it is common to see brazilian men using sungas, as they are comfortable to play beach sports, dry up quickly, and they offer better tan lines than shorts, which are always a plus - they can be worn under long pants at the end of the beach day without having to carry them separately or having to find a place where to change before dinner or a night out. 

many beach-goers who use sungas also walk the streets of the beach areas in them, however it is not permitted to enter shops or bars just wearing a sunga - even hotels and residential buildings require a shirt to enter the hallways and the elevators.

of course for those who cannot quite take the leap just yet, it's equally acceptable to use board-shorts, a popular choice among surfers and foreign visitors. 

for women, there are lots of choices, all dependent on the level of comfort - in rio de janeiro, bikinis (biquínis) became a symbol of innovation and freedom when first introduced, and to this day are an important part of the local beach culture.