Visiting the Beaches of Rio the Carioca Way

When you travel to Rio, you’ll possibly be amazed by the carioca lifestyle and eager to start living like they do. And if there´s something that really reveals if you are a local or not, it is the way you behave on the beach, since cariocas have their own special habits. If you want to feel like you are really living the dream, follow our five tips on how to go to the beach like a carioca.

Rule 1: As a tourist, you’ll probably be staying in the South Zone of Rio, so walk to the closest beach. Cariocas who live close to one, usually always go to the same place, they know the guys with their stalls, play volley ball in the afternoons, etc. So, if you are spending some time in Rio, try to do the same, as often as you can and make friends!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Cariocas playing beach volleyball, very popular in Rio / source[/caption]

Rule 2: Don’t ever take a towel to sunbathe at the beach! It is totally a gringo thing, since cariocas use “cangas” to sunbathe (when they do take a towel, it is just to dry themselves off at the end). So, on your first day at the beach in Rio, buy yourself a canga! Even one with a Brazilian flag on it, it isn’t such a touristic thing as some may think – many locals use them too and it makes for a great souvenir to take back home!

Brazilians canga, beer and woman: a typical beach view / source

Rule 3: don’t wear sneakers or any other closed shoe! Brazilian Havaianas flip-flops are the ultimate shoes to go to the beach. Buy one on your first day in Rio (they even sell them at the airport). Don’t get too excited though: flip-flops are really uncomfortable to walk long hours or to hike. So, avoid sightseeing with them – save it for leisure time and also take it back home as a souvenir from Rio!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] To avoid the crowds, go to Rio's beaches on weekdays / source[/caption] Rule 4: it is ok to take some food, but don’t take your whole kitchen with you. The food options on Rio’s beaches are really wide and at really reasonable prices, which stops many beachgoers from bringing their own snacks, especially in fancier beaches like Leblon and Ipanema. If you are not on a very tight budget, give it a try (just be careful with shrimps and spicy food). The ultimate carioca beach snack is Biscoito Globo with Mate– respectively a salt and water cookie and a drink made of Mate plant, distinct from the one so typical in Argentina. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="423"] Globo cookies + Mate Leão: the ultimate carioca beach snack / source[/caption]

Rule 5: improvise! Of course most people from Rio follow their sacred rules like these ones, but there is nothing more carioca than originality. So, get the best out of these tips, but be authentic, be yourself. Fake behavior will not make you more carioca – to the contrary. Take a day to go to one of the farther beaches of Rio de Janeiro, like Prainha or Grumari, and take your food with you, for example. This is something cariocas occasionally do. But remember, they never, EVER, sunbathe on a towel or wear sneakers, that is too gringo!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="421"] It may be a good idea to choose a more isolated beach on weekends / source[/caption]

Now you know how the Carioca beach rules, you can enjoy an authentic experience on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, without looking like too much of a gringo!

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