Charming and chic, Ipanema Beach (Praia de Ipanema) is the richer and ritzier sister of the also infamous Copacabana beach. Ipanema backs onto a fancy neighbourhood and there are plenty of high-end hotels.
The stunning beach gets divided up depending on the interests of the beachgoers. There is the family section, the gay section, the ageing-intellectual section and so on; you’ll soon find where you feel comfortable.
At night the beach is lit up and families come to the beach with their barbeques and cook dinner while others come down to watch the sunset.
Ipanema means “bad, dangerous waters” in Indian and it is indeed a good idea to only swim in the designated areas where the locals are swimming as the waves can be big and the undertow strong.
Latest Reviews
Review by David N, USA, June 2012
Doing what:
A great way to see part of Rio (Ipanema / Copacabana / Leblon) as a local. Plus we saw some interesting sites (Lago Botafogo and the Botanic Gardens) that we probably would not have seen any other way. Great we to spend a few hours and our guide, Luiz, was impeccable.
Review by Nikeisha W, March 2012
Doing what: Small-Group Nightlife Tour in Rio de Janeiro
great! the tour guide went above and beyond to help us find a place to eat in the middle of the night!!
Review by Joseph L, February 2010
Doing what:
Practical Info
To get to Ipanema beach catch the metro to Ipanema/General Osorio, otherwise any of the buses marked Ipanema from Centro.





