If you're travelling on a budget and/or you like trekking and nature, maybe a good option for getting to the Christ is to do the trail that begins at Lage Park (Rua do Jardim Botanico 414) and save the 36 reais that the train up there cost. You can have a look to the trail map, here.
The entrance to the Park, which is very close to the Botanical Garden, is free. And the entrance to the Christ itself it's around 18 reais. But, even if you don't get in, you'll have a great view of the city and you'll see the Christ from really really close.
The trail takes around two and a half hours, but since it's very hot and humid, I recommend getting there as early as possible. It's also a good idea to bring a lot of water, repellent and a good pair of trekking shoes.
This trail is considered to be somewhat hard. It's uphill, and even though you won't have to do a lot of climbing, it can be a little bit tiring, especially for the weather. Good knows it's that you have some small cascades along the way to freshen up.
The trail is into the Mata Atlantica which characterizes the area of Rio de Janeiro. You'll see a wide variety of trees, monkeys, flowers, and supposedly, snakes.
To come back, you could do the same trail back, or to follow the road that goes through Tijuca Park (which is the world's largest urban forest) and in the entrance of the park, take a van that will leave you at Largo do Machado or one of the buses you have there.
Ver Trail to the Christ en un mapa más grande
