2300 ft above sea degree at Rio de Janeiro, on the highest of Corcovado Mountain, sits one of the vital iconic statues on the planet – the Cristo Redentor, or the Christ the Redeemer statue.
Manufactured from strengthened concrete and soapstone, Christ the Redeemer statue is the fourth largest statue of Jesus Christ and the most important Artwork Deco-style sculpture on the planet. The statue was designed by Brazilian designer and engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by French sculptor Paul Landowski.
The development of the statue passed off between 1922 and 1931 and was formally accomplished and inaugurated on October 12, 1931. The huge statue of Jesus was positioned on the summit of Mount Corcovado as a logo of Brazil’s robust Catholic religion.
In the present day, it stands at 98 ft (30 metres) tall, with outstretched arms that span 92 ft (28 metres) plus a base that’s 26 ft (8 metres) excessive. It’s massive sufficient to be seen from any level within the metropolis.
In 2007, the Christ the Redeemer statue was appointed as one of many New Seven Wonders of the World, cementing its picture as a cultural icon in Rio and Brazil.
Yearly, nearly 2 million guests make their manner as much as the height to soak up the panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro that lies beneath it. In case you’ve ever discovered your self questioning, ‘The place is Christ the Redeemer?’ now you realize the reply is ‘very excessive up.’
View from the highest of Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tips on how to Get to Corcovado Mountain
The Trem do Corcovado (Corcovado Practice Station) is within the Cosme Velho neighbourhood. Whereas there is no such thing as a direct subway entry to Cosme Velho, you’ve many choices.
- By way of Bus. From Leblon, Copacabana, Ipanema, or Botagofo, take the Bus Round 1. In case you’re coming from Centro, Lapa, and Glória, take Bus Troncal 8. Get down on the entrance of the Corcovado Practice Station.
- By way of Subway. Hop on the practice line 1 and get off on the Largo do Machado station. Observe the indicators to the exit and take the Integration Bus Cosme Velho to Corcovado.
- By way of Uber/Taxi. Alternatively, you may also take an Uber or taxi out of your location in Rio and get dropped off on the Corcovado Practice Station in Cosme Velho.
Finest Time to Go to
Any time of the 12 months is a superb time to go to Brazil, however we advocate scheduling your journey round September to October. Throughout this era, the temperature is far cooler, enhancing the general enjoyment of your go to to the highest of Mount Corcovado.
When planning your go to to the Christ the Redeemer statue, contemplate the climate on the day itself, because the view is distinctly completely different on sunny days in comparison with foggy ones. To optimise your expertise, keep away from dangerous climate and examine the day by day forecast earlier than you go.
For individuals who choose sunnier situations, December to March is usually essentially the most beneficial time, providing clearer views and a extra vibrant expertise. Moreover, planning your go to throughout weekdays might help keep away from the crowds, offering a extra serene environment for taking within the breathtaking surroundings.
Tips on how to Get to Christ the Redeemer
By Tram
The vast majority of travellers select to succeed in the Christ the Redeemer statue through the Corcovado Rack Railway, which is taken into account the oldest vacationer journey within the nation. The traditional fare for roundtrip transportation and admission to the Christ the Redeemer statue is R$97.50 ($19.85 USD), although this will differ relying on the excessive or off-season. The excessive season is from December to March, and the off-season is often from April to November. The journey takes about 20 minutes every manner and takes you thru the lush surroundings of the Tijuca Rainforest.
Trem do Corcovado at Cristo Redentor Statue
By Van
The van is the official transport of Tijuca Nationwide Park. There are 3 pick-up factors to select from: the Praça do Lido in Copacabana, the Praça do Largo Machado, or on the Centro de Visitantes Paineiras contained in the nationwide park.
Good to know: these vans have inexperienced seals due to their low emission of air pollution.
Tour
For a hassle-free expertise, you might also wish to contemplate reserving a tour that can take you to the monument in addition to different must-see websites in Rio de Janeiro. No want to determine the instructions or guide tickets for round-trip transportation as you’ll have a tour information who will do all of the planning for you!
Rented Automotive
In case you’re already renting a automotive in Rio, you may also strive driving as much as the monument by yourself. There’s a parking lot close to the Corcovado Practice Station (although you have to to pay) or on the Centro de Visitantes Paineiras. Observe that parking right here is restricted, and there’s a high-quality in case you park on the road.
Hike
Whereas getting a journey as much as the highest sounds fantastic, sadly, actuality generally is a little completely different. Assume hour-long queues to board the practice, sold-out Corcovado tickets, and being crammed contained in the automotive with lots of of different travellers. This didn’t sound like our concept of enjoyable, so after a little bit of analysis, we got here throughout another path to hike to Christ the Redeemer.
The path is free and presents scenic views–however we’ll let you know extra about it within the subsequent part!
Embarking on a Hike to Christ the Redeemer Statue
We noticed a quick point out of another 2-hour mountain climbing path up Corcovado Mountain on Wikitravel. Regardless of having only a few particulars concerning the hike, the trail, and the extent of problem forward of us, we jumped on the problem.
The beginning of the path to Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Starting The Hike To the Christ the Redeemer Statue
We arrived at Parque Lage, the beginning of the hike to the Christ the Redeemer statue, simply after 10 am, not likely realizing what to anticipate. Entering into the park, we had been instantly bowled over by the distinction between the lush, peaceable environment inside the park with the hustle and bustle of Rio de Janeiro streets simply exterior the doorway. The park is an exquisite place to go to, even in case you don’t fancy a hike to the Christ statue. Contained in the park are numerous brief strolling paths that mean you can soak within the lovely nature within the coronary heart of Rio de Janeiro. After spending a little bit of time taking within the lovely views across the park, we had been lastly prepared to start our hike to the monument.
To our nice shock, the hike began at a small safety home with clearly marked indicators and instructions. Earlier than letting us begin the hike, the safety guards contained in the checkpoint rigorously took down our names and emergency contact information, making us really feel much more comfy concerning the journey forward.
The primary a part of the hike was simple. The path wasn’t steep, and the rainforest was pleasantly cool, with the bushes offering a pleasant shade from the recent Brazilian solar. After solely a brief stroll, we each agreed this was a lot extra nice than the cramped practice journey! We handed a number of “waterfalls” alongside the way in which. We’re positive these look much more engaging in spring/summer time, however within the winter, they had been nothing greater than moist rocks. After about 20 minutes alongside the path, we got here to a steeper a part of the mountain. We naively thought that this was only a temporary incline alongside the path, however sadly, it wasn’t.
Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro. The beginning of our hike to Christ the Redeemer
Alongside the path to Cristo Redentor
Alongside the path to Cristo Redentor
Extra Difficult Than We First Imagined
After just a few minutes of climbing up the steep incline, we had been out of breath. Now, we like to consider ourselves as match folks. After we’re not travelling, we eat healthily, train a number of occasions per week, and get exterior as a lot as we will. We didn’t assume this hike was going to be a difficulty in any respect. We had been unsuitable…
The steep path continued on for one more 10-20 minutes till we reached essentially the most troublesome a part of the path: steep rock with a sequence tied to the highest of the rock. Holding onto the chain, you had been meant to tug your self as much as the highest. It wasn’t simple, however we managed to tug ourselves up. As we stood on the prime of the rock, catching our breath, we actually questioned whether or not we must always’ve gone on this hike and whether or not we’d make it to the highest…
Hikers forward of us considering their route alongside this rocky a part of the hike to Christ the Redeemer.
A Glimpse of Motivation
We took a number of extra steps and noticed a surprising view of Rio de Janeiro beginning to peek out from among the many bushes. It was precisely the motivation we wanted to maintain going. After one other 15-20 minutes, we crossed the practice tracks and reached the highway. The tip was close to. Seeing this view as we approached the highest was nearly surreal. Inside seconds, all the ache from the hike and struggles on the way in which up appeared fully price it.
View of Rio de Janeiro from the path to Christ the Redeemer
Crossing the practice tracks alongside the way in which
The highway main as much as the Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer, sitting on prime of Corcovado Mountain
Arriving At Christ The Redeemer
As we approached one of many world’s most iconic statues, we grew to become overwhelmed by the sensation of accomplishment blended with the sensation of pleasure… we suppose it’s the push that you just get after ending any bodily and mentally difficult exercise. It’s so highly effective! And it’s the rationale why we proceed to problem ourselves with these kind of adventurous actions over and over. The view from the highest, though interrupted by lots of of different travellers, was unimaginable. You possibly can look down on all of Rio de Janeiro, recognizing Sugar Loaf Mountain within the distance, the parks and mountains overlaying town, and the seashores of Copacabana to Leblon and Guanabara Bay.
A whole bunch of vacationers admiring the view from the highest of Corcovado Mountain.
Unobstructed view from the highest of Corcovado Mountain
North Japanese view from the highest of Corcovado Mountain
The basic vacationer shot with Christ the Redeemer
So, Ought to You Hike Up The Path To Corcovado Mountain?
In case you are travelling to Brazil and are contemplating a hike to Christ the Redeemer, we extremely advocate it below the correct circumstances! Whereas it’s a difficult climb and, at occasions, it would make you marvel why on earth you signed up for it, in the long run, it’s positively price it. Plus, it’s essentially the most environmentally pleasant manner of visiting the enduring statue!
Ideas & Recommendation for Visiting Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro
Plan forward.
Climb within the morning. It’s going to provide help to keep away from the warmth and different climbers. Within the morning, everybody might be going up, however because the day progresses, some will resolve to take the path down. The path for the Corcovado hike is pretty slim, so assembly ongoing visitors will inevitably gradual you down.
Begin your hike early to keep away from the crowds
Carry simply the necessities.
- Carry plenty of water. The climb is reasonably exhausting, and you’ll get dehydrated. 2 litres per particular person ought to final you thru the hike. We advocate bringing a reusable water bottle, like Hydroflask, and filling it up out of your lodge beforehand. With Hydroflask, your water is assured to remain chilly for as much as 24 hours, so that you gained’t want to fret about it getting heat throughout your hike to the highest. We convey our Hydroflask with us irrespective of the place we go! In case your lodge doesn’t have consuming water on faucet, contemplate investing in a private Steripen, which makes nearly any water drinkable.
- Put on footwear with a grip and comfy garments, and go away your valuables at residence. You don’t essentially must get out your mountain climbing boots, however please don’t try to hike up in flip-flops. It’s not a stroll within the park. There have just lately been elevated reviews of robberies on the path, so please go away any valuables you might need at residence!
- Purchase your ticket to Christ the Redeemer Monument on the prime. Don’t stress about looking for tickets earlier than you permit. You possibly can simply get them from one of many employees manning the doorway to the statue. Your ticket to the statue will embrace a van journey again to Centro de Visitantes Paineiras, inside Parque Nacional da Tijuca in case you select to forgo taking the identical path again all the way down to Parque Lage.
- Get into the Proper Van! The van journey that’s included in your admission ticket will solely take you all the way down to Centro de Visitantes Paineiras, however discovering a method to get from Paneiras again all the way down to town is hard. There are vans that may drive you all the way down to Rua Almirante Alexandrino, however if you’re staying in Copacabana or elsewhere in Rio, you’ll must take one other bus to get again to your lodging. A greater manner is to attempt to get the ticket for the Copacabana vans. These go away from the very same place on the prime of Corcovado Mountain. You possibly can both attempt to purchase a ticket for that van or use your Centro de Visitantes Paineiras ticket to sneak into the Copacabana line (don’t inform anybody we urged this). Watch out about getting the correct van again to town!
Wait ‘til you get to the highest to purchase your Christ the Redeemer tickets
Watch out about getting the correct van again to town!
Is The Hike To Christ The Redeemer Secure?
We might positively advise anybody making an attempt this hike to make use of warning and hike at their very own threat. Lately, since our expertise, there was an amazing improve in robberies and violent robberies on the path to the well-known monument.
Again in 2017, a Polish man was stabbed throughout a theft. A number of males had been charged in connection to the incident, and the path was closed for the summer time.
The most recent report was a mass theft in 2019 the place a gaggle of vacationers had been held at gunpoint. Fortunately, no one was harmed, however the group did lose their valuables.
Since then, there was an effort to enhance the security on the path, however police assets are scarce in Rio. In case you intend to enterprise up the mountain, train warning. Don’t carry ANY valuables, and at all times journey in a gaggle.
Tijuna Nationwide Park. Don’t convey valuables with you to hike to Christ the Redeemer
Is There An Simpler Manner?
The Reply Is Sure
In case you are pondering, all of that is fantastic, however I actually have no real interest in doing the 2-hour Corcovado hike, nor do I wish to spend 1-2 hours ready for my practice, and I’m involved about security. Isn’t there one other manner?
There’s! You possibly can take an official Parque Nacional da Tijuca van all the way in which as much as the highest of Corcovado Mountain. You possibly can guide your tickets for the van right here, and select 1 of the three departure factors: Copacabana, Largo do Machado, or Centro de Visitantes Paineiras (Paineiras Customer Centre).
The Parque Nacional da Tijuna van makes it simple to get to Christ the Redeemer from inside town.
Copacabana and Largo do Machado
Shuttles run Monday-Friday from 8 a.m to 4 p.m, and on the weekends and holidays from 8 a.m to five p.m. Ticket costs are R$98 ($19.96 USD).
Centro de Visitantes Paineiras (Paineiras Customer Centre)
Shuttles run day-after-day from 8 a.m to six p.m. Ticket costs are R$55 ($11.20 USD).
That is the quickest and most effective method to get to the highest and is unquestionably the popular alternative for travellers with restricted time. You will get a shuttle bus from Copacabana Seaside to Christ the Redeemer.
The place To Keep Close to Christ The Redeemer
Rio de Janeiro has a slew of lodging choices. Listed here are our favorite inexperienced lodges within the space which can be dedicated to sustainable enterprise practices.
Eco-Pleasant Inns
Enviornment Leme Lodge‘s environmental safety plan began with its building. The lodge is situated simply in entrance of Copacabana Seaside, which signifies that a lot of the lodge presents beautiful views of the seaside and ocean under.
Banana Leaf Eco Hostel is situated within the tranquil neighbourhood of Barra da Guaratiba, simply west of downtown Rio. Personal and dorm rooms can be found.
Inexperienced Tradition Eco Hostel is a backpacker-style lodging with each non-public and dorm rooms accessible. This hostel is a superb place to expertise Brazilian tradition, because it’s tucked right into a residential neighbourhood.
You will get a shuttle bus from Copacabana Seaside to Christ the Redeemer.