winner of the blue flag environmental award by the environmental education foundation in recognition of special urban beaches, prainha is certainly one of the most beautiful stretches in rio.

away from the more crowded parts of town, it is located in the zona oeste, within the grumari natural reserve, at about 40 minute car ride from copacabana or ipanema.

set in between two hills covered in flush tropical vegetation, prainha beach offers a 360 degrees 'surround' panoramic view of pure nature, very different from the other beaches listed in this section, and just as spectacular.