Investment in travel is an investment in yourselfMatthew Karsten
The sun was soon fading back in UK and we desperately needed an extended summer and what better than to head to the Samba capital of Rio de Janeiro. Rio boasts of some of the best beaches in the world and I don’t seem to disagree with this one bit. Visit Rio De Janeiro and explore the top 3 Beaches in Rio.
Abundant sun, white sands, amazing landscape, surfer friendly waves, a great vibe and some of the most happy go lucky people on the planet –this is what defines Rio. After a lengthy flight we finally arrived in Rio early morning and quickly transferred to our hotel. Thought we had the jet lag I was more than eager to go out and explore the city and more importantly its beaches.
Here is a list of the top 3 beaches I visited during my stay at Rio –
1.Copacabana
I would refer this as to my home beach as this is where I was staying during my stay at Rio. A quick 3 mins walk and I was at the famous Copacabana beach. The first thing which strikes you is the “vibe” of this place. This 4 km long crescent shaped beach nestles between densely forest covered peak and this backdrop is what makes this beach special – absolutely stunning.
Though we had arrived quite early at the beach, the place was buzzing with activity with people enjoying the morning dip, sunbathers, hawkers, surfers, joggers etc.”Cariocas” – the locals of Rio can always be spotted here enjoying a game of beach volleyball and vendors hawking their drinks/snacks from the shacks which dot the shoreline. The walkway made of Black and white stone with a wave like pattern makes up the famous Copacabana Promenade ideal for a best seaside stroll one could ever have.
2.Ipanema
A stroll along the length of Copacabana brings you to the beach made famous in the Bossa nova song – “The Girl from Ipanema”. The Ipanema beach is one of the main tourist hotspots of Rio and is voted one of the best beaches in the world year after year. This beach has a grid of cafes, restaurants, clubs and also theatres.
This is favoured stomping ground for style loving Cariocas enjoying the white sands and leafy streets with its lively bars and pricey boutiques. It was here after all that Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes penned their famous ‘Garota de Ipanema’ (Girl from Ipanema) in homage to the young beauty who passed by their bar stools each day.
Visit the Top 5 attractions of Rio – Read More.
3.São Conrado
Framed by the peaks of Dois Irmãos and Pedra da Gávea, São Conrado is a seaside enclave known for its condominiums, luxury hotels and the large, upmarket Fashion Mall. It is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Rio de Janeiro. Popular with favela residents and the middle class it has excellent surfing and hang gliding spots.
One of the reasons this beach is so popular is the incredible surf. The currents are very strong providing large waves for surfers to enjoy. The waves can reach up to 150 meters on their best days. To try your hand at paragliding the best spot on the beach is Pepino. Hang gliding is also popular in this area thanks to the impressive Gavea Rock that protrudes form the soft sand beach.
Rio no doubt boasts some of the best beaches I have ever been through our travels. What makes these beaches standout is the stunning landscape of this beautiful city (Read more).
Read more about our Brazil escapade– Click here.
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