Earn the most famous view in South America: from the courtyard of a 1920s mansion, straight up through Atlantic rainforest, past a waterfall and along the cog railway, to the feet of Christ the Redeemer.
Most visitors ride the cog railway or a van to Corcovado. A steep trail from Parque Lage, the former estate of an industrialist at the foot of the mountain, gets you there under your own steam.
The route starts behind the Parque Lage mansion, now an art school with a café in its courtyard pool. It covers about 4 km and 700 metres of climbing through Atlantic forest, passing a waterfall and some chain-assisted rocky steps, and joins a short stretch beside the cog railway before emerging at the back of the summit platform beneath the 30-metre statue of Christ the Redeemer, completed in 1931.
It's steep and humid. There have been robberies on this trail, so go in a group or with a guide, early, and without valuables. Entry to the statue is paid at the top.
Register at the trail entrance and start as soon as it opens.
Walk through the park's gardens to the trailhead behind the palace, and sign in at the ranger post.
The path climbs steadily through tall Atlantic forest, with monkeys and toucans if you're lucky.
A small waterfall makes a good rest stop before the steepest section, with chains on the rock.
A short stretch alongside the cog railway leads to the last stairs.
Pay at the ticket point, climb to the platform, and look out over the Sugarloaf, Copacabana and Guanabara Bay.
Go in a group or with a guide, start in the morning, and carry only what you need. Don't hike alone or late in the day.
Pay the national park entry for the statue at the top; card is generally accepted. Buy down tickets for the train or van there.
Back at the bottom, Parque Lage's café in the mansion courtyard is the classic place for breakfast or a juice.
Rio practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences; Pexels photographs under the Pexels licence.
