The lovely beaches in Rio Going to the beach is a way of life in Rio. It's almost impossible for visitors to Rio to resist the charm of the city's eighty kilometres of beaches. Flamengo This beach is a thin strip of sand on the Guanabara bay, and its popular but not good for swimming. But it has a great view of the Sugar Loaf Mountain. Copacabana Framed by the wavy black and white mosaics of the Atlantic Avenue, Copacabana is one of the main reasons for this fascination. In fact, there are two separate beaches here: Leme (one kilometre) And Copacabana (just over three kilometres). A centre of activity both night and day, the beach is lined with kiosks, a bicycle path and racks, lifeguards posts, public showers and bathrooms, hotels, bars and open-air restaurants. The military forts at each end are open to visitors, offering panoramic views. Ipanema Ipanema and Leblon face the same stretch of beach and are separated by Jardim de Alah, a canal and adjacent park. There is no doubt that Ipanema is a famous meeting point in Rio de Janeiro. This sophisticated district offers a lively night scene with an enticing blend of beach, bars and boutiques. A major attraction through out the day, its sands also welcome countless after-dark visitors, including joggers and other athletes who cluster at its kiosks, pedal along the bicycle path and make good use of special lighting to exercise and relax. Thanks to its multi-faceted lifestyle, Ipanema truly reflects the Carioca (Rio inhabitant) spirit of the people of Rio, welcoming visitors eager to join in the fun. Barra da Tijuca Beach Sweeping some eighteen kilometres south of the city, this magnificent beach is the longest in Rio. Clear waters and perfect waves make this beach a favourite with surfers, boogie-borders, windsurfers and surf-casters. Lined with colourful bars, kiosks and restaurants this beach is attracting very large crowds of visitors, particularly on weekends.