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Heart with arrow GPS Art Running Route in Rio de Janeiro — 19.8 km

A 19.8 km loop through Rio de Janeiro that draws a heart with arrow when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 147 m in total, and covers a footprint about 3.4 km wide by 3.7 km tall.

Distance19.8 km
Elevation gain147 m
Elevation loss135 m
Estimated time128 min
DifficultyModerate
Average gradient0.7%

Route map and elevation

Elevation profile
Loading elevation…

Along the line: 147 m of ascent and 135 m of descent across 19.8 km, an average gradient of 0.7%.

Start point: -22.85875, -43.27038 — about 10.5 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

SplitHeadingElevation changeRange
km 1Runs south-south-west-12 m47–81 m
km 2Runs south-south-east-49 m11–61 m
km 3Runs east-south-east-4 m7–11 m
km 4Runs east+3 m7–11 m
km 5Runs east+2 m6–13 m
km 6Runs east-north-east-5 m8–16 m
km 7Runs east-north-east-3 m5–8 m
km 8Runs north-north-east+19 m4–31 m
km 9Runs north-18 m5–24 m
km 10Runs north-north-west+2 m5–8 m
km 11Runs north-north-west0 m7–9 m
km 12Runs north-north-west+1 m7–12 m
km 13Runs north-west-3 m4–8 m
km 14Runs west-south-west+2 m4–8 m
km 15Runs west+1 m8–8 m
km 16Runs south-south-west+2 m8–11 m
km 17Runs south-south-west+2 m11–14 m
km 18Runs south-south-west+11 m13–24 m
km 19Runs south-west+5 m22–33 m
km 19.8Runs west-south-west+54 m28–84 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.

  1. 0.01 km — turn left, then continue west-south-west.
  2. 0.18 km — turn left, then continue south-south-west.
  3. 0.37 km — turn sharp left, then continue north.
  4. 0.61 km — turn left, then continue south.
  5. 0.78 km — turn right, then continue west.
  6. 0.99 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
  7. 1.14 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
  8. 1.27 km — turn right, then continue south-west.
  9. 1.43 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
  10. 1.62 km — turn right, then continue south.
  11. 1.88 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.
  12. 2.03 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
  13. 2.26 km — turn sharp right, then continue south-west.
  14. 2.41 km — turn sharp right, then continue west.
  15. 2.60 km — turn sharp left, then continue south-south-east.
  16. 3.60 km — turn right, then continue south.
  17. 4.40 km — turn right, then continue south.
  18. 4.54 km — turn right, then continue north.
  19. 4.69 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
  20. 5.09 km — turn left, then continue north-north-east.
  21. 5.21 km — turn right, then continue north-east.
  22. 5.35 km — turn right, then continue north-east.
  23. 5.54 km — turn left, then continue east.
  24. 5.77 km — turn right, then continue south-south-west.

Difficulty and terrain

Moderate. Flat profile, but 19.8 km of concentration on the line. Expect the distance, not the climb, to be the limiting factor.

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

  1. Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
  2. Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
  3. Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
  4. Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
  5. Upload to Strava and the heart with arrow 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 heart with arrow route in Rio de Janeiro?
The heart with arrow covers 19.8 km with 147 m of ascent and 135 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 128 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 3.4 km east to west and 3.7 km north to south across Rio de Janeiro.
Where does the route start?
The start point is at -22.85875, -43.27038 — roughly 10.5 km west-north-west of the centre of Rio de Janeiro. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.
Heart with arrow GPS Art Running Route in Rio de Janeiro — 19.8 km | ShapeMiles