Christ the Redeemer: how to visit, ways up and the best time to go

The statue stands on the Corcovado peak at about 710 metres, inside Tijuca National Park. It is roughly 30 metres tall on an 8-metre pedestal, was inaugurated in 1931, and is built of reinforced concrete clad in soapstone mosaic. In 2007 it joined the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The terrace at the statue's feet opens onto practically the whole city: the Lagoa, Ipanema and Leblon on one side, Sugarloaf and the bay on the other, the northern zone and the Tijuca massif behind. It is that complete reading of the terrain — not the statue alone — that justifies the visit.

The Corcovado cog train leaves from the station at Cosme Velho and climbs through the forest in about twenty minutes. It is the most traditional option and the one that sells out first in high season, because capacity per departure is fixed. Accredited park vans leave from authorised points such as Largo do Machado and Paineiras, and work as the alternative when the train is full.

The third route is the Corcovado trail, which starts at Parque Lage and climbs through the forest in about two hours of steep walking. Even so, you still need the monument access ticket. Driving your own car to the top is not permitted: the final approach is always by official transport or on foot.

The visit runs on booking: you pick a date and time band at purchase, and entry is controlled by that slot. Buying on the spot is only possible when capacity is left over — which rarely happens at weekends, during school holidays or on public holidays. Prices, concession rules and sales channels change, so always confirm on the monument's official site.

Because the visit depends on visibility, buy with as much flexibility as the exchange policy allows and choose the date by looking at the forecast. A ticket bought two months ahead for a day of low cloud cannot be salvaged: the terrace sits inside the cloud and there is nothing to see.

The first departures of the day are usually the best: fewer people on the platform, softer light and less chance of cloud formed by the day's heat. Late afternoon has beautiful light but the terrace fills and the wait to descend grows. Midday is the worst case — full sun, heat and peak visitor numbers.

Avoid days straight after heavy summer rain: humidity rises and forms mist at the summit even when the beach is sunny. A good rule is to look at Corcovado from the shoreline before leaving. If the top of the peak is covered, so is the view from up there.

From the drop-off to the terrace there are stairs, escalators and lifts, which makes access workable for most visitors, including people with reduced mobility. Even so, space on the terrace is limited and it does get crowded, particularly at peak times: expect to photograph between other people.

Take water, sunscreen and a long-sleeved layer — the temperature at the top tends to be several degrees lower than in the city and the wind is constant. Drones are not permitted, and there are rules of conduct at the monument, which is a sanctuary as well as an attraction. Allow two to three hours for the full experience including travel.