Walking up is the only way to reach Christ the Redeemer without buying a ride, and the only one that lets you arrive when you like. Two trails climb Corcovado through Tijuca National Park: a long, steep one from Parque Lage, and a short one from the Paineiras Visitor Centre that opened more recently.
Both are free, both shut to new starters at 15:00, and both end at a ticket office where walkers pay for the monument. Below are the two routes, the rules, and the guided hikes worth booking.
Christ the Redeemer guided hikes
Christ the Redeemer Guided Hike
Best for: Fit walkers who want to earn the view, with a guide through the forest
- About 5 hours, 3.5 of them hiking
- Live guide in English, Portuguese or Spanish
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
What’s included and more details
What’s included
- An accredited guide
- A return transfer from the South Zone, if you pick that option
- The hike
- Moderate: 10 km there and back, about 2 hours up and 1.5 down
- Meeting point
- The main gate of Parque Lage, Rua Jardim Botânico 414
- Not included
- Entry to the monument, bought at the park box office at the top
- Not suitable for
- Low fitness, or heart, back or breathing problems
Christ the Redeemer Hiking: Journey to Rio’s Iconic Landmark
Best for: Keen hikers who want a hotel pick-up and the option to ride the train down
- About 5 hours, 3.5 of them hiking
- Live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
What’s included and more details
What’s included
- A guide who will take photos on your phone or camera
- Pick-up and drop-off in most neighbourhoods
- An air-conditioned vehicle
- The hike
- Graded hard: 10 km there and back, 710 m of climbing, about 2 hours up and 1.5 down
- Meeting point
- The main entrance of Parque Lage, Rua Jardim Botânico 414, if you are not picked up
- Not included
- Entry to the monument, paid on site, and the optional train down
- Before
- Pick-up details come by WhatsApp the day before
- Neither hike includes entry to the monument. It cannot be bought in advance by walkers, only at the ticket office on the summit
- Food and water are not included. Bring both
- The guided hikes describe themselves as unsuitable for anyone with heart, back or breathing problems, or limited mobility
The two trails up Corcovado
From Parque Lage, the classic route
The trail starts behind the mansion at Parque Lage, at Rua Jardim Botânico 414, and climbs the full height of the mountain, about 700 metres of ascent, to come out by the monument. The park’s own description is blunt: very steep sections, heavy physical effort, no actual climbing, and not recommended for children under 10 or for people who are not used to trails.
Parque Lage opens at 08:00, and the guardhouse at the start of the trail closes to walkers at 15:00. Guides sell the outing as 10 kilometres there and back. Check in with the staff at the guardhouse as you pass.
From Paineiras, the short route
A 1.15-kilometre trail from the Paineiras Visitor Centre to the monument, with 260 metres of climb, graded moderate by the park and timed at about 45 minutes. It passes the Mirante Cartão Postal, a glass-walled lookout at about 600 metres.
It is open daily from 08:00, and you may not start after 15:00. Reach Paineiras by taxi or app car, since there is no parking. This is the route for people who want to arrive on foot without giving the day to it.
Trail rules and safety on Corcovado
- Go in company. The Parque Lage trail is long and wooded, and you can go a while without seeing anyone. Walk with a guide or a group, carry only what you need, and leave valuables at the hotel
- Go in dry weather. The steep upper sections are hard work dry and unpleasant wet, and cloud on the summit means no view as a reward
- Start early. An 08:00 start puts the climb in the cool of the day and gets you to the top ahead of the midday crowd
- Carry water. The guided hikes tell you to bring your own, and the climb is humid under the trees
What to bring on the Christ the Redeemer hike
- More water than you expect to drink, and something to eat. Every guided hike tells you to bring your own
- Shoes with grip. The guided hikes specify hiking shoes
- Sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent
- A light waterproof. The weather on the mountain turns quickly
- A card and some cash for entry at the top
- ID, or a copy of it, which the guided hikes ask for
Buying entry at the top, and getting back down
You come out at the ticket office. Pay for the monument, and from there you share the terraces with everyone who rode up. The last stretch to the statue is on steps for everybody while the escalators are being replaced, so tired legs have one more climb to do.
To get down, walk back the way you came, or ask at the top about a seat on the train or a van. Walkers can often buy one when there is space, but nobody promises it.
Insider tips
Let the summit camera decide whether you walk
Four hours of climbing into a cloud is a poor trade. Check the live view of the summit before you leave, and if it is white, do the Parque Lage gardens and the Jardim Botânico instead and keep the climb for a clearer day.
Walk up, ride down
The descent is the hard part on the knees, and the view is behind you. If there is space on the train, take it, and you get the railway as well.
Short of time? Combine a taxi with the Paineiras trail
A taxi to the Paineiras Visitor Centre and 45 minutes on foot past the glass lookout gives you the forest and the arrival on foot without giving up the day. Arrange the ride home before you set off, because there is no parking at Paineiras for a driver to wait.