Cristo Redentor
the landmark that springs into everyone’s mind when talking about Rio
A new world wonder
Cristo Redentor was completed in 1931 and lies perched atop the Corcovado Hill, 710m above sea level. The statue is 30m tall sitting on an 8m high base with a little chapel inside. The arms span across 28m. The statue is smaller than you might think based on pictures, and yet it is the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world.
As of 2007, Cristo Redentor is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. It's the newest, by far. In my opinion, it is also the least worthy of the seven. But there is no denying this statue is one of the most iconic monuments in the world, and an undisputed symbol of Rio de Janeiro, reigning over The Marvellous City.
When to visit
The most popular attraction in Rio is guaranteed to be busy most of the time.
Since the attraction officially opens at 8:00, the place fills up before you know it. The viewing platform at the top is quite small for the amount of people, and so the crowds can be quite unpleasant, especially when everyone is on a mission to snap their best selfie with the big man. It’s a good idea to try and board the first train if you can - or perhaps go late in the day (though I can’t really vouch for the latter). As for the light, the statue is much better lit during the first half of the day (from the front), while the city might look better later in the day.
Cristo Redentor stands high above the city so there may be clouds and fog obscuring the view. Not being able to see the head of Cristo from its base is not unheard of. If such conditions persist, there really is no point in going. However, while it’s best to visit on a clear sunny day, advance booking is always going to be a gamble. With Sugarloaf, it can be more of a spontaneous decision.
Some people suggest to avoid visiting during Carnaval because of the crowds up there. But are the crowds at Cristo Redentor a good reason to miss out on the incredible experience of Carnaval? No. Are you really going to come to Rio during Carnaval and skip Cristo Redentor because of the crowds? No. We visited during the peak of Carnaval and managed to be the first ones on the first train up without any worries.
Trem do Corcovado
There are several ways to reach Cristo Redentor, and I think this is the best one. It’s traditional, scenic, fun, safe and good value.
Trem do Corcovado departs from its base station in the Cosme Velho neighbourhood, which can be easily reached by Uber. It’s a 20min journey through the jungle to the top. It really doesn’t matter where you sit in the train (left/right or back/front), because the view from the top is endlessly more impressive.
Ticket prices are around 72-89 BRL depending on low/high season. Note all weekends are considered high season. This includes the return transfer as well as the price of admission to the attraction. Train tickets do sell out in advance, especially at peak times, so it’s best to book these in advance online to avoid disappointment. I’m not even sure if it’s possible to buy tickets on the day (should there be any available), and you might have to wait a long time before you can actually board a train. Know that their website is a little weird and requires you to create an account, but it does work.
Vans and taxis
There are also official vans departing from designated locations throughout the city (such as Copacabana). This option can be more convenient and works out a little cheaper than the train, though it seems a bit less adventurous. The price would include everything (transport and admission).
Unofficial vans or taxis are also an option. These could pick you up from anywhere you want, but drop you off at the visitor centre, which is still a 40min walk from the monument. You’d have to queue there for the ticket (not included) and then an official van can take you all the way up. When you add up the cost of the transfers and price of admission, this alternative is just more hassle and less fun for much the same price or even more, compared to the other options. It’s also more time consuming.
Hiking
There is a trail that starts in Parque Lage at the foot of Corcovado, and takes you through the jungle and all the way up to Cristo Redentor. It’s a challenging hike, with a steep ascent. Note that you still have to pay the price of admission once at the top. While both attractions, Parque Lage and Cristo Redentor, are safe to visit, the trail that connects the two has got quite a notorious reputation lately. There have been quite a few robberies reported on the trail - in one particular incident more than 30 people were ambushed and stripped of their possessions. Things might be a little different now, but personally I would avoid and go for either the train or the official van.
If you are drawn to the experience of trekking through the jungle (the only reason you should want to hike, since the difference in cost is really not significant), I would highly recommend the hike to Dois Irmãos, which is safer and more interesting, as well as the only way to reach Dois Irmãos.
People suggest that it’s fine to do this hike as long as you don’t bring along anything of value, but is anyone going to visit Cristo Redentor and leave their phone and/or camera at the hotel?
Tours
Much like Sugarloaf, you absolutely do not need to join any tour to visit Cristo Redentor. Organised tours can be convenient if you are short on time and want to fit many attractions into one day, but a tour that is focused on just Cristo Redentor is not useful and not good value for money. Visiting by yourself is straight-forward and safe.
The View
The statue can seem underwhelming up-close, personally I much prefer to see it resting on top of the hill, from various viewpoints around the city. But the view from up there is out of this world! You can see pretty much all of Rio and beyond.
Expect to be surrounded by many human-sized versions of Jesus with arms wide open, posing for THE SHOT. And if you think that’s it, you’d be surprised how creative people can get. Watching others manifest themselves in awkward ways around an iconic landmark is good fun.
Cristo Redentor is just a statue with a beautiful view, so don’t expect to spend too much time up there.
Safety
Unless you plan on hiking, a visit to Cristo Redentor is probably one of the safest things you can do in Rio.
Bonus - Largo do Boticário
This hidden gem lies a short walk from the base station of Trem do Corcovado in Cosme Velho. It’s a secluded courtyard with colourful neo-colonial houses surrounded by vegetation. This was the Brazilian MI6 headquarters in one of the old James Bond films (Moonraker). Sadly, the place looks well past its prime and there isn’t much to see there, but it might be worth a quick stop.
More in Rio de Janeiro
Everything you need to know about the Rio Carnival