Honestly, poteito, potato. To the naked eye, they both look the same. Two huge beaches packed to the rim with people. I was there on a public holiday, so I assume it was worse than “normal”, or maybe not – it’s Rio after all 🙂 I had not a fragment of desire, to find a tiny spot, and chill for a bit, so decided to have a look at the streets away from the beach. They are quiet, and not so nice looking. Closed shops, restaurants, cafes, and the likes. Reckon a lot more busy during business days, and at night – supposedly party central. What did I like? The promenade is nice, and the streets being closed for traffic, for that day only, I suspect.
Want something nicer? Rather head for Barra da Tijuca, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. The metro actually runs all the way out there. Didn’t go on it, took an Uber. There you’ll have beaches like this all to yourself.
Copacabana
Ipanema
