Praia Vermelha and the Pista Cláudio Coutinho

Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) is in Urca, next to the Sugarloaf cable car boarding station. It is a small cove beach between Sugarloaf and Morro da Babilônia, looking out to the open sea.

The Pista Cláudio Coutinho

From the left-hand end of the beach starts the Pista Cláudio Coutinho, a paved path of about 1.25 kilometers that skirts the base of Sugarloaf between forest and sea, according to the English Wikipedia. It is popular with families, tourists and runners, and marmosets and birds are a common sight along the way.

The Morro da Urca trail

Halfway along the path, a dirt trail starts up Morro da Urca. According to Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar, the climb takes about 30 minutes and is of light to moderate intensity. At the top, a special ticket lets you continue by cable car to the summit of Sugarloaf.

Take care

• Do not feed the marmosets or other animals: it harms their health.
• On the trail, wear sneakers, bring water and avoid the hottest hours.
• The path has opening hours: check at the entrance.

Getting there

Urca is served by buses from Botafogo and Copacabana. By taxi or ride-hailing app, ask for Praia Vermelha or the cable car station, at Avenida Pasteur, 520.

See other walks in hiking in Rio.