Ok so literally everyone does sugarloaf wrong and ends up paying full price in massive crowds during the worst lighting... The secret is timing - go either first thing at 8am when it opens or after 4pm for golden hour. The views are actually way better because harsh midday sun washes out everything, while morning/evening light makes the city and ocean pop in photos.

Buy tickets online through the official website because they absolutely sell out during high season (dec-feb) and weekends. Current price is around r$120 for adults including both cable car segments - most people don't realize there are two rides, first to morro da urca (the middle station) then up to the actual sugarloaf summit.

Here's the money hack nobody mentions: you can hike up to morro da urca (first station) for free then buy just the second cable car ticket at the top. Saves about r$40 per person and the hike is only 30 minutes if you're reasonably fit. Trail starts from praia vermelha beach - take uber to "praia vermelha urca" then look for the hiking trail signs. Just make sure they're selling single segment tickets that day because during peak times they sometimes force you to buy the full package.

Timing pro tip: if you're doing sunset, stay for blue hour too - around 20 minutes after sunset when the city lights come on but there's still color in the sky. Most tourists leave right after sunset but that's when you get the most magical photos with rio all lit up below you.