Obviously, going to the beach is a very popular weekend activity amongst Brazilians. But their beach activities and habits are very unique. Here are some specificities.
But first of all, a serious warning. We were very lucky as to be warned by Brazilian friends before our first visit of Rio de Janeiro’s beaches. Rio is a very hot city, and so are its beaches. The sand gets so hot, it can literally burn your feet. So to avoid any injuries, make sure to always bring (and wear!) your Havaianas flip flops or other beach-friendly footwear. Or course, not all beaches of Brazil get this dangerously hot, but it’s better to be cautious and always be prepared. On the bright side, this heat also means that the water is deliciously warm !
Beach Fashion
Besides the footwear, what is the dress code on Brazilian beaches ? Well for ladies, it is rather simple : bikini or… bikini ! A one-piece bathing suit is a very seldom thing to find on the brazilian beaches. Maybe here and there you might see a pregnant woman wearing one, but not necessarily… Why is that ? Do Brazilian ladies all have a perfect body ? No, they don’t. There are many beautiful women in Brazil, but they do not have a « perfect silhouette », some having too many curves, others not enough… However, it does not mean they hide their body on the beach. Why ? Well, one part of the answer is in the stores : it is very hard to find one-piece bathing suits in brazilian stores. You might find some in specialized sports stores, designed for high level sport swimmers. But regular beachwear stores only offer the two-pieces suits. Because going to the beach is not about showing off your body or hiding it. It’s about enjoying your time at the beach, it’s about the here and now. Real brazilian life pleasure !
What about men ? It seems a lot easier for them. Older generations have an obvious preference for old-fashioned (in our opinion) tight swimsuits, while younger generations wear the exact same suits, but add long surf shorts on top of it. Swim shorts are not a thing in Brazil, and can barely be found. They are as common in stores as the one-piece suits for women.
How to sit on the beach
You will rarely see people lying on their towels, sunbathing. In Brazil, people either bring, or rent for a very small price, beach chairs, deckchairs and beach umbrellas. And truth be told, you quickly get used to being so confortable on the beach ! Brazilians will only leave their chairs to go bathing or swimming a little. It is not uncommon, when the tide rises, to see people staying put, with their chairs and feet in the water !
Beach activities
Brazilians main activities at the beach are basically drinking and eating. They bring their cooler on the beach, take a beer out of it, open it, sit back and enjoy it. If the cooler isn’t enough, there are many bar huts all along the beach, offering many cool drinks (with or without alcohol), fresh fruitjuice prepared as you order it, coconuts the vendors open up in front of you with just a couple of (impressive or scary) movements with their machete, ice creams, warm meals (mainly fried dishes)… no need to worry about the meal, you can find pretty much any thing on the beach itself, and it will be brought directly to your chair !
If you feel like shopping, again, no problem ! There are many vendors walking along the beach, offering small craftmanship, jewelry, sunglasses and all types of souvenirs. Some sellers even set up complete carts with beach accessories, pareos, hats, dresses… in very strategic places : in front of the tourists, just before the water. Even though their installation is quite impressive, it does not spoil the beach experience. The vendors do not come directly to you, they do not in any way insist or harass you. They do not even shout. They just walk along the beach with their merchandise and will only come to you if you call them.
Also, it would not be a brazilian beach without soccer. At the entrance of every and any beach in Brazil you will find and (non official) sport area, with a group of young or less young people throwing a ball at each other. But this is not regular soccer, this is beach soccer. It is very demanding, very physical, and it is very impressive to see how they keep the ball moving, throwing it without ever letting it bounce on the ground.
At night, when the kids are asleep, a whole new atmosphere takes hold of the beach : it is time to party ! Drinks and food are still there, and now music joins in. People start singing along and dancing.
As you can see, going to the beach in Brazil is a very interesting, not only because of the great weather and the beautiful scenery : it is truly a cultural experience, a different way of living your day at the beach.