Ipanema Beach Tours and Activities

Ipanema Beach featuring a sandy beach as well as a small group of people
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Join Brazil’s rich and famous for a day at Rio’s most stylish beach.

When you visit Rio, set a day aside to spend on the beach. Vendors wander along the sand selling fresh coconut, beer and cachaca – Brazil’s national drink and an essential component of the caipirinha cocktail. Although Ipanema Beach is less busy than adjacent Copacabana, it is an excellent place to sip a drink and people watch. Ipanema is one of the most chic – and therefore most expensive – places in Brazil.

Watch the groups of people playing football, volleyball, or footvolley – a Brazilian combination of the two games. At the end of the day, settle down to watch the dazzling sunset which is often applauded by the crowds on Ipanema Beach during the summer months.

On a clear day, the sparkling blue water contrasts with the soft white sand creating a picturesque paradise. After heavy rain the water can sometimes appear a slightly murkier green, but the sea is always clean here due to the heavy swells. The swells also make swimming dangerous – look out for the lifeguard towers that line the beach and only swim in the designated areas.

Sunday is a great day to visit Ipanema Beach, when the road nearest to the beach is closed to cars, and overtaken by runners, walkers, bikers and skaters. There is also the hippie fair, with bohemian artists and craftspeople offering their creations.

The streets behind the beach are laid out in a grid formation and are easy to navigate. Rua Vinicius De Morais offers the ultimate in Brazilian fashion, with plenty of shops and boutiques tempting visitors from the beach. There are also lots of botequims – or bodegas – offering cold drinks, food and an unrivalled view of the passing crowds. A popular choice is Garota de Ipanema Bar, reported to be the place where the famous 60s song "The Girl from Ipanema” was written. Prices in Ipanema match the area’s reputation, so wander a little further from the beach if you are on a tight budget.

During Rio’s carnival, usually around February, why not join the 50,000 visitors that celebrate on Ipanema Beach. You will need to book early - along with New Year’s Eve this is the highest of Brazil’s peak season. Ipanema Beach is a 30-minute taxi or bus journey from Rio and is situated between Leblon and Arpoador.

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Top Ipanema Beach Hotel & Accommodation Deals

B&B Hotels RJ Copacabana Forte
B&B Hotels RJ Copacabana Forte
3.5 out of 5
Rua Francisco Otaviano 38, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
B&B Hotels RJ Copacabana Forte
Miramar by Windsor Copacabana
Miramar by Windsor Copacabana
5 out of 5
Avenida Atlantica, 3668 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Miramar by Windsor Copacabana
Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
5 out of 5
Avenida Niemeyer 121 - Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel & Resort
Ipanema Inn
Ipanema Inn
3 out of 5
Rua Maria Quiteria 27, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Ipanema Inn
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
5 out of 5
Avenida Atlantica 1702, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Windsor California Copacabana
Windsor California Copacabana
4 out of 5
Avenida Atlantica, 2616, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Windsor California Copacabana
Hotel Vermont Ipanema
Hotel Vermont Ipanema
3 out of 5
R. Visconde de Piraja, 254 - Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Hotel Vermont Ipanema
Mar Ipanema Hotel
Mar Ipanema Hotel
3.5 out of 5
Rua Visconde De Piraja, 539 Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Mar Ipanema Hotel
Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana
Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana
5 out of 5
Avenida Atlântica, 4240 - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.