Ipanema Beach Etiquette

The beaches of Rio de Janeiro are not just strips of sand; they are the living rooms of the city. Cariocas (Rio locals) spend their entire weekends socializing, playing sports, and relaxing on the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. However, beach culture in Rio has its own distinct set of unspoken rules. Here’s what you need to know to blend in.

1. Ditch the Towel, Bring a Canga

Perhaps the biggest giveaway of a tourist is bringing a thick, fluffy terrycloth towel to the beach. Cariocas do not use towels to sit on. Instead, they use a canga—a lightweight, brightly colored sarong. Cangas are far superior: they don’t trap sand, they dry in minutes, and you can tie them around your waist as a skirt when you walk to a nearby kiosk for lunch. You can buy beautiful cangas from vendors right on the beach.

2. Embrace the Sunga and the Bikini

Brazilian beachwear is famously minimal.

• For men: The sunga (a tight, square-cut swimsuit) is standard attire for men of all ages and body types. Baggy board shorts are rare.
• For women: The Brazilian bikini is very small, emphasizing a confident, body-positive attitude. The most important rule of Rio beachwear is confidence. Nobody is judging your body on a Brazilian beach.

3. Rent, Don’t Bring

Don’t worry about dragging heavy chairs and umbrellas from your hotel. The entire beach is lined with barracas (tents). You simply find an empty spot, signal a barraca attendant, and they will set up chairs and an umbrella for you for a small fee. These attendants also sell ice-cold beer, water, and caipirinhas right to your chair.

4. Don’t Leave Your Stuff Unattended

While the beaches are generally safe during the day, petty theft is a reality. Never leave your phone or wallet unattended on your canga while you swim. If you are traveling solo, make friends with the people sitting next to you and ask them to keep an eye on your things (“olha pra mim?”).