The Ultimate Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide to Rio de Janeiro

For years, I dreamed of visiting Rio de Janeiro. I wanted to lounge on the world-famous Copacabana Beach, see the Christ the Redeemer statue, eat Brazilian foods, and so much more, but every year I would say something like “Well, I’ll get there one day… maybe next year!” But then the next year would come and I still wouldn’t have any plans to visit Rio. However, I finally decided to make 2024 the year that I visited Rio de Janeiro and I’m SO incredibly happy that I did! I have visited some amazing cities throughout South America, including Buenos Aires, Quito, Bogota, and Santiago to name a few, but nowhere can compare to the energy of Rio.

In March 2024, my mom, our friend Kayla, and I packed our bags and headed to Rio de Janeiro on a nonstop flight from Atlanta. In the months leading up to our trip, I communicated extensively with the wonderful team behind Rio Accessible Tour to plan the perfect trip. From booking the perfect-for-me hotel to planning fun activities and arranging wheelchair accessible transportation, Rio Accessible Tour did a phenomenal job and our trip was truly flawless from start to finish.

Over the course of eight days, we had the trip of our dreams and were able to enjoy the best wheelchair accessible Rio de Janeiro attractions with ease. In this accessible travel guide, I’ll start by telling you all about the greatest things to do in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as a wheelchair user, and then I’ll tell you about the fantastic hotel we stayed in. By the time you finish reading this guide, I have no doubt that you’ll be itching to plan your own accessible trip to this great South American city!

Wheelchair Accessible Rio de Janeiro Attractions & Things to Do

There are so many spectacular things to do in Rio de Janeiro and you could probably spend weeks or even months exploring the city, but we were able to cover a lot of ground in eight days. I discovered that Rio is officially one of my favorite cities in the world, and the ten wheelchair accessible Rio de Janeiro attractions and activities that I mention below are part of the reason why. Here are some of the best things to do in Rio as a wheelchair user –

See Christ the Redeemer up-close

As one of the most well-known landmarks in the world and the symbol of Brazil, it’s impossible to visit Rio de Janeiro without seeing the Christ the Redeemer statue. And I do mean that literally because it’s visible from all over the city. Christ the Redeemer stands at the top of Corcovado Mountain and the statue itself is a whopping 98 feet tall!

While you can see Christ the Redeemer from all over the city, I really wanted to get up-close and personal with the statue during my trip. It’s quite a journey to get to Christ the Redeemer, especially as a wheelchair user, but it’s well worth it. I did this on the first full day of my time in Rio and it was a magical start to the trip!

To get to Christ the Redeemer, you first need to make your way to the top of Corcovado Mountain. You can do this a few different ways, but the easiest option for wheelchair users is the Corcovado Train. The train is wheelchair accessible thanks to a portable ramp that the train station provides, so I was able to easily get onboard in my powered wheelchair. During the 20 minute train ride to the top, you’ll go through Tijuca National Park, which is beautiful.

Once I reached the top of the mountain, I exited the train and rolled a short distance to an escalator. Unfortunately, there isn’t an elevator to reach Christ the Redeemer. You actually have to take two different escalators, which I was definitely nervous about, but I was desperate to make it to the statue. After all, I didn’t travel all the way to Rio de Janeiro to let an escalator hold me back!

Luckily, a manual wheelchair was available to use, so I transferred from my powered wheelchair to the manual wheelchair that they provided. My mom and Kayla transferred me with my ableSling Lite and it worked like a charm. Once I was in the manual wheelchair, a couple staff members got me on the escalator and up we went. It was certainly a bit nerve-wracking, but it went much smoother than I expected. The manual wheelchair handled the two escalators with ease, thankfully.

After the slightly scary, but easy ride on the escalators, we reached the base of the Christ the Redeemer statue and it was much larger than I expected. I was immediately in awe of how vast it was. The arms on the statue are 92 feet wide from fingertip to fingertip, and the statue is 98 feet tall. I couldn’t believe that I was finally here and looking at the statue in-person.

Usually, you can see all of Rio de Janeiro from here, but it was quite foggy on the morning that we visited, so we didn’t have much of a city view. But I was just happy that we could see Christ the Redeemer and despite it being foggy, we managed to get many photos with the statue and our guide from Rio Accessible Tour, Ursula, did a fantastic job of explaining the history of Christ the Redeemer.

We stayed at the statue, and took about a million photos, for 45 minutes or so and then it was time to head back down the escalators. Again, the staff members assisted the entire time and it was a smooth process. If you visit Rio as a wheelchair user and want to see Christ the Redeemer, it’s absolutely possible if you’re willing to have a bit of an adventure.

Go to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain

At nearly 1,300 feet tall, Sugarloaf Mountain is one of the best places to take in the views of Rio de Janeiro. While it was too foggy to see the views at Christ the Redeemer for us, we had excellent weather during our Sugarloaf Mountain excursion, so I was super excited to see the amazing views from here!

Wheelchair accessibility at Sugarloaf Mountain is wonderful and you will not need to transfer out of your own wheelchair or ride an escalator to get to the top. Instead, you’ll take a couple different cable cars to the top and they are completely wheelchair accessible. The cable cars have ramps that bridge the gap between the station platform and the cable car, so it was a seamless process for me to get on the cable cars.

With the first cable car, you’ll reach Urca Hill, a halfway point between the ground station and Sugarloaf Mountain. Urca Hill has a variety of shops and eateries, and you’ll want to spend some time enjoying Urca Hill’s offerings and incredible views. We grabbed some lunch at Urca Hill from a sandwich shop and even saw some monkeys while we were eating.

After a tasty lunch and some shopping, we hopped on the next cable car and went to Sugarloaf Mountain. On all of the cable cars, I was impressed by how much space there was inside them and how accessible they were. The cable car rides were fairly quick and once we reached Sugarloaf Mountain, I was excited to check it out.

From Sugarloaf Mountain, we could see all of Rio de Janeiro. There were mesmerizing views of Copacabana Beach, the city, and we could even see Christ the Redeemer in the distance. Without a doubt, these were some of the best views I’ve ever seen and I was just in awe the entire time.

There were elevators and ramps available at Sugarloaf Mountain, so I was able to reach the various viewpoints. No matter what your abilities are, visiting Sugarloaf Mountain is a must-visit while in Rio de Janeiro. Plan at least 3-4 hours to experience it all.

Tour the famous Maracana Stadium

In Brazil, soccer (or football, as they call it) is a way of life and a huge part of Brazilian culture. I’m not really a soccer fan, but while in Brazil, I wanted to embrace the sport and learn more about it, and one of the best ways to do that was by touring Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Maracana Stadium is the largest soccer stadium in Brazil, and was the largest one in the world for a long time. Honestly, I wasn’t incredibly excited about touring the stadium since I’m not the biggest soccer fan, but it actually surpassed my expectations and was a really great tour. I learned so much about soccer and the history of it in Brazil.

The tour is predominantly self-guided and during the tour, we were able to see the locker rooms, the players’ warm-up room, the press conference area, and we even went on the field. While on the field, we enjoyed some photo ops, of course, and it was really cool to look around and imagine what it might be like to have thousands and thousands of fans cheering for you from the stands.

Our entire tour at Maracana Stadium was wheelchair accessible and the staff members were happy to show us where the accessible restrooms were. They were very accommodating and whether you’re a big soccer fan or not, I’d suggest doing this tour. I’m sure you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the sport and realize its importance in Brazilian life.

Attend a soccer game

Touring Maracana Stadium was nice, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the experience of attending a soccer game in Brazil. We had the chance to watch a soccer game at Maracana Stadium between two of Rio’s best teams, Flamengo and Fluminense, and it was undoubtedly a highlight of our trip.

Rio Accessible Tour arranged our wheelchair accessible tickets for the game and our guide, Ursula, attended the game with us. Ursula is a superfan of Fluminense, so we all decided to wear Fluminense apparel and cheer on the team. Flamengo ended up winning the game, but we had the best time watching the game for a few hours.

The energy within Maracana Stadium was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. People were cheering nonstop, fireworks were being set off from inside the stadium (from people’s seats), everyone was singing and dancing, children were screaming and cursing (I even saw a young 5 or 6 year old kid put his middle finger in the air at one point when the other team scored)… it was wild, to say the least, but in the best/most entertaining way.

You truly haven’t experienced Brazil until you’ve experienced a soccer game, and I was thrilled that we were able to attend while in Rio de Janeiro. I didn’t see very many non-locals at the game, so I loved that we had such an authentic experience with locals.

Enjoy a beach day on Copacabana Beach

Before visiting Rio de Janeiro, I hadn’t been in the ocean in over eight years. Getting in the water usually isn’t an easy process for me as a wheelchair user, but I was excited when I heard about the organization Praia para Todos in Brazil.

Praia para Todos means “Beach for all” and this organization is determined to get anyone on the beach and in the water. Every Saturday and Sunday from about September until early May, they set up on Copacabana Beach and make it accessible. They have an access mat, beach wheelchairs, and a team of volunteers on-hand to provide assistance to those with disabilities.

Upon arriving to the Praia para Todos tent on Copacabana Beach, their team helped transfer me from my powered wheelchair to an amphibious beach wheelchair. Once I was sitting in the beach wheelchair, they helped me get comfortable with pool noodles and other items to keep me stable in the chair. They were really innovative and did a remarkable job of making me comfortable and safe.

Then, a few of the volunteers rolled me toward the water and for the first time in over eight years, I was able to feel the water of the Atlantic Ocean. They stayed with me throughout my time in the ocean and it was such a fun experience. I stayed in the water for a while and then just relaxed on the sand for about an hour and soaked up the sun.

Praia para Todos is doing amazing work in Brazil and I’m really thankful to them for giving me such a good beach experience. If you will be in Rio de Janeiro during the summer season (approximately September-early May), plan an accessible beach day for yourself and enjoy some time on the world-famous Copacabana Beach!

Learn how to cook Brazilian foods

One of my favorite things to do in any country I visit is a cooking class. It’s a weird choice considering the fact that I can’t even really cook, but I always say that if I wasn’t a travel blogger (and disabled) I might would be a chef. I love trying new foods and learning about popular foods in different destinations. While in Rio de Janeiro, we had a chance to enjoy a cooking class and try some of the country’s most popular cuisines.

Over the course of a couple hours, we tried a variety of Brazilian foods, including cheese bread, tapioca pancakes, fried cassava root, Picanha steak with banana farofa and rice, and we had brigadeiro (little chocolate fudge balls that are DELICIOUS!) for dessert. I liked everything that I tried, except for the farofa, and absolutely loved trying so many of Brazil’s best foods in one place.

Chef Flavio Jandorno actually had this cooking class for us in his own home, so it was an incredibly unique experience and so special. It was arranged by Rio Accessible Tour and by far, this was the best cooking class I’ve ever attended. I have never done a cooking class in a chef’s home until this, but it certainly made it more special and I’m grateful that Chef Jandorno invited us into his home for this.

If you’re a foodie, or if you just want to try some delicious Brazilian foods, I’d highly recommend doing a cooking class with Chef Jandorno while in Rio. My mom, Kayla, and I all agreed at the end of our trip that it was one of our favorite wheelchair accessible Rio de Janeiro activities that we enjoyed.

Roll around the beautiful botanical gardens

I am always excited to visit a botanical garden in any destination, but after touring around Rio for a few days, I knew their tropical gardens would be spectacular. And after visiting, I’m happy to say that I couldn’t have been more right! As soon as we drove up to the entrance, I could tell this place was going to be special.

The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is famous for the beauty of its landscapes. Besides being complete with lush and tropical plants from Brazil, it also showcases plants from all over the world and it is filled with stoic monuments, gorgeous buildings, and artwork. There are around 7,000 species of plants here that span across a 350-acre site. I also love the fact that there are areas around the gardens that you can get a great view of the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Throughout the botanical gardens, I was able to roll in my powered wheelchair fairly easily. There were pathways for everyone to take that were hard packed dirt and included the tiniest of pebbles. I had some issues with only a couple spots being a little uneven and bumpy. It definitely wasn’t bad enough to deter me from continuing to explore all that I could see. The gardens are so beautiful and I loved every minute of my visit.

One of my favorite areas was the two 800-yard long rows of towering palm trees. This is one of the most photographed areas of the park, so you don’t want to miss this! Rolling through the middle of these soaring palm trees was a highlight of the day and made me truly appreciate all of the beauty that encompasses Rio de Janeiro.

The Botanical Garden is open every day of the year except December 25th and January 1st. It is the perfect spot to get away from the bustling city and wander through nature. I found it very relaxing and enjoyable, and if you’re lucky, you may even get to see some monkeys playing high up in the trees during your visit.

Admire the majestic Taunay Waterfall

Did you know that Rio de Janeiro is the only city in the world that has a rainforest inside its city limits? Neither did I, until my recent visit. This section of rainforest is known as Tijuca National Park. Here, you can find not only a tropical oasis, but also some gorgeous cascading waterfalls. Located in the Tijuca Forest, Taunay Waterfall is the largest in the park and definitely the most popular spot to visit.

The ride from the park entrance to Taunay Waterfall is bumpy and curvy, not even kidding. Since I have a neuromuscular disease with low muscle tone, I had to use a head restraint attached to my headrest just to help my head to stay upright. But once our tour van pulled in to the area of the famous Taunay Waterfall, I forgot about the journey and was ready to explore.

The parking lot at Taunay is paved and there is also a paved path that leads to the perfect viewing spot. Here, I learned that Taunay Waterfall was named for a French painter who once owned land around the falls, and it is 114 feet long and the tallest waterfall in the park. It is breathtaking to sit in the accessible wooden platform viewing area and watch as the cascading flow of water rushes by.

It may be a good idea, especially if mosquitoes love you as much as they love me, to spray yourself with mosquito repellent prior to rolling toward the falls. Remember, this is the rainforest and mosquitoes thrive in a wet place.

Shop at the Ipanema Hippie Market

I love visiting markets when I travel to a new place. This is where I can get a true feeling of the culture, the styles, and tastes, and also meet the local people of the destination. As soon as I heard there was a local market in Rio de Janeiro, I immediately said, “Let’s go!”

Open every Sunday from 8am to 6pm, the Ipanema Hippie Market is located in an area that was known as a hippie hangout in the 1960s. On the evening that I visited, the Ipanema Hippie Market was absolutely packed with both shoppers and vendors. I couldn’t wait to look around and see what souvenirs, including arts and crafts and handmade local items, that I could find.

The pathways here between the street vendors were easy for my powered wheelchair to maneuver. I had no issues at all visiting the booths and seeing all the stuff that had been made in Brazil. I saw some of the most gorgeous Brazilian paintings showcasing landmarks around the city, rope woven parrots and animals, which my mom could not resist, and handcrafted jewelry, t-shirts, trinkets, and so much more. The atmosphere was very chill and relaxed, and I really enjoyed talking with the local vendors, as they were all genuinely friendly and nice.

When visiting the Ipanema Hippie Market, keep in mind this isn’t a retail shop. These are people selling their handcrafted items that they have taken time and effort in making. It is okay to haggle on the pricing a bit, but always be respectful and appreciate the effort that the making of it entailed.

Dance like a Brazilian at the Ginga Tropical Show

If you’re looking to have an exciting evening, make sure to visit the Ginga Tropical Show, located inside the Teatro Fashion Mall. Running for over 10 years, this enthralling show presents culture from all areas of Brazil, showcasing the different rhythms, dances, and clothing along the way. Parts of this dance spectacular had me on the edge of my wheelchair seat, clapping my hands, tapping my feet, and wanting more!

I found the Teatro Fashion Mall to be easy to roll around in, as it is all accessible with concrete, tiled flooring. There were plenty of shops and restaurants to spend the evening exploring, but I was too anxious to get to the Ginga Tropical show. Located on the second floor of the mall, an elevator was available to the theater entrance. This show runs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 9:15pm. That may seem late, but by the time the show started and I saw all of the dancers up on that stage, I was wide awake and didn’t want to leave when it was over.

Once inside the theater, a staff member happily led me to my wheelchair accessible seating area, which was perfect. I was parked in my wheelchair on the end of a row near the middle of the theater. I could see the entire stage and was able to sit beside my mom and Kayla.

As the show began, the audience first had the opportunity to learn the Samba. Some of the audience members were even invited to come up on stage and show everyone what they had learned. As the show continued on, the dancers captivated the audience by even coming out into the crowd and continuing the dance moves. This show is so colorful and definitely full of energy, as the dancers took us through tons of songs and dance moves, all with a Brazilian theme.

The Ginga Tropical Show is a definite must-see when visiting Rio de Janeiro. Lasting an hour and 45 minutes, this show blew me away for the entire time and I would absolutely go see it again next time I’m in Rio.

Watch my short video below to see some of the best wheelchair accessible Rio de Janeiro attractions in action –

Where to Stay: Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana

While in Rio de Janeiro, we stayed at the beautiful Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever stayed in (in my top 5 for sure!).

The staff at the hotel were super friendly, there were multiple restaurants on-site (including a coffee/gelato shop that I visited every single day of my trip), and the hotel was in a great location. It is right across from the famous Copacabana Beach and we could easily walk/roll to various wheelchair accessible Rio de Janeiro restaurants in the area.

We stayed in an accessible ocean view junior suite and it was very spacious with AMAZING views (check out my photo below!).

In our room, there was one king sized bed and it had clearance underneath for a hoyer lift. It was also a great height for self-transferring into bed at 21 inches tall. The bed was actually too low for my needs though, so the staff kindly added a different mattress to raise the bed to about 25 inches, and then it was perfect for me.

In the bathroom, there were 2 pull-under sinks, grab bars by the toilet, and the largest roll-in shower I’d ever seen. The shower had smooth entry, a fold-down seat, a handheld shower wand, and grab bars. To be honest, this was the most accessible bathroom I’ve seen in a looooong time and I fell head over heels in love with it.

If you’ll be visiting Rio, the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana is the place to stay! Learn more about it and book a stay of your own by clicking here.

We fell in love with the city of Rio de Janeiro and already look forward to returning one day in the not too distant future. With so many wheelchair accessible Rio de Janeiro attractions and things to do, we definitely saw as much as we possibly could in eight days, but there’s always more to enjoy in this magical destination. If you haven’t been to Rio, trust me when I say that it’s time to start planning your trip!

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