beaches in rio are all free to access, without any physical division, but the long beaches are divided in sections by lifeguard towers, called 'postos' - different beach sections are often attended by specific crowds, following local fashion trends that may be unnoticeable to a foreign visitor, but become apparent to the careful observer.

upon arriving at one of the postos, a quick glance around will immediately clear up who the tourists are, just by their clothes and choice of colors. before heading to the beach in rio, it may be best to avoid some obvious tourist markers to help blend in a bit more with the locals - this is easy to do just by scouting what is being used on the chosen praia, and by buying the proper items by the nearby beach vendors.