Why
Copacabana Beach
is special

This seashore in Rio de Janeiro is the world's most famous beach. It has a striking setting. Tropical-flora mountains and a wall of tightly packed high rise hotels and apartment buildings provide a picturesque backdrop.

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Copacabana Beach
guide, tips & insights

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People magnet

Numerous bikini-clad sunbathers, soccer and volleyball athletes, and people gawkers pack the 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) long crescent sandy stretch. It's a lively, unforgettable scene you should experience at least once in your lifetime.

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Famous, but...

It's the best known beach on earth, but one of the worst in terms of swimming. The water is sometimes dangerous (riptides and crushing waves) and unclean (items include used diapers). I recommend you don't even think about swimming.

However, sunbathing, strolling, and people watching are fine as long as you keep a sharp eye on you personal items - and you don't mind shouting beach vendors.

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Better alternative

Nearby Ipanema Beach (popularized by the song) is less hectic and attracts a more sophisticated beachgoer. Click Ipanema Beach for my web page on it.

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When to come

Best period: December to early March (summer in the southern hemisphere). Carnival and the beach's lively New Year's Eve celebration fall within this span. Worst period: June to August (winter). Air and water temperatures are chilly - and the sea can be rough.

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