Rio de Janeiro is one of the most breathtaking cities in the world and there’s no better way to take it all in than from the sky. A helicopter ride over the city rewards you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gaze upon Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the spectacular golden beaches that stretch along the coastline.
But with so many different options and factors to consider, how can you be sure you’re going to have the best experience possible? Whatever your budget, fear level, and expectations, here are 14 tips for an amazing helicopter ride over Rio de Janeiro.
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1. Save up
Rio de Janeiro is an expensive place and a helicopter ride will set you back $100s per person. You can save a bit of money by choosing the shortest rides (some are just 7-8 minutes long) if you’ve got a strict budget to stick to. Just make sure you don’t leave the city regretting your choice.
If you’re only going to do a helicopter ride in Rio de Janeiro once, you want to get it right! It might be worth scrimping and saving in advance so you can go all out and do an amazing helicopter ride when you’re finally there.
2. Doors on or off?
One of the first things you need to decide on is whether you want a doors on or a doors off experience. Standard helicopters have doors that open for you to climb in and close before you take off. Doors off helicopters don’t have any doors at all.
A doors off helicopter tour allows you to get better pictures (no grubby windows) and offers a more exhilarating experience (you can feel the wind whizzing through the helicopter). The only real downside is that a trip on a doors off helicopter almost always costs more than the same trip on a standard helicopter.
I think the doors off experience is worth the extra money. There’s nothing like dangling your feet in mid-air while circling Christ the Redeemer. You can also get some really creative shots without the limitations of windows.
3. Private or not?
Another important point you’ll have to decide on is whether you want a private helicopter tour or a shared one. As you’d expect, private tours are more expensive than shared ones, but they come with so many advantages. You don’t have to jostle with others to take pictures, you’re guaranteed a window seat with clear views, and the experience feels much more special when it’s just you and your partner or group.
As an added bonus, private helicopter tours tend to be more luxurious than standard tours. So if you’re craving the VIP treatment, a private tour will deliver.
4. Pick your route
There are a few different helicopter routes to choose from in Rio de Janeiro. The shortest routes are 7-8 minutes long, while the longest routes can go on for around 60 minutes. All the routes fly over the coastline, giving you an amazing view of Rio’s spectacular beaches. But not all of them fly close to the city’s iconic attractions.
If you want to see Christ the Redeemer or Sugarloaf Mountain from a unique angle, make sure the itinerary you choose includes it. You don’t have to book an extended tour to see these amazing landmarks. Some of the shortest routes include them.
5. Choose the time carefully
The time of day you fly will have a massive impact on your experience. Sunrise, midday, and sunset are the three main times to fly, each of which comes with its own unique benefits.
Sunrise
Temperatures are milder and humidity is lower first thing in the morning, making for a more comfortable flight. There are also fewer helicopters in the sky to compete with and the soft light is ideal for taking pictures.
Midday
The sun is at its highest point at this time of day, giving you maximum visibility and a bright, vibrant setting for pictures. The sunshine and heat can be intense at this time of day, so be prepared and take plenty of water with you.
Sunset
Sunset is very similar to sunrise in terms of temperature and light. The weather is cooler than it is at midday and the city is draped in dramatic shades of red, pink, and orange. Sunset is the most popular time of a Rio de Janeiro helicopter flight, so you’re likely to be sharing airspace with other helicopters.
6. Book in advance
A helicopter flight is one of the most popular things to do in Rio de Janeiro. Because of this, the biggest and most well-known tour companies get booked up very quickly. As soon as you’re sure it’s something you want to do, make your reservation. Most companies don’t require a deposit, so it doesn’t matter if you haven’t got all the cash together just yet.
7. Have a plan B
No matter how well prepared you are and how early you start making plans, a helicopter flight in Rio de Janeiro is never a sure thing. You’re at the mercy of the weather and if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction or clouds are lower than they typically are, your dream will never become reality.
If you’re spending a few days in Rio de Janeiro, I recommend you book your helicopter flight for day one. This way, if the weather conditions aren’t ideal, you can try again tomorrow or even the next day. The weather in Rio can be unpredictable and by giving yourself a little wiggle room, you’ve got the best chance of flying over the city.
It’s a good idea to have a plan B, just in case your helicopter flight does get cancelled. The last thing you want is to be left with nothing to do when you were meant to be circling Christ the Redeemer like a bird. Have an alternative activity waiting so you’ve still got something fun to do if your flight gets cancelled.
8. Take cash
Because there’s a pretty high chance your helicopter flight will be canceled, most tour companies don’t charge you until you’re at the helipad and ready to fly. If you pay by card, 10-15% will be added to the price to cover card fees.
Keep things as simple and as cheap as possible by having the right amount on you in cash. So you don’t end up with excess Brazilian Reais, it’s a good idea to withdraw cash in the morning, after you know the flight is definitely going to take place.
9. Make a day of it
One of the biggest things that puts people off taking a helicopter tour around Rio de Janeiro is how long it takes to get to the helipad. Depending on where you’re staying in the city and where the helicopter departs from, you can expect to spend around 60 minutes in an Uber or taxi getting to your starting point. If you’re planning on flying at sunset, this will be more like 90 minutes because you’ll be dealing with rush hour traffic.
Most helicopter tour companies recommend you arrive 30 minutes before your flight. So, in the worst case scenario, that could be 90 minutes in traffic, followed by 30 minutes of waiting before your flight. If you’ve signed up for a 7-8 minute helicopter flight, you may struggle to see how it’s worth it. Especially when you take into account that you’ve got to travel back to your hotel, too!
If you want to take a helicopter flight in Rio de Janeiro, you really haven’t got a choice — this is the journey you’ve got to take and this is how long you’ll spend doing it. So I recommend you make a day of it.
Instead of travelling to the helipad location just for the flight, arrive there hours early and spend some time in the area. Check out the local attractions and grab something to eat. It’s a much better way to spend your time.
10. Prep your camera in advance
A helicopter flight in Rio de Janeiro puts you in the perfect position to take some incredible shots of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. No matter how long your trip is, you’ll zoom past gorgeous scenes in the blink of an eye and if you’re not ready, you’ll miss the perfect picture. So do yourself a favor and prepare your camera settings (or phone camera settings) in advance.
If you’re not an expert photographer, there are plenty of guides online that will help you tweak a couple of things to get cool pictures. The most important things to consider are the time of day you’ll be flying (this hugely affects the type of light) and the speed at which you’ll whizz past landmarks.
11. Take a lot of pictures
Don’t be disappointed if a lot of your pictures come out blurry. Even when the helicopter is hovering and staying as still as possible, there’s still a surprising amount of movement. The best way to combat this is to take as many pictures as you can.
Some will be a complete disaster and you won’t even be able to tell what they are. But you’ll almost certainly get a few gems that look phenomenal.
Make sure you backup your photos or save them to the Cloud. The last thing you want is to take some incredible photos from the sky and lose them because you misplaced your SD card or left your phone behind.
12. Think about your clothes and hair
You need to think about what you’re wearing and how you’re going to do your hair before you set out for the helipad. Not because of fashion — but because they’ll get blown all over when you’re in the air. This is especially true if you’ve opted for the doors off experience.
Wear fitted clothes and tie your hair up into a bun or a plait if it’s long. This way you won’t be holding your clothes down and you’ll be able to take fun selfies without looking like you’re eating your hair.
If you’ve chosen a doors off experience, make sure you take shoes that are strapped to your feet. Sneakers are best. If you show up with sandals or flip flops, you’ll have to take them off or you may not be allowed to ride at all.
13. Be brave
If you’ve got a fear of flying or heights, be brave and do it anyway. Flying over Rio de Janeiro in a helicopter may be one of the scariest things you’ll ever do, but it will surely be one of the most memorable, thrilling, and extraordinary things you’ll ever do, too. So take charge of your fears, have the support of a good travel buddy, and be brave!
14. Enjoy it!
The biggest tip I can give you for a helicopter ride over Rio de Janeiro is to enjoy it. Whether your flight is 7 or 60 minutes long, the time will fly by and it will be over before you know it.
Definitely take pictures and videos when you’re up there, but don’t forget to savor the experience and admire the views with your eyes, too. You can watch the videos and look at the pictures when you’re back on the ground. But you’re unlikely to get the chance to soak in the views from the air in person ever again.
15. Once-in-a-Lifetime opportunity
A helicopter ride over Rio de Janeiro is an amazing experience that you’ll never forget — if you plan it right. From choosing the best route to changing your camera settings, a little bit of planning goes a long way to making your flight smooth, comfortable, and unforgettable.
