Half Day Tour: Sugar Loaf, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon from Rio de Janeiro

After being picked up from your hotel at 2pm, relax on the short drive to the Urca neighbourhood, where you'll board the cable car to Sugar Loaf Mountain. Keep your camera to hand as you ride two different cable cars to the top of the iconic peak, taking in the views from the panoramic glass windows. 

The first cable car takes you to Urca Hill, a vantage point at 705 foot (215 meters) high, nestled amid rainforest trails. From the various observation points, enjoy magnificent views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niterói Bridge, and Corcovado Mountain with its famous Christ the Redeemer statue. 

From Urca, a second cable car will take you right up to the top of the mountain. At the 1,283 foot (395 meter) summit, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro, as your guide points out sights of interest such as Copacabana beach, the Santa Cruz fortress and the beaches of Niterói. 

After descending the mountain, jump back in your air-conditioned coach for a scenic drive along the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. There will be time to admire the views and take photos, before being driven back to your hotel around 5pm.