The pre ordered ticket was really useful as it enabled us to skip the initial queue. We still had to queue for around 10 minutes for the cable cart each time, which is fine, but if we didn’t come early and pre book, standing in the sun would’ve been tough. Benefit of booking here is you skip the first queue.

Amazing thing to do in Rio! So much to do at the first stop. Advice - the ticket confirmation says you have to wait for a second email before going to sugarloaf. Ours never came, you can actually just take your ticket confirmation email to the admin office at sugarloaf where they print your ticket QR, then go to the ticket office to have it exchanged and you can head straight up without much of a wait at all.

This is one of those experiences that could have been much less rewarding but for a few good decisions. 1. Paid in advance online, which involved the hassle of printing out the voucher at a copy n print place, but I think that saved me about a half hour in a lineup in sweltering heat. As it was, even with the voucher I was queuing for about 20 mins to get on first cable car. 2. Wanted the sunset/twinkling lights so looked up sunset then calculated backwards deciding to arrive about 90mins before sunset. This allowed waiting time, contingency time which became leisurely eating time at the top of the first of the two mountaintops. They have a nice restaurant etc there but as other reviewers have noted, expect high tourist pricing. 3. Went on a Friday afternoon and perhaps it would have been even smoother on another weekday. Seems like a place that's always busy - rated among top Brazil attractions. 4. In the end I got stunning stills and footage Rio & beaches.