Inaugurated in 1931, the towering statue
of "Cristo Rendentor" (Christ the
Redeemer) looks down from the top of
Corcovado over the city's believers and
non-believers alike, arms outstretched a
symbol of Rio's Catholic past and
present. You can go there from N.S.
Copacapana by taking a bus 583 that will
deposit you at the entrance. You will be
solicited by some vendor to sale you
ticket but you can across the street and
go buy your ticket at the ticket sale
boot. It cost R$30 and you will get in
the 2 wagon trains to take you to the
top of the mountain. Along the way up
you can see a lot of vegetation and at
some spot you can see the city below.
The first day I came there it has a lot
of clouds lower than our level so it
hired all the view below. At the
platform at the bottom of the status
there are many different groups of
tourist with their guides. I heard some
of them were arguing with their guides
to let them stay longer in case the
cloud will dispersed later on so they
can see the city beneath. The response
from the
tour guide was not he can staid longer
because it is the nature fault not his. He did his job but the nature doesn't
cooperate so the time is out, they have
to leave. That is the inconvenient when
you take a tour guide. It cost more than
taking a bus by yourself but you can not
own your time. I stayed until the last
train which is before 6:00 pm and it
paid off at the end. At certain moment
the cloud dispersed and it make a hole
in the ocean of cloud below you so I was
able to take some snapshoot.
Corcovado is the symbol of Rio de
Janeiro. The figure of Jesus Christ
with arms spreading and leaning his head
toward the city is a sight to behold.
Christ the Redeemer or "Cristo Redentor"
serves as the guidepost for all visitors
that are teeming in this beautiful
city. In 1981, the statue inaugurated
its 50th anniversary. The city rejoiced
in the fact that so many legion of
tourists have identified the city in
relation to its saviour Jesus Christ. It takes some effort to get into the top
of this hill. There is a 20 minute cog
train ride that zigzags from the bottom
of the hill Cosmo Velho. Most taxi
drivers will offer a taxi ride of 100
BR$ to the top but most tourists will
choose to be carried to the top by the
choo choo train that slowly inches its
way to the top.
Make sure you check out the
weather at the top prior to boarding the
train. It can be a different weather way
up there with visibility possibly to
zero on a rainy day. Once you are on top
you will notice the enchanting
topography of Rio's landscape, the
beaches of Ipanema, Copacabana and
Niteroi beckon from afar. The lagoon and
the lakes that glisten nearby will make
this city like a brilliant shining jewel
from afar. The rolling hills dotted
with favelas (shanty houses) and the
tall buildings that dot the beachside
blend in harmony. The Cariocas (natives
of Rio) are proud of the way the city is
transforming into its forward thrust as
a major tourist destination.
Way at the top of the Corcovado, the sun
rises and hides again from the dark
clouds while mists settle firmly to hide
the statue of Jesus Christ. People
constantly pray to lighten up the sky
and expose the myriad of city
sckycrapers Rio has been noted for.
Alas, on a rainy day, it gets
frustrating as the clouds envelope the
statue for hours. It is easy to go to
the top of the mountain. It is like
asking where the Empire State Building
is in the heart of Manhattan. Ever so
noticeable anywhere you are in the
different points of the city. Cosmo
Velho buses 511 and 523 will definitely
bring you to the foot of the Corcovado.
A helicopter ride from the first base of
Pao de Azucar, the Brazil nut shaped
stone mountain in the heart of the city
will give you a glimpse of the city in
less than 10 minutes on a clear day. I
took this helicopter ride and I felt I
was on my way to heaven definitely
enchanted by the geological gift and the
wonders it did make for the city of Rio. Truly it is God's gift that this city is
lucky to get this landscape.
To go back Copacabana you
can take the same 583 bus which will
drive you around via Leblon, Ipanema
then back to Copacabana or you can take
the buses 584 to go back to Copacabana
via Botafogo.
If you want to travel by
subway, take
the metro to Largo de Machado and get a
transfer bus to Corcovado. Most people
in Brazil work slow-paced compared to
the bristle and bustle of North America.
Brazilians take their time. No stress. They are as a whole one great virtue of
Rio de Janeiro.
Note: I flew back the
next day to see the Christ status by
helicopter and have some
video sequence
but it still cloudy that day. At the
heliport when I bought the ticket they
said that the ride won't include the Corcovado because of danger of cloud but
when we took off our pilot decided to
took us up there. Then the following
day, in a nice and clear day I came back
again to see the Christ by bus this time
and have a splendid view of Rio.
Once in Rio de Janeiro there are 3
different ways to visit the Christ
Corcovado:
# 1. If time doesn't concern you I
may suggest the cog train. It will
take approximately 20 minute to ride
that zigzags train from the bottom
of the hill Cosmo Velho. You can
enjoy the green vegetation during
the ride and some time you may have
free entertainment.
# 2. If you are anxious to get to
the top and don't like long waiting
line just take a taxi. You have to
negotiate with the driver the price
first. Most taxi drivers will offer
a taxi ride between 75 to 100 BR$ to
the top, wait for you about 30
minutes then drive you down.
# 3. If you would like to see the
Christ in every angles from the an
aerial view then take a helicopter
ride from the 1st level of the Sugar
Loaf. There you can find the
heliport. The ride is 150 BR$ but
you need to have another 2 other
friends with you. If you are alone
then try to find a couple and share
the ride with them like what I did.
NOTE: with this type of
transportation you have to choose a
day that there are no cloud because
the helicopter don't offer the
Corcovado aerial sightseeing when
there are clouds form around the
Christ.
No matter what transportation you
are deciding to get to visit the
Christ here are all the 3 options I
captured for your preview. Hope you
will enjoy the virtual ride.
Corcovado is the symbol of Rio de
Janeiro. The figure of Jesus Christ
with arms spreading and leaning his head
toward the city is a sight to behold.
Christ the Redeemer or "Cristo Redentor"
serves as the guidepost for all visitors
that are teeming in this beautiful
city. In 1981, the statue inaugurated
its 50th anniversary. The city rejoiced
in the fact that so many legion of
tourists have identified the city in
relation to its saviour Jesus Christ. It takes some effort to get into the top
of this hill. There is a 20 minute cog
train ride that zigzags from the bottom
of the hill Cosmo Velho. Most taxi
drivers will offer a taxi ride of 100
BR$ to the top but most tourists will
choose to be carried to the top by the
choo choo train that slowly inches its
way to the top.
Make sure you check out the
weather at the top prior to boarding the
train. It can be a different weather way
up there with visibility possibly to
zero on a rainy day. Once you are on top
you will notice the enchanting
topography of Rio's landscape, the
beaches of Ipanema, Copacabana and
Niteroi beckon from afar. The lagoon and
the lakes that glisten nearby will make
this city like a brilliant shining jewel
from afar. The rolling hills dotted
with favelas (shanty houses) and the
tall buildings that dot the beachside
blend in harmony. The Cariocas (natives
of Rio) are proud of the way the city is
transforming into its forward thrust as
a major tourist destination.
