Ipanema Beach

Ipanema Beach isn't merely sand and sea; it's the pulse of Rio de Janeiro's outdoor life. The 1962 bossa nova track "The Girl from Ipanema" rocketed it to global fame. This two-kilometer arc of golden sand, bracketed by the jagged peaks of Dois Irmãos, is where the Carioca spirit truly sparks.

Every stretch of beach has its own vibe. Posto 9 draws the chic, bohemian set. Families gravitate toward Posto 8.

Near Arpoador Rock, surfers and sunset chasers gather, clapping as the sun dips behind the mountains each evening. The mosaic-tiled promenade, a Roberto Burle Marx creation, stands as a Brazilian modernist landmark. The ocean stays cool all year.

Views toward the Cagarras Islands and Sugarloaf Mountain offer some of the planet’s most striking urban beach vistas.