A day in Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

Dawn - Cosme Velho station

Cool air hangs over the quiet platform while the historic cog train rests beside me. I wait to board at Cosme Velho for the climb up the steep rainforest slopes. This railway has carried passengers up Corcovado for well over a century.

Morning - Corcovado cog railway

The train tilts as steep rainforest slopes slide past the window in warm sunshine. I ride the historic cog railway up Corcovado from the base station in Cosme Velho. For well over a century this line has carried passengers up the mountain.

Midday - Tijuca hiking trail

Deep shade sits under the ancient tropical trees and the path stays cool in the heat. I follow a hiking trail through the dense urban rainforest of Tijuca National Park. The forest surrounds Corcovado mountain and is home to waterfalls, trails, and wildlife.

Midday - Tijuca waterfall

Cold spray cools my face and the sound of falling water fills the shaded air. I pause beside the cascade in the rainforest around Corcovado. Tijuca National Park holds these cascading waterfalls inside its dense urban forest, along the hiking trails.

Afternoon - Tijuca forest canopy

Calls from exotic birds carry through the shaded forest while small monkeys move in the trees. I pause on the trail and watch them under the ancient tropical canopy. Tijuca National Park is home to this wildlife in the dense rainforest around Corcovado.

Afternoon - Foot of Cristo

Warm light lies on the soapstone and the arms frame Rio and the Atlantic below. I look up from the foot of Cristo Redentor at the sheer scale of those arms. This is the world's most famous Art Deco sculpture, watching over the city.

Golden Hour - Summit Atlantic view

Clear light spreads over the summit and the Atlantic coast lies far below. I look out across the panoramic sweep of Rio de Janeiro and the coast. May to July brings clearer skies for these mountain views, with drier weather and cooler nights.

Golden Hour - Cosme Velho street

Hot pastry steam and the smell of sugarcane rise from the cobblestones. I eat a pastel de feira, thin and crisp, still piping hot in my hands. These fried parcels hold minced meat, cheese, or prawns, and they go with fresh sugarcane juice.

Golden Hour - Mirante Dona Marta

Late sun warms this hill and the streets of Rio spread out below. I look across the city from Mirante Dona Marta toward the statue. This hilltop viewpoint is reached by road and faces the distant Cristo on its mountain ridge.

Night - Corcovado mountain ridge

Night air turns cool on the ridge and the city sits under the statue's arms. I look over Rio from Corcovado while those arms stay high above the streets. Weather here can shift rapidly from warm sunshine to cool, so linen and trainers are wise.