Hit the Beaches of Rio de Janeiro
Ipanema and Copacabana are the two largest and most famous beaches in Rio that have long lured tourists into their soft white sand. Numbered posts run up and down both beaches and display a division between the wealthier beachgoers that tan their perfect bodies and Favela kids showing off their football skills. Copacabana was an iconic representation of Rio de Janeiro in the 1940s, when movie stars and celebrities would jet in from across the globe for the weekend. Nowadays, the spotlight has shifted to Ipanema that boasts classy restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Ipanema’s popularity originates from Vin’cius de Moraes and Antonia Carlos Jobim’s Bossa Nova classic “The Girl from Ipanema”, which introduced the world to its allure in the 1960s. The beaches are open to all and offer endless enjoyment in the form of volleyball, football or surfing. Copacabana beach is larger than Ipanema, it extends for 2.2 miles (4 km) and runs parallel to a promenade built in 1970, which has become a popular route for cyclists, joggers and roller-skaters. The area between the Copacabana Palace Hotel and Rua Fernando Mendes is one of Rio’s most popular LGBT areas known as “the Stock”, and is easily recognizable by its rainbow flag. Both of these gorgeous beaches are a perfect place to spend the day soaking in the sun and splashing in the waves. Although do be careful, Ipanema, which is an indigenous word for ‘bad and dangerous waters’, can have a strong undertow and powerful currents. Make sure you only swim where locals do. See more of our favorite experiences in Rio de Janeiro…
Enjoy a long stroll along Copacabana Beach / Source
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