7 of the best beaches in Brazil

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

When Brazilians have confidence that an endeavour is going to be successful, they say ‘Vai dar praia’ — literally, ‘It’s going to give beach’. Few countries’ cultures are so closely entwined with sun, sea and sand. There are thousands of miles of honeyed coast fringing the country, ranging from urban hotspots for samba and beach volleyball to secluded bays and coves hidden in coastal forests. Here are some of the best.

1. Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro

The queen of Brazilian beaches is Copacabana, a perfect arc of sand in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, backing onto the skyscrapers, restaurants and luxury hotels of the upmarket Copacabana neighbourhood. This is a place that compounds stereotypes rather than subverting them: expect thousands of golden bodies sunbathing or playing volleyball; kiosks hawking ice-cold caipirinhas; the sound of samba; and, presiding over it all at the beach’s eastern end, is Sugarloaf Mountain, with tourists ascending in cable-cars to its lumpen peak.

2. Lopes Mendes, Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande, an island paradise off the shores of the Costa Verde, has no shortage of beautiful beaches, but locals and visitors alike agree that Lopes Mendes is the best. Accessible only by boat or on foot, this 1.5-mile stretch of sand is mercifully free from human development, with the only signs of civilisation an atmospheric ruined church hidden among almond trees and a sole beach bar, where you’ll be grateful to enjoy an ice-cold beer with your toes in the sand.

3. Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro

It’s just half an hour’s walk around the corner from Copacabana, but Ipanema warrants inclusion in its own right as one of the most famous beaches in the world. This area was the birthplace of bossa nova, the laid-back samba sub-genre, and Astrud Gilberto’s 1964 classic song The Girl from Ipanema remains a fixture on the setlist of the singers and guitarists who line the beach’s promenade. Although this is a touristy, upscale area, Ipanema Beach has a less polished and more local feel than Copacabana, and its natural setting is even more stunning, its crest of sand framed perfectly by the Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Mountain).

4. Praia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha

Having topped countless lists of the best beaches in the world, it’s safe to say that Praia do Sancho, on the offshore archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, is one of the finest beaches in Brazil. A flat-topped plateau, covered in thick forest, ends abruptly with steep cliffs that plunge to a small bay, fringed with flaxen sand and lapped by quiet waves of bright blue water for which the archipelago is famed. Access to the beach is via ladders threaded through holes in the cliffs, which adds a sense of adventure to proceedings.

5. Praia da Fazenda, Costa Verde

Between the Costa Verde towns of Paraty and Ubatuba lies Praia da Fazenda, a paradisaical bay where thickly forested mountains meet the snaking riverbank of the Rio Picinguaba, which is shallow enough to wade across to a band of grey-white sand. Being several miles from the nearest town, this is a quiet place, and you’ll often have it all to yourself. Its position in a sheltered bay makes the water calm and perfect for swimming. Be sure to bring supplies, though, as nearby facilities are very limited.

6. Praia do Campeche, Florianópolis

The high-living party town of Florianópolis, on the country’s southern coast, is home to dozens of beaches, many of which, buffeted by consistent winds, rank among the best for watersports in Brazil. Chief among them is Praia do Campeche, celebrated as one of the country’s kitesurfing meccas. While experienced practitioners come here in their droves, the conditions are also kind to beginners, and there are several kitesurfing schools along the beach. There’s no obligation to be energetic here, though — with its sloping sand dunes, forested backdrop and views of offshore islands, it’s the perfect place to simply sit and do nothing.

7. Praia do Porto da Barra, Salvador

The vibrant city of Salvador to the north was once Brazil’s capital, chosen for the purpose by the Portuguese partly because of its position on the Bay of All Saints, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Among the many gorgeous beaches here is Praia do Porto da Barra, overlooked by the humbug-striped Barra Lighthouse and looming Forte de Santo Antônio — a reminder of the might of the Portuguese Empire. A favoured hangout of tropicália musicians like Gilberto Gil, Praia do Porto da Barra’s biggest draw is that, as one of the few west-facing beaches in Brazil, the sunsets here are sublime.

Published in the October 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).

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