Doni Clemons
If Copacabana is an eternal classic, Ipanema is the trendsetter of beaches. Ipanema was popularized by hippies daring to debut skimpy bikinis to the world. And then later made world famous by the successful hit song "The Girl from Ipanema" by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Morais. The area attracts everyone from tourists to celebs and has an eclectic vibe that extends to the beach. The boardwalk is a high-traffic area, visitors will see Cariocas of all ages enjoying a run, biking, skateboarding or rollerblading beachside. On the sand, kiosks sell fruity caipirinhas and beach accoutrements like chairs and umbrellas. There are also mobile vendors walking along the sand selling everything from açaí to Brazilian pastries to bikinis and cover-ups. And Ipanema’s neighborhood is saturated with many post-beach hip spots to eat and lounge.
