Hiking in Rio
Morro da Urca hike in Rio de Janeiro
Morro da Urca is the first hill of the Sugarloaf cable car, and you can walk up it from Praia Vermelha. The Transcarioca trail project gives the route at 1.9 km and about an hour, easy and with no climbing; Parque Bondinho rates it light to moderate, 40 minutes to an hour. The cable car down or on to Sugarloaf is paid.
Updated:
At a glance
| Where | Urca, inside the Sugarloaf and Urca hills natural monument |
| Trailhead | Pista Cláudio Coutinho walkway by Praia Vermelha |
| Distance and time | 1.9 km, about 1 hour (Transcarioca); 40 minutes to an hour (Parque Bondinho) |
| Difficulty | Easy, no climbing (Transcarioca); light to moderate (Parque Bondinho) |
| Trail gate into the park | Daily 9:00 to 17:00 |
| Cable car | Mon to Fri 8:30 to 21:00, Sat and Sun 7:30 to 21:00, last boarding 19:30 |
| Water on the route | None |
| With us | Guide, photographer and hotel transfer on request |
What the hike is
Morro da Urca is the lower of the two hills on the Sugarloaf cable car. Most visitors ride up from Praia Vermelha; you can also walk. The trail is section 25 of the Transcarioca trail, and it is the gentlest summit on our list: no rock climbing, about an hour, and at the top you are inside Parque Bondinho with its cafes and the cable car on to Sugarloaf. More on the park: Sugarloaf Mountain.
The trail step by step
- Start at Praia Vermelha in Urca and walk onto the Pista Cláudio Coutinho, the path along the foot of the hills.
- The trail leaves the Pista and climbs to Morro da Urca.
- At the end of the trail a gate lets you into Parque Bondinho. It is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
- On Morro da Urca you buy cable car tickets at the self-service terminal (totem). Parque Bondinho says that is the only place hikers can buy them, during park hours.
- From there you can ride on to the top of Sugarloaf, or down to Praia Vermelha, on a paid ticket.
The park does not publish the summit altitude of Morro da Urca, so we leave it out.
Best time for photos
This is the one hike on our list where the late light works with the hours. You must pass the trail gate by 17:00, but the cable car runs until 21:00 with last boarding at 19:30. Once inside with a ticket you can stay on Morro da Urca or ride on to Sugarloaf for sunset and go down by cable car. Parque Bondinho says demand peaks from 15:00 to 18:00, and its Sunset no Parque program with DJs on Morro da Urca is part of the standard ticket and is called off in the rain. Viewpoints for the last light across the city: Rio sunset viewpoints.
Rules and registration
- The Transcarioca project lists Companhia Caminho Aéreo Pão de Açúcar as the contact for this section.
- Parque Bondinho bans commercial photography without its prior authorization, as well as drones and tripods. If you book a photographer, we sort the authorization or plan the shoot around these rules.
What to bring
- Water. There is none on the route.
- Light shoes with grip.
- Sun protection and insect repellent.
- A way to pay for cable car tickets at the totem.
Closures
On 28.10.2026 we found no current closure. Temporary closures happen: on 14.10.2025 the city’s environment secretariat (SMAC) closed the Pista Cláudio Coutinho and the trail while the fire brigade searched for a missing hiker, until the search ended. We check again the day before your walk.
How we help
We find you a guide who knows the trail, so you won’t get lost, you walk at your own pace and get the shots from the best viewpoints. A photographer and a transfer from your hotel come on request. We time the walk so you pass the gate well before 17:00, sort the cable car tickets and can have the car waiting at Praia Vermelha when you come down.
Pair it with a morning on Corcovado: Corcovado hike from Parque Lage. Compare all seven peaks on hiking in Rio.
Our fee is already included in the price. Price on request, proposal within 24 hours, and you pay nothing before you confirm.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Morro da Urca trail?
The Transcarioca trail project gives 1.9 km from Praia Vermelha and about an hour, easy, with no climbing. Parque Bondinho says 40 minutes to an hour uphill, light to moderate.
When is the trail open?
Parque Bondinho says the gate at the end of the trail, into the park, is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, weekends and holidays included.
Can I take the cable car down after the hike?
Yes, with a paid ticket. Parque Bondinho says hikers can buy tickets only at the self-service terminal on Morro da Urca during park hours. Whether a descent-only ticket exists is something we confirm with the park for your date.
Can I watch the sunset from Morro da Urca?
The cable car runs until 21:00, with last boarding at 19:30, so once you are inside the park with a ticket you can stay for the late light and ride down. Enter through the trail gate before 17:00.
Is there water on the trail?
No. The Transcarioca project notes there is no water on the route, so bring your own.
See also
- Hiking in Rio de Janeiro with a private guideWe arrange private hikes in Rio de Janeiro with a guide who speaks your language: Pedra Bonita for a short climb, Pico da Tijuca, the trails up to Christ the Redeemer, or Pedra da Gávea for experienced hikers. We match the trail to your fitness and plan around the park's hours. Price on request, proposal within 24 hours.
- Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro: how to go upSugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) is a 396 m granite peak at the mouth of Guanabara Bay in Urca, Rio de Janeiro. You go up by a cable car in two stages: from Praia Vermelha to Morro da Urca, then on to the summit. The park opens every day, the last car up leaves at 7:30 pm, and a visit takes at least two to three hours.
- Sunrise and sunset photo hike in Rio de JaneiroA private photo hike in Rio: a car picks you up at your hotel, a guide takes you up a summit and a photographer shoots you at the first or last light that opening hours allow. Morro da Urca suits sunset, since the cable car runs until 21:00; on the Tijuca National Park peaks we aim for the earliest entry the park permits. Price on request, proposal within 24 hours.
- Corcovado hike from Parque Lage to Christ the RedeemerThe trail from Parque Lage climbs Corcovado to the Christ the Redeemer statue in up to about 4 hours, with very steep sections but no climbing gear needed. Parque Lage opens 8:00 to 18:00 and the trail guardhouse lets hikers in until 15:00. Entry to the monument is a ticket you buy at the top.
- Rio de Janeiro viewpoints and where to watch the sunsetThe classic sunset spot in Rio de Janeiro is the Arpoador rocks between Ipanema and Copacabana, which Riotur calls the most beautiful place to look at the sea and the sunset. For the best views over the city, go up Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado or the viewpoints of Tijuca National Park. Their hours differ: the last cable car up Sugarloaf leaves at 7:30 pm, while the Corcovado train runs until 6 pm and last access via Paineiras is at 5 pm. Check the sunset time for your date against the official hours.
Sources
- Trilha Transcarioca: 25. Praia Vermelha x Morro da Urca (1.9 km, about 1 hour, easy, no climbing, no water, contact Companhia Caminho Aéreo Pão de Açúcar), checked 28.10.2026
- Parque Bondinho SAC: Acesso ao Parque Bondinho pela trilha do Morro da Urca (light to moderate, 40 minutes to an hour, gate 9:00 to 17:00, tickets at the totem), checked 23.10.2026
- Parque Bondinho: Ingresso Bondinho (Mon to Fri 8:30 to 21:00, Sat and Sun 7:30 to 21:00, last boarding 19:30), checked 28.10.2026
- Parque Bondinho SAC: Sunset no Parque Bondinho, checked 23.10.2026
- Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar: Regras de acesso (commercial photography, tripods, drones), checked 23.10.2026
- Tribuna do Sertão: Pista Cláudio Coutinho e Trilha do Morro da Urca são interditadas (SMAC closure during a search), 14.10.2025, checked 28.10.2026