THE BEST BEACHES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD ARE IN RIO DE JANEIRO
YOUR GUIDE TO GET TO KNOW THE DIFFERENT BEACHES IN RIO DE JANEIRO
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has the best beaches in the entire world. Full stop. Period. Fact. I will not elaborate. Actually I will – that’s the whole point of this guide… to help you get to know the the best beaches in Rio de Janeiro.
I am a sun baby and love to spend a day at the beach! I have been to some of the most beautiful, fine white sand beaches with crystal clear water in some of the best tropical destinations around the world and truly none can hold a candle to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro IMO. There is nothing like spending a hot, sunny day at a Rio beach. Brazilians know how to enjoy the beach which is why they are by far my favourite beaches in the world.
Whether you’re a Girl from Ipanema or want to spend the day At the Copa, Copacabana a day at the beach is without a doubt the very best thing to do in Rio de Janeiro.
BRAZILIAN BEACH CULTURE
The beach culture in Rio de Janeiro is unlike anywhere else (beyond maybe other Brazilian beach destinations). It is vibrant, lively, energetic, and all about the laid-back enjoyment. This seems to be true whether you’re on the beach or in the city.
Whatever you could want or need will be there on the beaches of Rio.
Hundreds of barracas line the beaches, ready to set you up with chairs and umbrellas. Vendors walk up and down the beach with snacks like grilled halloumi cheese, shrimp skewers, ice-cold acai, empanadas, the famous Biscoito Globo, so much more. If you want an outfit change, you can buy a new bikini or a fresh canga (sarong). People dive for flying footballs while playing futevôlei (beach football) along the shore.
On the beaches in Rio de Janeiro, there is no shortage of activity and yet you can still have the most relaxing day. The luxury of the chairs and umbrellas means you can spend all day at the beach without worrying about finding a tree for shade or getting uncomfortable after too many hours sitting on the sand.
Lining the beaches are the numbered lifeguard stations, referred to as postos. These have changing areas and toilets (for a small fee) and are helpful markers to identify different areas of the beach or give directions.
MY ONE AND ONLY COMPLAINT
If I had to pinpoint one, and only thing only, that I would change about the beaches in Rio de Janeiro, it would be the size of the waves. Compared to a calm shoreline where the waves barely lap at the sand it is way more fun to dive under or get thrown around in the big waves. The crashing waves also add a beautiful soundscape for those lounging on the sand.
But I can say from experience, these waves are not to be messed with. 15 years ago, when I was a wee teenager, I got caught in a rip current along Ipanema. I was trying to swim to shore, but was being pummelled by the waves, getting pushed under over and over, and I was not at all strong enough to swim myself out. Thankfully, I was noticed and rescued by a Brazilian lifeguard.
Since then, I have taken the waves seriously. Despite the incident, I’ll still gladly get in the water to cool off or play around in the waves. I just make sure not to go out too far and I always watch for signs of a rip, both in the water, and monitoring the flag indicators along the shore.
Let my experience be a lesson to just play it safe while you’re out in the waves. They’re really no joke.
IPANEMA BEACH
IMO you simply can’t beat Ipanema Beach – there is just something about this beach that speaks to my soul. Maybe I’m the girl??
Ipanema is expansive and always full of energy. You arguably have the most stunning views of any beach in Rio de Janeiro with Dois Irmaos mountain rising to the West. I simply cannot get enough of it. It is always a focal point in all my photos.
On Ipanema you also get the beautiful glow of the setting sun, silhouetting the beach-goers. The best view of the sunset is from Arpoador, but you can’t beat Ipanema’s golden hour.
After a full day at the beach, you can head into the trendy Ipanema neighbourhood and have a delicious meal at any of the chic dining options nearby. My favourites include the buzzy Bar Magnólia, Ferro e Farinha or Boteco Belmonte or Gringo Cafe for a classic brunch before your beach day.
Hands down Ipanema is my favourite beach and neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro.
COPACABANA BEACH
Copacabana is iconic! The massive crescent beach always draws a crowd whether it is on the gorgeous stretch of sand or up along the wavy mosaic promenade. Day or night you can join locals and tourists at the beachside kiosks, sipping on a caipirinha, and enjoy the lively atmosphere around you.
With Sugarloaf Mountain standing tall at the Leme end of the beach, you still get great dramatic views while lounging on Copacabana.
It is such a big, expansive beach that it is where massive concerts and festivals are held. The the stage is built right onto the sand – Lady Gaga just broke records with a free concert that drew 2.5 million people to the beach. Your average day on Copacabana won’t be quite that busy…
URCA BEACH Vermelha
This little beach tucked right next to the base of Sugarloaf Mountain is small (only 300m) but mighty! With much calmer waters than the rest of Rio’s beaches and the perfect view of Sugarloaf, it is so picturesque, intimate, and inviting! Like at the rest of Rio de Janeiro’s beaches, you can hire an umbrella and chairs, or get an ice-cold coconut to sip on while you enjoy the view.
- Bring your bathing suit with you when you visit Sugarloaf Mountain so that you can take a refreshing dip in the ocean after.
LEBLON BEACH
Separated from Ipanema by the Alah Canal is the upscale neighbourhood and beach of Leblon. You’d almost not know the difference between the two while at the shore, but Leblon is another wonderful neighbourhood to base yourself in with designer shopping at Rio Design and Shopping Leblon and the fine dining along Dias Ferreira Street.
- When you’ve finished your day at Leblon Beach make sure to head 2 minutes up the road at the end of the beach to the Leblon Lookout. Enjoy an ice-cold coconut and the view!
arpoador + Devil's beach
One of the best spots to watch the sunset in Rio de Janeiro is from the Arpoador Beach Rock. The massive rock juts out into the sea right at Arpoador Beach (the very end of Ipanema).
It is a perfect spot for tourists and cariocas alike to gather on the rock to watch the sky turn beautiful shades of orange and pink behind Dois Irmãos, Pedra da Gávea, the Corcovado.
The waves at Arpoador beach are also some of the best to surf in all of Rio, so you can enjoy watching the surfers catch the good waves.
Devil’s Beach, tucked on the other side of Arpoador Rock, can be the angel or the devil on your shoulder. Depending on the time of day and the tides, it can either be a quaint little crescent of sand or a turbulent, wavey menace. When the tide is high, maybe stick to the boardwalk with the iconic patterned pavement, but if the tide is low you can enjoy the little corner beach.
Barra da Tijuca
tenha uma boa praia!
I cannot say it enough – the best beaches in the world are in Rio de Janeiro! If you can pull yourself away from the amazing beaches and want to find some other things to do while visiting the great Brazilian city, check out my guide on the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro.
Happy trip planning!
From one traveller to another, I hope this guide was helpful for you as you make your plans and set out on your next adventure!
If you read through this guide and still have questions about the experience or have other questions… fear not because I can still help! I have a personalized trip planning and advice service available to all Everywhere Travel Club readers. I’d love to chat for an hour with you and help answer any questions you’re working through, share fun ideas, and help bring your big trip into reality! For more info about the one one-on-one call for advice check out the details of my Personalized Travel Planning Sesh.
Let me know what you think about this guide or if it helped you – I’d love to hear from you! You can find me everywhere on the Everywhere Travel Club Instagram, TikTok or Pinterest!