Rio de Janeiro Beach Guide - South Zone

Wonderful City

From Leme to Pontal, there is nothing like it in this more than sensational city. What would the marvelous city be like without the passionate Copacabana, the Little Princess of the Sea? And what about Ipanema Beach and the girls who come and go on their way to the sea with their shapely bodies and tanned skin. There are many reasons why Rio's beaches have inspired so many songs, Rio really is still beautiful!
The fact is that Rio de Janeiro surprises and enchants with its natural beauty and its beaches are one of its strongest points.
In Rio there are beaches for all tastes, for kids, families, naturalists, deserted beaches, you name it and I'll show you the best one for you, I'm sure at least one will please you. With this in mind, I decided to put together this mini guide to Rio's beaches so that you can explore and enjoy a little piece of this paradise!

Today I'm going to talk a bit more about the beaches in the South Zone and gradually I'll write about them one by one until I've talked about all the beaches in our beloved municipality of Rio de Janeiro. After all, if I were to talk about all the beaches in the state of Rio de Janeiro, I'd write more than 100 posts...lol

[small_header]Praia Vermelha[/small_header]

Let's start with the first, when the Portuguese discovered this natural paradise, what a beauty Praia Vermelha is, so it was their calling card to stay here. With its emerald green waters, it's great for divers, as it's very sheltered and its depth is quite great. Its name comes from the reflection of the sun on its sands, which contain red and pink crystals, making the sand very red when the sun's rays hit it. Going to Praia Vermelha turns out to be a very cultural program, due to its historical context, close to important military forts such as the São João Fortress, where you can book a visit and do two tours in one! Once inside the fort, take the opportunity to discover one of Rio's little secrets: a private beach for the military, with all the infrastructure and surrounded by impeccable vegetation on the slopes of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Please note that you must be authorized to dive and use the Fort's facilities.

The Cláudio Coutinho Track, which is great for walking, is also nearby. Speaking of walking, would you like to skip the cable car and take the trail to the first station of the Sugar Loaf cable car? Along the way, you can see some beautiful birds and mynahs. Anyway, you've seen that I could go on for hours about Praia Vermelha, right? So to finish, have a cold drink and enjoy the view of the Botafogo cove right next door, at the Mureta da Urca, enjoy one of the best sunsets in Rio and rest up for our next stop.

[small_header]Praia do Leme[/small_header]

Following the sequence towards Pontal, Leme beach usually has calm waters and a quiet atmosphere, great for families and children, a noble residential neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, at the foot of Morro do Leme, from where you can see the whole of Copacabana beach, with a very large extension.

Straight from the Mirante do Leme, a path close to the sea yields breathtaking views, but take it easy at this point, if you get thirsty or hungry you can stop and sit at one of the kiosks there.
There's also Forte do Leme, where you can find a wonderful angle to take photos and admire the view from above. Did you like it? Relax, we're only on the second beach.

[small_header]Copacabana Beach[/small_header] Soon, we passed the famous Copacabana, the little princess of the sea, loved by all, with huge promenades, calm waters, great for stand up paddle boarding! Between Praia do Leme and Forte de Copacabana, beautiful with water that sparkles in the morning sunlight, it's the beach with the longest stretch of sand from the shore to the sea!
Owner of the most famous New Year's Eve in the WORLD! With its majestic fireworks display

Crowded with kiosks all along the waterfront, with well-equipped toilets, popular with tourists who share the space with the local population and their street vendors selling just about everything.
Its waterfront is always crowded with people exercising and showing that it is a super healthy neighborhood, whether running, walking, skateboarding, rollerblading or any other sport!

On Sundays and public holidays, one of the roads is closed off so that kids can play sports. At the Copacabana Fort you can have one of the most beautiful and delicious breakfasts in the city at the traditional Confeitaria Colombo. It's important to note that you have to pay a fee of 5 reais, as this includes admission to the Copacabana Fort museum.

[small_header]Praia do Diabo[/small_header]

Right next to the Fort, a little further on, we see Praia do Diabo (Devil's Beach). As the name suggests, it's not for everyone with its very strong waves, loved by the most daring surfers. It was named after the violence of the waves, so you can feel the atmosphere, right?
A great place to enjoy the sunrise, with an incredible view. Before heading down to the beach, there is a square with kiosks and benches for a good start to the day.
Between Copacabana Fort and Arpoador Beach

 

[small_header]Arpoador Beach[/small_header]

Shall we go to the Arpex? Applaud the sunset? Everyone who has been to Rio de Janeiro knows how famous this sunset is, right? Yes, and it really is magnificent. If you haven't been to see it yet, hurry!

The beach isn't very big, about 500m between Praia do Diabo and Praia de Ipanema, usually with "Caribbean" waters and very popular with surfers. It's no wonder that today it has a huge spotlight that lets those hungry for a wave surf even at night! It's not for nothing that every now and then there are championships there.
But if you're not into surfing, relax! You're guaranteed a place there too, many sunbathers manage to have fun there, in fact I think it was the beach I frequented most while pregnant, it was in a very quiet corner and the view, ahhh the view, takes in the whole beach from Arpoador to the end of Leblon and makes everything even better.

[small_header]Ipanema Beach[/small_header] As the song says, this is the place for Ipanema girls! It's a guaranteed hotspot for young people, and I'll meet you at 9, or over there at coqueirão? Beautiful and trendy people, Ipanema Beach is packed! From early morning until the sun goes down, it seems that time stands still and when we see it the sun has gone down and we're still there chatting.
You'll find all sorts of tribes scattered along its 2.6 km of beach, from the GSL crowd in front of Rua Farme de Amoedo to the Bob Marley crowd at Posto 9! It's easy to find a place you like on the beach, although the publics are very different, they all want the same thing: a good saltwater bath, an ice-cold coconut or mate leão with bissscoito Globo and a breathtaking view!

Every now and then there are free concerts there too, between Ipanema and Leblon, with wonderful sunsets! And if it's summer, there's sure to be one there.
On Sundays and public holidays, the road closest to the waterfront is also closed so that people can make better use of the space and play sports.

[small_header]Leblon Beach[/small_header] What a chic neighborhood! Full of artists and glamour, it's also the most family-friendly beach, where I hang out when the sun shines on Carioca soil. After all, it's where the "baixo bebe" is located, super quiet and with facilities for moms taking their little ones!

It's very easy to find, from a distance you can see a huge parking lot for strollers, so you can leave yours without worrying, and even better without getting sand on the wheels! There's a playground on the sand and lots of children playing, as well as a diaper changer which helps a lot when it's time to leave. With a length of 1.3 kilometers, it starts at Jardim de Alah and goes all the way to the Niemeyer Avenue cliff, practically at the foot of Morro dois Irmãos, the two brothers responsible for one of the most beautiful sunsets in the city.

On Sundays and public holidays, the road closest to the waterfront is also closed so that people can make better use of the space and play sports.

[small_header]São Conrado Beach[/small_header] Known by adventurers for its hang gliding and paragliding landing field, at the foot of Pedra da Gávea, the beach is lined with luxury condominiums and hotels, contrasting with the world's largest favela, Rocinha, whose original name is Praia da Gávea, is 1 km long. It is sought after by some surfers for its strong waves, which are remarkable for the sport. Today it is possible to get there by bike from Leblon, thanks to the newest bike path, and the view is amazing!

[small_header]Joatinga Beach[/small_header] With a length of less than 300m, it is the most difficult to access, located between São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca beaches. On high tide days, the sand almost disappears, reducing the length of the beach even more! The entrance is through Condomínio do Joá, but remember that the beach is very small and crowded, and during the weekends it's almost impossible to get there after 8am, especially if you're driving! There are buses that drop you off in front of the condominium.
Don't count on kiosks and good infrastructure, so take a snack and water to make sure. The Joá viewpoint is a great place for a pit stop

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There are also beaches that are unsuitable for bathing, such as Enseada de Botafogo or Flamengo. Although some brave people venture there, I don't recommend taking a dip!

The view from both of them is really incredible, the one from Botafogo Beach takes my breath away! They're great for walking around and enjoying the scenery, but a swim isn't really the best option! With a wide choice of museums, there's something for everyone.
During Carnival, it is the stage for important blocos such as Bangalafumenga! If you fancy a marathon, that's where they usually take place, on the Aterro do Flamengo.
On Sundays and public holidays, part of the Aterro do Flamengo is also closed so that people can make better use of the space and play sports.