there are lifeguards on duty along the most crowded parts of the beach, including on the pier at the very beginning of barra beach.

during the week-days, most of barra beach is scarcely populated, and becomes a favorite spot for many photographers, filmmakers, and local celebrities looking for privacy, especially near the reserva ecológica end.  

many tele-novelas based in rio de janeiro shoot beach scenes on barra beach, as well as many models and tv personalities get their portraits taken on these sands.