How long is the cactus route in Rio de Janeiro?

The cactus covers 16.9 km with 408 m of ascent and 404 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 126 minutes plus stops.

Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?

Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, climb figures and kilometre splits on this page are free to view; the interactive elevation profile is part of the subscription too.

How accurate is the drawing?

The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 2.2 km east to west and 2.4 km north to south across Rio de Janeiro.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at -22.85515, -43.2797 — roughly 11.5 km west-north-west of the centre of Rio de Janeiro. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

Brazil › Rio de Janeiro › GPS art route

Cactus GPS Art Running Route in Rio de Janeiro — 16.9 km

A 16.9 km loop through Rio de Janeiro that draws a cactus when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 408 m in total, and covers a footprint about 2.2 km wide by 2.4 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance16.9 km

Elevation gain408 m

Elevation loss404 m

Estimated time126 min

DifficultyChallenging

Average gradient2.4%

Route map and elevation

Elevation profile

Loading elevation…

Along the line: 408 m of ascent and 404 m of descent across 16.9 km, an average gradient of 2.4%.

Start point: -22.85515, -43.2797 — about 11.5 km west-north-west of the centre of Rio de Janeiro. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Kilometre by kilometre

Split	Heading	Elevation change	Range
km 1	Runs south-east	-96 m	52–158 m
km 2	Runs east-south-east	+11 m	56–93 m
km 3	Runs west-south-west	-23 m	44–85 m
km 4	Runs south-east	-24 m	17–44 m
km 5	Runs east	-5 m	13–20 m
km 6	Runs north-east	+60 m	12–75 m
km 7	Runs north-east	-62 m	14–116 m
km 8	Runs north-west	+25 m	10–39 m
km 9	Runs north-north-west	-26 m	13–39 m
km 10	Runs north-west	+13 m	13–30 m
km 11	Runs west-south-west	-3 m	23–48 m
km 12	Runs east-south-east	+5 m	19–28 m
km 13	Runs south-east	+6 m	25–35 m
km 14	Runs west	+3 m	29–39 m
km 15	Runs west-north-west	-8 m	27–37 m
km 16	Runs south-east	+26 m	26–55 m
km 16.9	Runs west-south-west	+100 m	55–162 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

0.06 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
0.19 km — turn right, then continue west-south-west.
0.33 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
0.49 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
0.63 km — turn sharp left, then continue east.
0.76 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
1.06 km — turn right, then continue south-east.
1.18 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
1.32 km — turn left, then continue east.
1.52 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
1.66 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
1.84 km — turn left, then continue east.
1.98 km — turn sharp right, then continue south.
2.12 km — turn right, then continue west.
2.25 km — turn left, then continue west.
2.38 km — turn left, then continue west-south-west.
2.50 km — turn left, then continue west.
2.63 km — turn right, then continue west.
2.75 km — turn left, then continue south-west.
2.93 km — turn left, then continue south-south-east.
3.33 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
3.47 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
3.66 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
3.81 km — turn sharp left, then continue east-north-east.

Difficulty and terrain

Challenging. About 24 m of climb per kilometre. Rolling terrain that rewards steady effort rather than even pacing.

Surface: Urban roads, park paths, and mixed city surfaces.

Safety: Check traffic flow, sidewalks, and route lighting before your run.

Best months: Year-round, based on local weather and race calendar.

How to run this shape

Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
Upload to Strava and the cactus appears on your activity map.

Other GPS art routes in Rio de Janeiro

All 15 GPS art routes in Rio de Janeiro

Questions about this route

How long is the cactus route in Rio de Janeiro?: The cactus covers 16.9 km with 408 m of ascent and 404 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 126 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?: Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, climb figures and kilometre splits on this page are free to view; the interactive elevation profile is part of the subscription too.
How accurate is the drawing?: The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 2.2 km east to west and 2.4 km north to south across Rio de Janeiro.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at -22.85515, -43.2797 — roughly 11.5 km west-north-west of the centre of Rio de Janeiro. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.