fly' adaptations: change the itinerary during the tour to match your wishes.
Not included
Tickets for Christ the Redeemer (But we help with that!)
Tickets for Sugar Loaf (But we help with that!)
Food and Drinks
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up and drop-off are included; you choose where! If your place is not listed please let us know when booking or by message. For airport pickup please inform the arrival flight details; for seaport pickup please inform cruise ship information. If you are staying at Barra da Tijuca and Recreio, we recommend starting your tour at 6:30 AM to avoid heavy traffic and experience the best of Rio.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
366 reviews
How it compares in Rio de Janeiro
- No. 42 by number of reviews among 1,657 tours in Rio de Janeiro
- Starting price $230 is 53% above the typical $150 for tours of similar length in Rio de Janeiro
- Price over the last 27 days: $229–$247
Excurgo comparison of 1,657 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Important information about Christ the Redeemer: Starting in August 2026, construction work will take place in the visitor area to install new escalators and elevators. During this period, the number of visitors will be limited to 50% of the usual capacity. The work is expected to continue until May 2027. For this reason, we strongly recommend starting the tour at 6:30 a.m. If you are staying in Barra da Tijuca or Recreio, we recommend a 6:00 a.m. pickup.
- To watch the sunset either from Sugarloaf or Christ the Redeemer, book the tour for 11:30am.
- The "Real Gabinete Português de Leitura (Royal Portuguese Reading Room) is not open on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. We will visit another attraction on those days.
- We recommend installing Whatsapp Messenger app in your phone when coming to Brazil. It's very popular here and it will make your communication much easier. It's a free app, available on both Play Store (Android) and Apple Store (iPhones).
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Private Rio Tour: Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Essentials lasts about 7–8 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $230 per person for this Rio de Janeiro experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $460. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does this tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 40 departures a day between 6:30 AM and 1:00 PM.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Pick-up and drop-off are included; you choose where! If your place is not listed please let us know when booking or by message. For airport pickup please inform the arrival flight details; for seaport pickup please inform cruise ship information. If you are staying at Barra da Tijuca and Recreio, we recommend starting your tour at 6:30 AM to avoid heavy traffic and experience the best of Rio. Pickup points include Motel Comodoro, Shelton Hotel.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in PT, EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 10 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is this tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 366 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by BE FREE TRANSPORTADORA TURISTICA.
Reviews(366)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Compare similar tours in Rio de Janeiro
- Lowest price: Rio Express: Guided tour of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ Redeemer. — $100
- Best rated: Private Rio Tour: Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Essentials — 5.0 (366 reviews)
- Shortest: The Best Half Day in Rio with Christ Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Hill — 5 hours
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Rio Tour: Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Essentials | 7–8 hours | 5.0 (366) | $230 | |
 Rio Essentials: Selaron Steps, Sugar Loaf and Christ Redeemer | 9 hours | 5.0 (13) | $126 | View |
 The Best Half Day in Rio with Christ Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Hill | 5 hours | 4.8 (1,624) | $130 | View |
 City Tour Full Day in Rio: Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf | 9 hours | 4.9 (250) | $130 | View |
 Rio de Janeiro Private Tour: Christ, Sugar Loaf & Selarón Steps! | 7–8 hours | 5.0 (70) | $158 | View |
 Private Tour: Rio de Janeiro Experience with Christ & Sugar Loaf | 7–8 hours | 5.0 (28) | $192 | View |
 Rio Express: Guided tour of Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ Redeemer. | 5 hours | 4.8 (41) | $100 | View |
from$230
5.0(366) Free cancellation