6 beaches to tempt you to Brazil
Big, beautiful Brazil. The largest country in South America, and the fifth-largest country in the world, it has an enormous wealth of natural attractions. Unsurprisingly, with 4,500 miles of Atlantic coastline, this includes some pretty spectacular beaches ("praias" in Portuguese) too.
However, getting to some of these idyllic bays can be tricky, especially if you're short on time or don't have the inclination to disappear too far off radar. Here, we look at just six truly sensational beaches in Brazil that can be easily reached by public transport from some of the country's major coastal cities to help you pick the perfect praia.
Getting to Brazil: book flights to Brazil with Virgin Atlantic* or search for complete holidays with Club Med*.
Lopes Mendes Beach
Let's start with one of the best beaches not just in Brazil but, according to many, the whole world. Lopes Mendes Beach is located on the almost-too-gorgeous-to-be-real Ilha Grande, which is a bus and boat ride away from Rio De Janeiro.
What makes the island, and this beach, so special is the lack of traffic. Because there are no roads here, to get to Lopes Mendes from the island's main town of Vila do Abraão you can either take a water taxi for under £10 round-trip or hike over and around this lush island using the well-marked trails; it's about 11 miles there and back.
A good option is to hike one way then, after draping yourself on that powdery white sand, take the water taxi for the return journey. On this hike, you'll pass Praia do Pouso, which is a much smaller yet equally appealing beach.
In fact, there are a number of pretty sandy stretches along the trail, making this the perfect destination for beach-hopping.
Praia do Forte
Praia do Forte ticks all the boxes: palm trees, golden sand, clear blue sea. But there are a few more boxes too: sea turtles (part of the beach is protected for this endangered species), chic seaside village and a short transfer from the airport or a 1-hour-45-minute Atlântico Transportes bus journey from Salvador.
What I love most about this beach is that you can walk and walk and walk; it seems to go on forever. In the village, you'll find a bustling pedestrianised main street leading to the sea and lined with shops and restaurants.
It's worth waking up early for sunrise (which happens roughly between 5 am and 6 am throughout the year) although the sunset is equally impressive.
There are activities to enjoy in and around the beach too. Perhaps the most exciting is whale watching, which a couple of responsible operators in town offer, taking visitors out from July until October.
Praia dos Coqueiros
Beside the tranquil town of Trancoso, Praia dos Coqueiros is a beach so vast and unspoiled that, at times, you feel as though you're on a deserted island. Just beyond, where the waves lap the sand, is a coral reef.
In the 1970s, Trancoso was a hippy hangout. Nowadays, although it's firmly in the sights of A-list celebs, the town retains its easy-going feel. You'll see why the main square (or "Quadrado") is UNESCO protected.
Nearby resorts offer exciting excursions in this area, including around Trancoso itself. The city of Porto Seguro, connected by its airport to destinations throughout Brazil, is just over an hour away from Trancoso by taxi, or a ferry/bus combo via Arraial d'Ajuda.
Praia da Boracéia
Paulistas (inhabitants of Sâo Paulo) eagerly hop in their cars for the two-hour drive to Praia da Boracéia, you can also take the bus to Riviera de Sâo Lourenço and walk the short distance from there to this beach. As soon as you arrive you'll be amazed that one of the world's largest cities is just up the road.
Praia da Boracéia is paradisical with crystalline waters barely troubling the soft sand and, in places, hardly anyone else to be seen. Stretching for 8 km before curving around a sunny bay, the beach has an idyllic backdrop of forests and hills.
Ipanema
One of the most famous beaches in the world, you've no doubt already heard of Ipanema. It's linked with that other well-known beach, Copacabana, by Rio's iconic black-and-white loop-patterned walkway, but Ipanema is cleaner and perhaps a little safer (although be wary of pickpockets and never leave your belongings unattended).
The sunsets here are spectacular, especially from Arpoador, where surfers also find gnarly waves. Being in the centre of the city, Ipanema is easily reached by public bus or metro and General Osório station is the nearest to Arpoador.
If you want to see an even more upmarket beach then Leblon is a short walk towards the western end of Ipanema, with Copacabana another short walk in the opposite direction.
Praia de Genipabu
Almost as far east as you can get in South America, the city of Natal is, handily, convenient for the particularly gorgeous sands of Praia de Genipabu.
A vast area of dunes rises just outside of Natal, and it's where these sandy hills meet the sea that you'll find sublime beaches such as Praia de Genipabu.
Here you can relax by the water, ride camels, go dune boarding ("esquibunda") or zoom around on a buggy tour over the sand and around the freshwater lagoons. If you do the latter then please choose a responsible operator due to this being a protected environment.
With the city of Natal so close you have a good choice of transfer providers to Genipabu. Buggy tours depart from the city, taxis are cheap and take just under half an hour from the city centre. Even cheaper, buses 160A and 160B link the centre of Natal to Genipabu.
Weather in Brazil
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The above guide shows the weather in Rio de Janeiro. Find out more about conditions across this vast country in our complete guide to the weather in Brazil.
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