If a peaceful beach experience is what you're looking for, this isn't it! This place has all the action you could ever want - beautiful people and bodies, scenic vistas, swimming, sports, food, etc. Big, wide and packed with beach-goers, people flock to particular numbered lifeguard stand areas. Lots of people say area #9 is the best, but all in... More

Spectacular beach, narrower and more windy than Copacabana, with a more relaxed, less posy feel. Be there for late afternoon sun and drinks. As usual in Rio, beware opportunist thieves and pickpockets. You can walk to Copacabana or take a (confusing!) local bus.

puts many US beaches to shame. A beach of this quality in a city of 7 million is amazing. Skip the beach towels and haggle for a kanga for R20. Post 9!

Being a beach bum I simply had to go to the 2 main beaches in Rio. Ipanema starts around the corner from where Copacabana ends. There is so much life going on, on this beach. People are playing football & volleyball whilst there are vendors going up and down trying to sell you stuff. What made a real nice lunch... More

The beach is what you expect at a beach. Although I have to say the sights and sounds are unlike I have ever seen elsewhere. There are vendors renting out beach chairs, selling swim suits, scarves, food, water, sodas everywhere. Not in a bad way either. If you indicate you are not interested they move on. But they added, for... More

If you want to be a tourist, go to Copacabana. If you want to see the better beach of Rio, go to Ipanema. Beautiful, and its where all the locals go. Spent several days there over the last 2 weeks. Went to Copacabana once. No comparison. Ipanema is where it's at. The view of the mountains is better there as... More

We found the beach had less sand the Copa which is the next beach up. People hawking "stuff" all day so peace and quite...nil. You pay for bathroom use (minimal)

favorite place ever! Around number marker 8 is the best spot on the beach for many different reasons!

But be careful. My husband got pickpocketed there. No clue how, no one was close by. And they sprayed stuff on his shoe as a diversion. they got a comb!!! Other stuff well hidden. I would still highly recommend walking the beach, however.