from copacabana or ipanema, there is no easy way of getting to praia de são conrado via bus, as buses only run along this beach on the way back from barra, a neighborhood about 20 minutes further down the coast.

a taxi ride from copacabana or ipanema to são conrado beach costs about 40 reals, each way. 

while there are not many empty taxis going back to copacabana or ipanema, there is a taxi stand at the far side of the beach where the hang gliders land.