Our Visit to the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil (Full Guide!)
Last Updated on April 8, 2024 by Kelly
The famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro sits on top of Mount Corcovado. It’s one of the most iconic sights of Brazil, and it’s also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The statue is 98 feet tall and is an art-deco depiction of Jesus Christ. From the city below, you can clearly see Jesus’s arms outreached on top of the mountain.
When we visited Rio de Janeiro, seeing Christ the Redeemer was at the top of our list of things to do. If you want to go up the mountain to see the statue up close, be sure to read our guide. In this post, we will share everything you need to know in order to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue.
About the Statue
In the 1850s, a priest named Pedro Maria Boss suggested that a Christian monument should be placed on top of Mount Corcovado in order to honor Princess Isabel of Brazil. The project wasn’t approved at the time, because the Declaration of the Republic required a separation from church and state.
In 1921, the idea for a Catholic statue on the mountain was suggested again as a means of inspiring the people of Brazil to remain faithful to God. The idea was to place the statue on top of the mountain so that it would be seen prominently from most areas of the city. This time it was approved and it was funded largely by the public. Half of the funds were raised in just one week in an event called “Monument Week.” Construction began in 1926. All the materials for the statue were brought up to the top of the mountain on a cog wheel train. The statue was completed in 1931.
The statue was created by a French sculptor named Paul Landowski. He did much of the work creating the molds in France. The statue was built by a Brazilian engineer named Heitor da Silva Costa and a French engineer named Albert Caquot. A Romanian sculptor, Gheorghe Leonida, helped with the face.
Not many people know this, but in the middle of the Christ the Redeemer statue is a heart. The statue’s master builder, Heitor Levy, had a near-death experience while overseeing the project. He converted to Catholicism and placed a scroll with the names of his family members inside the heart of Christ the Redeemer. Another engineer on the project, Pedro Fernandes, also placed his family tree inside the heart.
The statue faces east toward the rising sun. During the dawn, the statue is bathed in morning light. Originally the plan was for Jesus to hold a globe in one hand and a cross in the other.
To this day, the Christ the Redeemer statue remains the largest art-deco style statue in the world. It’s also the fourth-largest statue of Jesus Christ. (The tallest statue of Jesus Christ is in Indonesia.) Currently it’s the 134th tallest statue in the world. (The tallest statue in the world is the Statue of Unity in India.)
It’s estimated that 2 million people visit the Christ the Redeemer statue each year.
How to Get There
The Christ the Redeemer statue is located on top of Mount Corcovado in the city of Rio de Janeiro. In Portuguese the statue is called Cristo Redentor, so that’s the name you’ll see on the signage in the city.
Although you can see the Christ the Redeemer statue from nearly anywhere in the city, there are benefits to traveling to the top of the mountain. First, you’ll get to see the statue up close. (It gives a completely new perspective on the sheer size of it!) Second, you’ll have fabulous views of the city below.
If you are buying your entrance ticket at the box office, we have read that it is cash only.
There are multiple ways to reach the top of the mountain to see the statue. You can take the train, drive, bus, or even hike up the mountain. You can even see the statue by helicopter. We’ll share more about each route in detail.
Take the Train
One option is to take an electric, eco-friendly train to the top (Trem de Corcovado). This is the route we took during our visit, and we would definitely recommend it to others. One of the benefits of taking the train is that we were able to travel through Tijuca National Park on our way to the top. The train route was filled with lush greenery, and it was a really fun experience. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the top. When you head up the mountain, sit on the right side of the train. That way, you’ll be able to take photos of the the lush scenery. (The opposite side mostly hugs a rock wall.) On the way down, choose to sit on the left side. At the time of this writing, an adult ticket during peak season is R$105,50. Trains typically depart every 30 minutes, and the train operates from 8am to 7pm. Be sure to make your reservations in advance.
Drive
Another option is to take a van to the top. This van company has three different pick-up points in Rio de Janeiro. One of those stops is conveniently located in Copacabana. This is probably the most convenient option, especially if you’re unsure how to reach the train station. (We personally took a taxi from our hotel to the train station.)
Hike
The third option is to hike to the top of the mountain (Trilha de Corcovado). This is not something we’ve personally done, but if you like hiking, it could be a lot of fun. The hike is strenuous (about 5 miles roundtrip with 2,358 feet of elevation gain.) From what we’ve read, it’s important to not bring any valuables if you decide to go this route, as muggings have occurred on the trail. It’s a good idea to either hire a guide or go as part of a group. From our research, it looks like the trail has been closed at times. Be sure to ask your hotel concierge for updates prior to embarking on the hike.
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Helicopter Tour
There are also helicopter tours of Rio de Janeiro, and many of them circle around the top of Mount Corcovado. Riding in a helicopter will give you an excellent view of the Christ the Redeemer statue. If you go this route, you’ll completely skip the crowds below. There are many tours available. This tour is 8-hours and it includes an 11-minute helicopter ride over the city.
Organized Tours
There are also plenty of organized tours that will take you to Christ the Redeemer along with a guide. The benefit of doing this is that your guide can teach you so much about the local history, and you won’t have to worry about planning the logistics. There are tours that will just take you to see the statue, half-day tours that combine the statue with Sugarloaf Mountain, and full-day tours that will take you to multiple sites within Rio de Janeiro.
View From the Top
Once you reach the top of the mountain, you’ll be directly below the Christ the Redeemer Statue. You’ll also be rewarded with panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro. The view from the statue is one of the best views of Rio de Janeiro that you will find!
There’s a cafe at the top of the mountain where you can have a snack or some refreshments. We grabbed a few beers and really enjoyed the moment.
There’s also a small chapel underneath the Christ the Redeemer statue. The name of the chapel is Our Lady Aparecida. (In Portuguese Nossa Senhora Aparecida.) The chapel was built in 2006 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the statue.
Don’t miss our post about things to do in Rio de Janeiro!
Tips for Visiting
- Arrive early in the morning, as soon as the statue opens, to try to beat the crowds.
- Avoid weekend days if possible.
- Align your visit with the weather. Try to visit on a clear day!
- Bring sun protection, especially during the summer.
- Watch your belongings. As with any tourist attraction, there can be pickpockets present.
Our Experience Visiting the Christ the Redeemer Statue
Because of our tight itinerary, we had no choice but to go to Mount Corcovado on a partially cloudy day. When we got to the top of the mountain, we couldn’t even see the statue even though we were standing right in front of it!
We were disappointed, but grateful we could at least see views of Rio de Janeiro below. We decided to have a beer at the cafe, and after 30 minutes, the clouds parted and we ran up the stairs to see Christ the Redeemer! Thankfully we were able to see the statue after the clouds cleared! We were just about to leave when the clouds parted enough for us to see the statue. If you visit the Christ the Redeemer statue on a cloudy day, our advice is to wait a few minutes, if you can, to see if the clouds will clear for a quick photo.
Summary
We really enjoyed our visit to see the Christ the Redeemer Statue! It’s definitely worth making the trip to the top of the mountain to see the statue up-close. We also really loved seeing the view of Rio de Janeiro below. It was one of the highlights of our trip!
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