How to visit Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer is one of the most famous landmarks in Brazil, and the world. It is one of the seven new wonders of the world, and is therefore a frequented bucket-list item on many travellers list. It is a 100 foot statue of Jesus Christ placed on top of Corcovado mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is a symbol of Brazilian Christianity and has become a cultural icon of Brazil and the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is therefore surely a must when visiting the capital of Brazil. So how do you go about it when you want to visit Christ the redeemer? When I went to the city of Rio on my own, found it complicated to figure out how I was going to find my way to the top, and didn’t really find any website that gave me enough comprehensive information. I have tried in this article to give you exactly that. So read on to find out how to visit Christ the Redeemer.
When to go visit Christ the redeemer
First of all, it’s a good idea to avoid the times of the year where Rio is overcrowded. This includes Rio carnival and Christmas, Easter or any other holiday for that matter. It will usually be jam packed during these times, and getting to the statue can be slow, tedious, and sometimes impossible. In addition to this, the weekends are also pretty crowded, so opt for a normal weekday.
The time of day can also be vital in making sure you get to the statue. Early in the morning are usually the best times. The lines are not as long, and the sun is not at its strongest (Rio can get very hot and humid).
Should you book a guide for visiting Christ the Redeemer?
Booking a guide can take a lot of the stress and hassle out of the equation, but it can also have negative sides. Guided tours are usually set at peak hours, meaning there will be a lot of people on top of the mountain when you’re there, and the heat is at its worst. But if you are not comfortable with either going alone, or having to plan it on your own, it can be a good option. Just know that it is ridiculously overpriced, but it can also be good to support local tour guiding businesses. While that has been said, it really isn’t very difficult seeing the statue independently, and I will go through it all in detail here.
How to get visit Christ the redeemer
You have to choose the method of transportation to the top of the mountain, and this usually consists of three; a van, a train or finally a hike. All of these modes of transportation have up- and downsides.
Getting a van to visit Christ the redeemer
There are two official vans operating in Rio that can take you up the mountain. This is probably the fastest, easiest and most convenient way of getting up the mountain. When you buy the ticket for the van, included is the return ticket with the van as well as the entrance ticket to the statue. It is best to take a van between 8 am and 3 pm to avoid any rush traffic, which can make the way up take that much longer. The vans are air conditioned, and take you up a scenic road. Note that the van operates everyday from 8 am to 5 pm.
There are three pick up point locations for the vans, one on Copacabana, one next to the metro at Largo do Machado and one in Barra da Tijuaca.
The pick up point in Copacabana is by the park Praca do Lido, where the roads of Rua Ronald de Carvalho and Rua Belfort Roxo meets. On maps.me the ticket office comes up as “bilheteria Corcovado”, and that is where you buy the ticket for the trip. You then have to wait in line for maybe 15-30 minutes depending on the time of day. The price for the entire trip is about R 80, but a bit lower for children and seniors. The ride takes about 55 minutes. The van picks you up very close to the beach, and is therefore very conveniently located.
The pick up point of Largo do Machado is great if you need to take the metro to any of the points anyway. Take the train line 1 (the train with the red side light) all the way to the Largo do Machado train station. Then take Exit A. When exiting the train station you will arrive at a big square, go to the opposite end of the square. The ticket office and pick up location for the vans are located there. The route takes about 35 minutes, unless there is heavy traffic. It is therefore the shortest stretch up the mountain.
The pick up point of Barra da Tijuaca is maybe the least convenient. It is the longest and the most expensive. It leaves from the shopping mall Shopping Citta America on Avenida das Americas, 700, and leaves only every 30 minutes. It is a great option if you are staying close to this area and a bit further outside of the city.
The vans also leave from Paineiras. This is however the spot from which the van that goes all the way up to the statue are leaving from. Every single visitor needs to take these vans.
After the vans have taken you all the way up the mountain, you will need to wait in line for another van. No, this is not the van that you are going home with. It is the second van that is going to take you, and anyone else that came there with a different mode of transportation up to the top of the mountain to see the famous landmark.
Getting the train to visit Christ the redeemer
This is probably the most scenic route up to the mountain, and is a popular choice amongst tourists. The cog train lines can therefore be packed, so make sure you buy tickets in advance, or show up early in the morning. The train ride up will give you some amazing senery with live samba music, and can therefore make for a pleasant part of seeing Christ the redeemer; the cherry on top of the ice cream if you will.
You need to get to trem de Corcovado at the base of the mountain to be able to catch the train. To get here, you can take a taxi, an uber, or the subway to Largo do Machado, and from there take a bus (Onibus de integracao) with the direction to Cosme Velho. Make sure to get off the bus by the Sao Judas Tadeu church. The train station is right next to it.
The train leaves every 30 minutes, and you can buy the tickets right there. However, like I said, the queues can get very big, so it is a good idea to either show up early or book tickets beforehand. You can do this on one of the Riotur kiosks or online at the official site; http://www.tremdocorcovado.rio/
The price for high season is R 82, and in low season R 67.
After you have taken the train up to the mountain, you still need to take a van up the rest of the way up to the statue. So don’t worry if you wait in a big line with vans at the end, this is what is ultimately going to get you all the way to the top!
Hiking to visit Christ the redeemer
This is the final option, and a lot of people’s favorite option as well. It truly adds for a unique and challenging experience, and can make the whole experience that much more satisfying and special. The hike starts from Parque Lage and goes all the way up to Christ. You can either buy your official ticket for the monument on beforehand on the website, or you can pay there, but you need to pay in cash.
Do take caution that Rio can get very hot and humid, making a hike like this extra challenging for a lot of people. In addition to this, stories of mugging are frequent, so make sure to never go alone up the mountain. If you are so unlucky that you do get mugged, do not make a fuzz, and hand over any belongings that you have to ensure your safety. If you worry about this, a guided tour company can be the way to go. This is considered safer, and is also a great way to support the local economy.
Try and do the hike early in the morning or later in the afternoon to get the best views, and avoid the hottest hours.
