We were here for the day on our cruise port stop. What a beautiful, quaint little town!! So much…read morehistory to review with their well preserved colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and relaxed seaside atmosphere. There is a huge rainforest here, beaches and fairly shallow waters (which is why our ship couldn't get closer). They have many historic churches- all for different classes of people - society women, freed slaves etc. very interesting. Now there are shops, restaurants and galleries to explore I will also say the marina was absolutely HOPPING with party boats- it's a Sunday so appears to be a popular thing to do- party on a double decker for awhile. Rafa from Parity tours was excellent and can highly recommend him for a good overt view of the town.

Paraty is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, and I recommend all tourists in…read moreBrazil check it out for at least a day. It's very historic because it was an export port for gold to Rio de Janeiro. The town's center is made of cobblestone streets, and there you can find dozens of unique art and souvenir shops, men riding horse carriages, and carts selling coconut juice and frozen treats. There are plenty of amazing restaurants to choose from. Don't forget to go on a boat tour and explore the islands and lagoons of Paraty.

When a friend asked me, "where do you find a Hawaii-like vibe with surfers, cute houses and a nice…read morebohemian style," I was stumped. I thought about Grumari in Rio (minus the houses), Trancoso in Bahia (minus the surfers), but it wasn't until my weekend visit to Praia Itamambuca that I really found the answer. This small community is rustic but very well taken care of. At the entrance, there's a little guard house and just beyond it, you'll find a small array of modest shops and restaurants. More than anything, Itamambuca is a chill surfer's paradise. The houses near the beach are all well-tended to and the general feeling is that those who live here love the small community dearly. It's like conservation of the natural landscape comes before residential development. Once on the beach, you'll find some of the best surfing Ubatuba has to offer. Surrounded by lush mountains, the view is incredible from the water. Depending on the day, you could be in for a big wave surf (advanced riders often head to this beach) and on calmer days, it's great to paddle out an build confidence on the nice sized, forgiving waves. After a swim or surf, it's great to head to the river on the right side of the beach to wash off the salt... and nothing beats the cold, refreshing river water. I'll be coming back to this little known paradise.

This is a special surf place! A very beatifull beach, with a lot of nice people. There are many…read morehotels, storesbut the beach is preserved. The biggest surf championship hapens here! At nigt there are many shows. If you is not a surfer men, or surfer girldont worry, is a very good place to know people, make friends, and see this wonderfull beach! but bring your reppelent, there is a special kind of mosquito there, no danger, no relleated with some diseases, but itch!

This is a beautiful beach if you're in the area and want to check it out. There a lot of things to…read moredo here besides just walking in the sand. There also some food places on the top. Crossing the street to get here would be the biggest challenge unless you go in the early morning like I did. The weather was nice and it was after it rained a bit so the whole view was clear and beautiful. I'm staying at the Windsor Barra so it's across the street from this beach that also as a rooftop view. So I went up to the 17th floor to take a look at the beautiful beach.

When in Rio de Janeiro, you ought to visit both Copacabana and Ipanema. You hear so much about…read morethese districts and their beaches years before you ever set foot in Rio. However, once you head south of here and further out from their density and population, the major beachfront thoroughfare changes names with each different neighborhood like people change their underwear, and it finally sort of makes a straight shot for a long time, you are probably on Avenida das Americas and in Barra da Tijuca. Parallel to this major artery is Barra's long and uninterrupted praia, or beach. It doesn't have the fanfare that Copacabana and Ipanema do but, in terms of natural features, this long strand is much the same, though comparatively quieter. You can get here on public transportation. Certain bus lines continue in front of Rio's beaches down into Barra da Tijuca, all the way down to where the area ends, as does Rio de Janeiro, more or less, at Recreio dos Bandeirantes. People diss on Barra da Tijuca. They say it's Rio's attempt to be like the suburban sprawl that is Broward County, Florida. It has an almost tacky mega mall along Avenida das Americas as well as newer condo towers and housing. I'd say the comparison has some validity. After all, isn't Broward County, and the beaches along it, newer and more tranquil than the areas of and beaches in Miami-Dade? I think so. There are a couple of funky things about the Barra da Tijuca area. First, while it is newer and upscale, being 11 miles long means there are some favelas in this westernmost part of Rio. They are or have been marked on Google maps and the more "proper" residents of Barra are not at all happy about that. The favelas appear to be smaller and more inland than the long beach strand. Second, Barra is long and narrow and the back end of it has marshes, lagoons, and other waterways. In them live these smaller to medium sized caimans (jacares) which are a more yellowish color and indigenous to the area. I found this interesting and more fodder for comparing Rio to Miami. For that matter, their "kin folk" can be found in waterways within the city limits of South Florida municipalities, New Orleans, and Houston, just to name a few North American locales. Third, the very end of Barra is known as Recreio dos Bandeirantes. It is not as upscale and flashy as the part of Barra first encountered upon coming around the promontory containing the Dois Irmaos monolith. Your reward for going this far south and west from Rio's more popular beaches is this - the "morro:" http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GH29uXeSJIw/TVWU9bWwO8I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/QbiJjr1xG8I/s1600/recreio_dos_bandeirantes%255B1%255D.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5035/6953462316_f39345e4cf_z.jpg Either way, if doing the beach thing, you probably won't be in Barra da Tijuca to shop in mega malls, spot large reptiles, or tour favelas. You're here to enjoy its 11 mile long beach strand. Overlook the comparisons to Broward County FL and other digs on Barra and enjoy yourselves at this wonderful beach.

The most beautiful beach I went to in Rio. It's a bit if a trek to get there and it disappears with…read morethe tide so go early! You have to walk through a housing complex to reach the beach and then climb down a few rocks (not recommended if you have a broken leg). It's secluded and beautiful.

Most beautiful beach I went to in Rio de Janeiro. Way less touristic than Cobacabana or Ipanema,…read moreand no chance of getting robbed. It's paradise.

no doubt this is a beautiful beach. much less populous that the more mainstream places like…read morecopacabana and ipanema. but that solece comes with a price. this beach is far....real far.... you need a car for sure to get here, there is no public transportation to take you to this beach. and if you come here in a car please make sure to come in real early because there is not much parking as this location is in a weird mountain highway thing and theres only so much parking. if you cant find parking you cant stay at the beach. another thing is that you need to pay some person who works on the street making sure your car does not get stolen, so bring some cash. generally at brazilian beaches the beach vendors who have tents do rent chairs and umbrellas so again do make sure to bring some cash, not much but some. if you make it to this beach you will have a great time, the water is clean and super calm, the sand is nice and the beach itself does not get packed.

Great area in Barra. It is at the beginning of the Barra area with nice resturants and also near…read morethe surf and kite schools. Also, you can enjoy from the bars at the beach, really cool places, with music and drinks. There is a road only for bikes and runners that is great and is everyone use it, as well as the metal structures in the streets for people to work out. Very recommendable if you came to Rio. Is it more residential zone and have a bigger beach place than the rest.