Sugar Loaf is not a mountain, but a hill, which is located next to Praia Vermelha in Urca district, in Rio de Janeiro. Urca neighborhood is just a few minutes away by taxi (without traffic) from Copacabana. From Ipanema though, it takes a bit more to get to the neighborhood where Sugar Loaf is located since Ipanema is located after Copacabana Beach. Leblon is even after Ipanema area.
The Sugar Loaf cable car ticket office (at sea level) can be reached by taxi, car, bus, foot, or bike from Leblon, Ipanema or Copacabana neighborhoods. It is at the ticket office where you buy the round-trip cable car ticket/admission fee to Urca Hill and Sugar Loaf.
Photos of Sugar Loaf – Rio de Janeiro – Brazil