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Ipanema is the “It” beach to be seen at. Hip young Cariocas hang out at the hot spot “Posto 9”, or lifeguard station 9 from mid-afternoon until after the gorgeous sunset.
Ipanema is one of the beaches that has come to symbolize Rio. This stretch of sand rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s as the epicenter of Rio’s counterculture, when artists and left-wing intellectuals used to gather.
Although Ipanema is adjacent to Copacabana beach, it is very distinct from its neighbor, and also quite a bit more expensive. It is fairly simple to navigate because its streets are lined in a grid. Private infrastructure has created world-class restaurants, cafes and shopping, making Ipanema one of the most expensive places to live in Rio.
In the winter, the surf can reach 10–15 feet. The water quality varies with days of light-blue water to a more murky green after heavy rains. Constant swells keep the water clean. The often treacherous beach break regularly forms barrels.
The wonder of Ipanema is that a beautiful beach spills out into one of Rio’s most vibrant neighborhoods. There is nothing like spending a day by the blue ocean until the sun is setting, then having a coconut juice or a beer at one of the kiosks on the “calçadão” (the trademark black and white walkway), and finishing up the evening in one of Ipanema’s lively and relaxed bars. But Ipanema’s main attraction is its great beauty, with the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers) hills looking over the sand, creating an image that you will carry in your memory forever.
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