Urca: Praia Vermelha, the Cláudio Coutinho path and the Mureta at sunset: a walk in Rio de Janeiro

A small walk round the Urca peninsula: the beach at the foot of Sugarloaf, the flat forest path around Morro da Urca, the cable car station, and the seawall on the bay where cariocas gather for sunset.

Best time: Mid-afternoon into sunset: the Cláudio Coutinho path is open 06:00-18:00, and the Mureta da Urca is the classic golden-hour meeting point.

The route, stop by stop

1
Praia Vermelha
The beach at the foot of Morro da Urca and the Sugarloaf, where the cable car starts. 15 min
A short, calm beach framed by Sugarloaf, named for its reddish sand. The blue-green water suits stand-up paddle, kayak and canoe.
2
Pista Cláudio Coutinho
1.25 km path round the foot of Morro da Urca on army land, marked every 50 m, lined with native and exotic trees including brazilwood planted by the army; open daily 06:00-18:00. Walk it out and back. 50 min
A 1.25 km paved path around the base of Morro da Urca, opened by the Army in the late 1980s, squeezed between rock and sea. Runners use its distance marks every 50 m; others come…
3
Sugarloaf Mountain cable car
Station of Brazil's first cable car (Av. Pasteur 520): up to Morro da Urca and the Sugarloaf, daily 08:30-21:00, last boarding 19:30, tickets from BRL 205. 10 min
Two cable cars climb from Praia Vermelha to Morro da Urca and on to the 396 m summit of Sugarloaf. Opened in 1912, it was the first cable car in Brazil, and the top looks over…
4
Mureta da Urca
The 1 km seawall on the bay, a meeting point for young cariocas at golden hour, with Christ the Redeemer behind; Time Out recommends the shrimp pastel at Bar Urca across the street. 45 min
A one-kilometre seawall on Guanabara Bay where cariocas sit with a beer and a pastel at sunset, facing the boats, Niterói and Christ the Redeemer. It is the city's favourite…

Walking directions

Urca: Praia Vermelha, the Cláudio Coutinho path and the Mureta at sunset

The route, stop by stop

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