10 Amazing Places in Rio de Janeiro for a Beach Vacation

Stephanie Kempker | January 13, 2016

Tips for the Beach:

In Rio de Janeiro, no one brings a towel to the beach. Instead, everyone packs or wears a canga – an inexpensive, lightweight, multipurpose sarong that does the duty of a coverup, towel, beach blanket, and sometimes rolled as a pillow. Pick up one for yourself to better enjoy the beach like a local, and a canga’s vivid colors and fun designs also make it a great souvenir.

Feel free to wear your skimpiest bikini (this goes for guys and girls!) as body shaming is not a thing in Rio. People of all weights, sizes, and shapes embrace their body and flaunt their curves. Thong style bikinis are popular for women, and men are frequently seen in “banana hammocks”. If you pack a “diaper” style bikini (as Cariocas call the American full coverage bottom) and change your mind, wandering vendors hawk bikinis on the beach and you can pick one up for cheap.

Papa Pic

When you visit the beach, leave your valuables at home. One of the downsides of the Rio de Janeiro beaches is the vast number of robberies. Unique in the city is a phenomenon called the “arrastão” – when up to a hundred robbers storm a beach (usually teenagers) and snatch everything they can. This includes picking iPhones up off of blankets, ripping necklaces off of women, and grabbing handbags. Plan accordingly and don’t leave valuables out of your sight.

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