<<< Back to Home << Back to Tourism in Brazil < Back to Beaches Brazilian beaches - Rio de Janeiro The city of Rio de Janeiro is the capital of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The city of Rio is relatively small, squeezed between mountains and the sea. Besides several major attractions, like the Sugar Loaf, carnaval, football, the city of Rio has some of the nicest urban beaches in Brazil. The proximity of the sea made the cariocas a beach animal (and they assume that); be it for chatting, drinking, playing, watching, flerting, cariocas love to spend time on the beaches. The beaches in Rio are one of the most democratic places in Brazil: from high executives to the poor slum people, the beach is the favorite play ground of everybody. Visit the official website, English version, of the Tourism office of Rio de Janeiro. Copacabana is probably the most famous beach in Rio. The sand area is wide, but gets really crowded in sunny days. Walking along the paveway which borders the beach is pleasant and healthy. Copacabana is about 3 km long, ten times smaller than Manhattan. The place is frequented by millionaires and beggars, groups of retired and groups of teenagers, gays and jiu jitsu fighters; in Avenida Atlantica, the famous avenue along the shore line, one can find expensive buildings right beside corticos (old buildings squattered by the poorest); a very busy avenue cuts through Copacabana, separating the beach from a natural reserve of tropical forest (Parque da Chacrinha) which harbors wild monkeys. Copacabana was birth place of several trends which eventually gained the world. The Brazilian bikinis have a permanent show room in the beaches of Copa. Beach volley has been played here since 1930, and foot-volley since 1976. The bossa nova, a famous Brazilian rythm, was born in the buildings of Copacabana. Click the link to access hundreds of pictures of Copacabana; or read more information, in English, about the Copacabana attractions The New Year's Eve in Copacabana is unforgettable, thanks to joing efforts of governments and hotels. In Dec.31st 2003, over 2,000,000 people of all colors, nationalities and religions met peacefully on the beaches, watching twenty minutes of some of the best fireworks in the world, temperature of about 25 C (or about 75 F); after the fireworks, music and dance, for free, until dawn. Take a look at some pics of the New Year in Copacabana; also, for a non-commercial view of this event, read this Blog about New Year in Copa Ipanema rivals with Copacabana in fame and beautiness. A girl walking from Ipanema beach was the inspiration for Brazilian musicians Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes to compose world famous song Girl from Ipanema. Ipanema is divided in several sub-domains; Arpoador is a concentration of surfers; the GLS meet around the street Farme de Amoedo; Posto 9 is home for environmentalists, politically leftists, marijuana users; Posto 10 concentrates the rich youth. Click the link to read more information in English about Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Back to Top