Brazilians love the beach, and with good reason. From the remote windswept dunes of the far north through the palm-fringed upmarket resorts and off the beaten track pousadas of the north east and Bahía, through the sophisticated beaches of Rio and the vehicle free natural paradise of Ilha Grande, on down to the coves and cliffs of the European-style far south, you are spoilt for choice.
Rio de Janeiro area
Rio’s beaches – Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon – are world famous for their broad sheets of well-maintained golden sands. You can just step out of one of dozens of shoreline hotels and within seconds be established with your sunshade, lounger and towel, compliment of the hotels which have their own supervised beach areas. It’s great fun to watch the parade of strolling merchants selling everything from bikinis to cold beer and shrimp kebabs, and in the afternoon a game of football or beach volleyball will get going nearby.
Within 2-4 hours’ drive west or east of Rio however you enter a different world of beach culture. Follow the road along the rugged Emerald Coast (named for its verdant vegetation) to the west and you come across bays and headlands coast harbouring a few first class, romantic and very secluded properties with spas and the accent on relaxation.
Not far off this coast is the traffic-free Ilha Grande, a hilly island mantled in subtropical forest permeated with many walking trails. This is the destination of the barefoot beach traveller, looking for a wind-down in a natural environment and not bothered about entertainment or resort facilities. Accommodation here consists of small and informal, friendly pousadas, often offering modest spa treatments and yoga classes.
To the east, a string of small resorts leads to the celebrated coves and beaches at Búzios, an almost European-style, chic little place with a tumble of small but good quality boutique-style pousadas.
Rio de Janeiro City:
Hotel Copacabana Palace
Hotel Windsor Atlantica
Hotel Sofitel
Hotel Porto Bay Internacional
Hotel Excelsior
Emerald Coast :
Hotel Pestana Angra
Pousada Picinguaba
Casa Cairuçu
Ilha Grande:
Sagu Mini Resort
Posada Naturalia
Búzios:
Casas Brancas
Villa d’Este
Pousada Abracadabra
| |  Copacabana Palace Hotel
 Casas Brancas, Buziós
 The beach at Pestana Angra
|