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Photo locations · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil

Sugarloaf Mountain View: sunset photography forecast

From Sugarloaf, Rio unfolds in layers: Guanabara Bay, Botafogo, the city mountains and Christ the Redeemer across the gap. Sunset is only half the picture—the transition into city lights is what makes the viewpoint worth staying for.

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Will today's sunset be worth it?

Simplified forecast from the open model run. The full forecast — a second model, your exact viewpoint, the hourly cloud timeline — is in the app.

Global model, about 13 km: less certain than in Europe.

in 5h 27m

Blocked grey lid

Little usable low-sun light expected

Sky colors

Golden hour
Sunset

Light corridor: blocked

Why: Thick cloud along the sun's path is likely to stop the low light.

  • Light path: blocked (100% blocking cloud at the ray's height)
  • Sun: likely hidden. Low cloud fills the horizon (86%); the sun will probably stay behind it.
Viewer's line of sight, tangent to the Earth at your locationNear-ground relative humidity7% cover — too thin to draw as cloud13% cover — too thin to draw as cloud13% cover — too thin to draw as cloud13% cover — too thin to draw as cloud19% cover — too thin to draw as cloud12% cover — too thin to draw as cloud15% cover — too thin to draw as cloud5% cover — too thin to draw as cloudConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 10–65% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 20–32% cover · 10–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 1–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 82–82% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 10–65% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 82–82% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 82–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 10–65% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 82–82% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 82–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 10–65% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 82–82% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 82–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 48–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 100–100% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 100–100% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintymid cloud · 69% reported, 1% resolved on a pressure surface — 68% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 71% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 71% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 69% reported, 1% resolved on a pressure surface — 68% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 69% reported, 1% resolved on a pressure surface — 68% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 71% reported, 4% resolved on a pressure surface — 67% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 96% reported, 12% resolved on a pressure surface — 84% is somewhere between 3 and 8 km-5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch orange light · lit on one reading: the strongest cloud toward the sun was set aside, and counting it would have darkened this deck-5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light0 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light0 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch orange light · lit on one reading: the strongest cloud toward the sun was set aside, and counting it would have darkened this deck5 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light20 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch orange light · lit on one reading: the strongest cloud toward the sun was set aside, and counting it would have darkened this deck20 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light50 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch orange light50 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light50 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light100 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch orange light100 km · the model says the lowest depicted cloud underside may catch red light

Terrain is drawn for illustration only — it is not used to calculate underlight or obstruction.

cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud

Forecast refreshed a few hours before sunset.

Know the light
before it happens

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For photographers: shooting Sugarloaf Mountain View

Best months

May to September for cooler, generally clearer conditions; summer brings haze, storms and dramatic cloud.

Suggested focal lengths

24–70 mm for bay and city; 70–200 mm for Christ the Redeemer and compressed mountain layers.

Composition

Separate the cable-car structures from the skyline and use the bay as negative space. Shoot a second, tighter sequence as the city lights become brighter than the remaining sky.

Recommended arrival

Reach the upper mountain 90 minutes before sunset and remain at least 30 minutes after.

Access planning

Buy official cable-car tickets and check the last descent and weather status. Keep equipment compact around railings and crowds.

Parking: Limited paid parking around Praia Vermelha; taxi, rideshare or public transport is easier.

Approach: A short walk from Praia Vermelha to the cable-car station, then two cable-car stages to the summit.

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