Located in one of the liveliest neighborhoods in Rio, Copacabana is a stop for many cruise ships. Passengers often find that this lovely area is filled with activity almost nonstop. It consists of one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and there’s a lot to do here. This is what you can do in Copacabana.
The Beach Itself
Many tourists come to Copacabana and just hang out at the beach. It is about 2.2 miles and is easily walkable. Visitors can see a view of both the Fort Duque de Caxias and Sugar Loaf Mountain. On the beach there are volleyball nets and even some football courts. In order to get really toned you can also try some of the weight training equipment that can be found in several spots. You really don’t have to leave the beach if you don’t want to as there are numerous bars and eateries. Not sure what to try? Opt for the draft beer called chopp or the refeicao which is basically meat and onions. In general, Sundays are one of the best times to visit Copacabana. Half of Avenida Atlantica is closed to cars so you can easily walk around without having to deal with a lot of traffic. There is also a tourist fair that takes place just outside of the Rio Othon Hotel, Friday through Sunday. Here you can find a variety of souvenirs to take back home with you.
Where To Explore
If you do want to explore the area, you can hop on one of the public buses if you really want to venture out. The Copacabana Fort is a common site for tourists to explore. It was erected back in 1914. Today it houses the Army Historical Museum. The promenade is parallel to the beach and features a wave design that’s in black and white and views of some of the beach’s sand sculptures can be seen here. A lot of tourists like this area as it’s easily walkable. There are also some five star hotels located here like JW Marriott and Copacabana Palace Hotel. However, the main perk to coming here is the food. You can find everything from arabic food at Amir to seafood at Siri Moe. A popular dish found at many of the area’s restaurants is called manioc. It is a fried root and often paired with some sort of meat. If you get thirsty, make sure you wash it down with an agua de coco which is coconut water that is drank right out of the coconut with a straw.
