From Sugarloaf Mountain to the Skies: Our Most Unexpected Rio Memory

I’ve wanted to go to Rio de Janeiro since I was about 14 or 15. I still vividly remember my mom asking me where I wanted to go for a summer trip. She probably expected me to say Hilton Head or Key West (both solid choices, don’t get me wrong). Instead, I emphatically said, “Rio.” Her response? A mix of disbelief and regret. “You’re out of your mind,” she said, and instantly wished she’d never asked. Every time I think of that I can't help but smile.

Fast forward a few years, and I finally made it to Rio in 2023. Let me tell you, Rio is everything I dreamed of and more. It’s electric, alive, and drop-dead gorgeous. I’ve officially crowned it one of my new favorite places.

During our visit to The Magnificent City, we hit all the must-sees, including Sugarloaf Mountain. Let me just say, the views are breathtaking. My husband, always the adventurer, had been tossing around the idea of a helicopter tour because, as he quickly realized, “You haven’t really seen Rio until you’ve seen it from the sky.”

At the first peak of Sugarloaf, Morro da Urca, we spotted a helicopter company right there, complete with a helipad and a cozy little office. My husband went inside and started inquiring with the tour operator—where does the helicopter go? How long is the flight? And, most importantly, how much does it cost?

And here’s where he became an absolute legend.

Standing next to him was a Brazilian couple having a similar conversation, entirely in Portuguese. Now, my husband doesn’t speak Portuguese, but he’s got a knack for reading a room (or in this case, a tiny helicopter office). With a brilliant idea, he turned to the tour operator and pitched his suggestion.

“If this couple is interested,” he said, “can we split the cost and go together? We’ll pay half, and they’ll pay half.”

The operator translated his pitch in Portuguese, and the couple’s faces lit up like Christmas morning. Excited nods, smiles, and some joyful nonverbal exchanges later, we had a deal.

Everyone booked on the spot.

Captivating views about Rio de Janeiro.

Thirty minutes later, we were soaring over Rio in a helicopter, circling Christ the Redeemer with our new Brazilian friends. We taught them how to say “Wow” in English, and soon, all four of us were saying it in unison, like some kind of impromptu international choir.

Sometimes the most unforgettable travel memories are the unplanned moments that unfold like magic before your eyes.

Sometimes the most unforgettable travel memories are the unplanned moments that unfold like magic before your eyes.