given that the currents of the atlantic can be strong and at times dangerous, many families also opt to swim in the calmer waves of beaches such as praia vermelha, surrounded by hills, or in the waters of flamengo beach, facing guanabara bay rather than the open atlantic ocean.

while some beaches, like copacabana allow for lots of structured sporting activities to be practiced on the sand, in a very urban environment, other beaches within the rio de janeiro city limits, such as prainha, offer waves surrounded by immaculate nature and green mountains.