Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar)

Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic natural landmarks, rising 396 meters above the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Its name comes from its resemblance to the traditional conical molds used to shape refined sugar during Brazil’s colonial sugarcane trade.

This granite monolith is part of a dramatic landscape of steep rock outcrops known as bornhardts, which rise directly from the sea and frame the city’s skyline. What truly sets Sugarloaf apart is the Bondinho do Pão de Açúcar, a glass-walled cable car that has been ferrying visitors since 1912 — one of the oldest in the world.

The ride unfolds in two stages: first to Morro da Urca, a smaller hill with panoramic views and event spaces, and then to the summit of Sugarloaf itself. From the top, you’re treated to sweeping vistas of Rio’s beaches, the Christ the Redeemer statue, and the sprawling city below. Located in the historic Urca neighborhood, Sugarloaf is also part of a protected natural monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.