What you want to know about a trip with the yellow tram in Rio de Janeiro

Take the iconic yellow tram in Rio 

If you have researched Rio, you have probably seen pictures of the iconic yellow tram. It is even featured in the movie Rio (about a little bird). And it has become a tourist attraction if you are visiting Rio de Janeiro.

History of the yellow tram

The neighborhood of Santa Teresa is built on a hill and some of the streets are way up there. The neighborhood needed a connection to downtown and with the coming of the tram system in 1859 it was easy to travel up and down. At first the tram was pulled by horses but later on came the steam trams and again later the electric tram. There are only 4 cities where the tram system is older than here. (New Orleans 1835, Boston 1856, Mexico City and Philadelphia both 1858) 

From around the 1950’s unfortunately most of the lines in the city were closed and the ones that were still in use declined rapidly. In the 1960’s the tram line of Santa Teresa was the only one running. 

In August 2011 there was a big accident where 6 people died and 50 were injured. The tram service was so bad that they immediately suspended the service. Because of the accident and the potential for an attraction for tourists they finally decided to change it properly. But it took a long time to be reopened. In 2015 the first stage was finished and only in 2019 the full route to Dois Irmãos was restored. 

At the moment there are 8 replica-vintage tramcars in use but there are more in storage. But as of the writing of this blog it’s unclear whether they will become in use soon.

Where, when and costs to go on

The entry is at Carioca Station and you can buy your ticket there. I read somewhere that you could buy tickets at one of the other stations but I don’t think that’s smart to do. When we arrived at another station they said that we had to wait a long time because the trams are usually full from the starting station. So it’s best to go there instead of one of the other stations. 

There are only 32 people allowed in the tram so you might need to wait a while (also at the start station) to get into the tram. 

The tram leaves every 20 min and operates during these times: 

The tram is $R20 but be aware that the prices can change. This is for a single ticket so when you step out you need to buy a new ticket to get back up. 

Most people choose to do the full route or step out at a location that they have chosen beforehand. Here is the map of the route.

The benches are a too thigh to put a wheelchair between them, plus there are some stairs to go in the tram card but when you have a collapsible wheelchair and when you are able to take some steps to get in, you could take the tram. If you are not planning to go out you could ask to leave your wheelchair behind at the station, that way you can me the full route. The neighborhood of Santa Teresa has a lot of uneven and steep roads so really think about whether you want to go out of the tram and explore.

If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know in the comments section down below. 

Is the tram accessible for wheelchair users?

Tram

This is a bit of a tricky one. The benches are of wood and there is no room for a wheelchair. If you have a collapsible wheelchair you can get in, but only if you are able to climb up the stairs of the tram.

Café’s and restaurants

There are many places in Santa Teresa where you cannot enter and a lot of places don’t have ramps. The

Public transport

Not good. Some busses have a ramps but a lot of them have steps. The busstops are not alway even and you will need help for sure. The metro is better but I didn’t see people with wheelchairs. For a hassle free trip it’s easier to use Uber or taxi.

Toilets

If you go inside malls or other public places you will have a designated toilet for wheelchair users.

Items I love while traveling

Sleep mask two strings

You never know if the accommodation you are staying at has good curtains or not, so this mask is essential for a good night sleep. I don’t like the string to go over my ears so this one has two strings and I love it.

Collapsible handheld fan

I don’t know about how you deal with heat but I need a bit of cooling down when I’m traveling. This easy (and cute) fan is my go to for when I am too hot. It can be charged with usb which is super practical.

Portable door lock

My portable door lock goes everywhere with me. Especially as a solo traveler it makes me feel way more safe. It can be use in most doors (only a couple of times I wasn’t able to use it) and it’s super sturdy.