one of rio de janeiro's most secluded beaches, the beautiful praia de fora (also called praia do forte) is located in the fortaleza de são joão (fortress of st. john) in the neighborhood of urca.

this small, relatively unknown beach garnishes fine, white sands and calm, cold waters.

this is the very spot where the city of rio de janeiro was founded in march 1st, 1565 by estácio de sá.

situated at the entrance to guanabara bay, the beach offers unique views of the sugar loaf and the morro cara de cão.