Christ the Redeemer in Rio: how to get up Corcovado

At a glance

How to get to Christ the Redeemer: the options

Train and van tickets include the round trip and access to the monument. Buy them in advance and only on the official sites: tremdocorcovado.rio for the train and paineirascorcovado.com.br for the vans. Prices for your date are shown there.

The statue and the mountain

The monument is 30 m tall and stands on an 8 m pedestal, 38 m in total. It was built from 1926 to 1931 in reinforced concrete and inaugurated on 12 October 1931. Corcovado, the rock it stands on, is 704 m high according to Tijuca National Park, which is managed by the federal agency ICMBio. Since 2012 Corcovado has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rio’s Carioca landscapes.

At the foot of the statue is the sanctuary with the chapel of Nossa Senhora Aparecida. Mass is held daily at 11 am and 3 pm, and on Sundays at 11 am and 2 pm. Each morning between 7:30 and 8 am a priest holds an opening blessing, and the platform opens to visitors only after it.

Escalator works until May 2027

On 3 August 2026 the escalators at the top were switched off for replacement. The works are expected to end in late May 2027. The statue stays open and the train, vans and trails run as usual, with these changes:

• The number of people allowed at the top at the same time is cut by 50%, for every way up.
• From the drop-off to the platform there are 220 steps. Regular lifts cover part of the way, and the last 80 steps, from the ICMBio centre on the second floor, are on foot for everyone.
• For people with reduced mobility there are stair-climbing carriers for standard wheelchairs (up to 150 kg with the chair; motorised chairs need a transfer) and stair-climbing chairs (up to 130 kg). Going up takes 7 to 8 minutes.
• The equipment is not used in rain or on wet floors, and the weather at the top changes fast.

If anyone in your party may struggle with stairs, tell us before we plan the day.

The Corcovado train from Cosme Velho

The railway was inaugurated in 1884 by Emperor Pedro II, and the line is 3,824 m long through the forest. The station is at Rua Cosme Velho, 513.

• Trains run every day from 8 am to 6 pm, every 20 minutes; hours can change for technical or weather reasons.
• Check in at the ticket office at least 40 minutes before your time, with the card used for payment and an ID of the cardholder.
• There is no luggage storage, and strollers stay folded on the train.
• More than 48 hours before the visit you can reschedule or cancel without a fee. Within 48 hours a 20% fee applies, and after the visit time nothing can be changed. A booking can be rescheduled only once.

The official vans

The vans run by the Paineiras Corcovado concession are the only motor transport inside the park to the statue. The ticket covers the round trip from the point where you boarded and access to the monument.

Arrive 15 minutes before your time; the operator accepts up to 15 minutes late. Hours can change without notice, so check the official channels before you go.

Taxi, app ride or your own car

The Estrada do Redentor, from Paineiras up to the statue, is closed to motor vehicles around the clock, apart from service and authorised vehicles. A taxi or app ride takes you to the Paineiras visitor centre, and from there you continue by van or on foot. There is no parking at Paineiras or at the statue. Our private driver drops you at the boarding point and picks you up after.

Hiking up Corcovado

Two trails lead to the statue, both described by Tijuca National Park:

• Paineiras to Corcovado: about 45 minutes, moderate, starting at the Paineiras visitor centre.
• Parque Lage to Corcovado: up to four hours, with very steep sections but no climbing. It starts at Rua Jardim Botânico, 414. Parque Lage opens 8 am to 6 pm.

Both trails must be started by 3 pm. The park does not recommend the Parque Lage trail for children under 10 or people not used to hiking. Hikers buy monument entry at the train ticket office at the top.

If you want to walk, go with a guide. The park accredits visitor guides who wear a badge with the ICMBio hologram and a QR code. More walks are on our hiking in Rio page, and general advice is on Rio safety tips.

Rules at the top

• No swimwear at the monument.
• No drones during visiting hours.
• No pets, except guide dogs with proof.
• Time at the monument is not limited within opening hours.

Tips before you go

• Cloud can hide both the statue and the view. Check the forecast the evening before and keep a spare day; see Rio weather.
• Go at opening time, especially while capacity is halved.
• Wear comfortable shoes for the stairs and carry little.
• Combine the visit with the viewpoints of the Tijuca Forest in the same park, and keep Sugarloaf Mountain for the afternoon.
• To see the statue without the stairs, consider a helicopter tour over Rio. We book flights only with companies holding a valid ANAC authorisation.

How we help

We include Christ the Redeemer in a private tour of Rio with a guide who speaks your language and a driver. We choose the time of the climb by the cloud forecast, and the train or van tickets are handled as set out in your proposal. For a longer plan see our Rio itinerary.

What to tell us in your request

• your dates and how flexible they are
• how many people, and children’s ages
• where you are staying
• train, van or a guided hike
• anyone who uses a wheelchair or finds stairs hard
• other stops the same day (Sugarloaf, Tijuca Forest, Santa Teresa)
• guide language

Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. Our tours can be cancelled at no cost up to 48 hours before, and if the weather rules a day out, we offer a new date or a full refund of the deposit.