from the forte do leme, the waves crushing on the beach look like the water behind a boat's rudder (leme), and thus the name of the beach and of the neighborhood.

leme's beach is also a favorite spot of kids who like to dive from the rocks into the water (this activity is dangerous and forbidden) and by people playing beach sports such as volley, foot-volley, and fresco ball - the closest lifeguard post to leme's beach is posto 1, where public bathrooms, and showers can also be found.

being almost exclusively frequented by cariocas, leme beach gives a truly authentic feel of rio de janeiro's beach life away from the more international copacabana and ipanema beach.