Copacabana Beach

A magnificent confluence of land and sea, the long, scalloped beach of Copacabana always has a flurry of activity stretching its length—footballers sing their team’s anthem, cariocas (Rio’s residents) and tourists line up for caipirinhas—a popular local cocktail—at kiosks, and beach vendors make their way through the mass of bronzed bodies. The rocky outcrop at its south end, called Arpoador, is popular with the city’s surfing community and is one of the best spots in the city for watching the sunset. The beach is lined from one end to the other with tourist-class and luxury hotels, casinos, indoor and outdoor restaurants, bars and nightclubs. There are historic forts at both ends of the beach—Fort Copacabana, built in 1914 at the south end and Fort Duque de Caxias built in 1779 at the north end.