Last week, I went to Rio de Janeiro after many, many years without visiting. The trip was short, really brief, but long enough for me to question why I had taken so long to set foot in that city again.
I went to Rio for an engagement party, so I barely had any time to explore or sightsee. On the only free day we had, we took the opportunity to visit Praia Vermelha and Morro da Urca, which is the hill next to Pão de Açúcar, the city's most famous postcard view.
Praia Vermelha is where the cable cars depart to take visitors up both hills, but we decided to do something different and free, hiking up Morro da Urca instead.
To access the trail, you just need to walk to the left end of Praia Vermelha along a path that winds around the hill. This walk alone is already quite beautiful and special, mostly used by locals for jogging and walking by the sea. We barely saw any tourists.
Halfway along this path, the trail to Morro da Urca begins. It starts off quite steep, with a sort of improvised staircase. While it can be tiring, it’s manageable for anyone. We saw everyone from children to elderly people making the climb.
The best part is that it’s completely free, and once you reach the top, you can enter the park without any barriers. Once you're up there, you can choose to pay to continue up to Pão de Açúcar exclusively via cable car, pay for a cable car ride back down or simply hike back the same way you came.
All the effort of the climb is absolutely worth it because the view from the top is incredible. I had visited this place 20 years ago, and it was interesting to return after so much time, to see how many things have changed, and this time, in a different way, on foot.
From Morro da Urca, you can enjoy stunning views of Praia Vermelha and the Urca neighborhood on the other side. In addition, the lookout offers a privileged view of the entire Guanabara Bay.
And of course, from there you also get a privileged view of Pão de Açúcar from a unique angle. We spent quite some time admiring the beauty of the local nature and recharging before hiking back down the trail.
The day ended with a late afternoon swim at Praia Vermelha, followed by a walk to Mureta da Urca, where you can also enjoy a stunning view of Botafogo, Aterro do Flamengo, and Corcovado, the hill where Christ the Redeemer stands.
I definitely don’t want to take so long to return again.
:)
See you next time!
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