Surely, when you think of Rio de Janeiro, the first beach that comes to mind is without a doubt Copacabana beach. What makes Copacabana beach so special and popular is the beautiful people, the hot bikinis and the amazing vibe that this part of Rio never sleeps.

However, Rio de Janeiro has many world class beaches that make you feel you are on the top of the world!

Botafogo beach, within Guanabara Bay, has beautiful sand and waters and is ideal for water sports. There is also a popular boat station and Yatch Club.

Flamengo is a beautiful beach, where you can play sports, exercise or relax.

Leblon beach is quieter from other Rio beaches and here you will see mostly good-looking Cariocas! The beach also provides for jogging and cycling.

Prainha is a small beach in Rio de Janeiro with some good waves to ride if you are up for it.

São Conrado beach has strong water swells. It is popular spot for both surfers and hang gliders!

Praia Vermelha is an exotic sandy beach surrounded by coconut and bamboo trees. 

Ipanema beach is one of the most famous beaches in Brazil and a true must see! 

Praia da Tijuca is the longest beach in Rio de Janeiro with a huge selection of seaside bars and restaurants to choose from. In this beach you will also find some great waves to surf!

Praia da Joatinga is situated on the southern coast of the city, small and isolated surrounded by high cliffs and a dense tropical Atlantic forest.

Have you been to these wonderful beaches? We look forward to reading your beach reviews!

 

The Beachionary Team

Just before 2010 goes away, we thought it's a good time to recall the 20 beaches that Sunday Times listed as the "hottest" ones for the year. You'll find a lot of them in France, some others in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Cyprus but there are few of them in countries you wouldn't imagine, like Lithuania, Germany and the Netherlands. The good news is that all of them are in Beachionary!! You can check where they are or tell us what you think, if you've been there, or even book your next summer holidays in one of them!

So, here's the complete list:

1. The sandy Plage Le Conguel in Brittany, France 
2. The beach in  Lac de Mondély in Midi-Pyrénées, France 
3. The beaches at Collioure, a small town in Languedoc-Roussillon, France
   Plage de la Balette
   Plage du Boutique
   Plage de Port d'Avall
   Plage Boramar
   Plage St Vincent
   Plage Nord
4. The isolated Plage de Piemanson in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
5. The golden Plage de Notre Dame in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
   
6. The crystal clear Palombaggia beach in Corsica, France
7. The rocky Cala d’Aiguafreda in Catalonia, Spain
   
8. The famous Playa de la Concha in Basque Country, Spain
9. The sandy Playa Las Salinas in Balearic Islands, Spain
10. The peaceful Platja Illetes in Balearic Islands, Spain
11. The cove of La Grotta Azzurra in Campania, Italy
    
12. The isolated Cala Luna in Sardinia, Italy
13. The luxurious Bonj Les Bains in Splitsko-Dalmatinska, Croatia
14. The famous Panormos in South Aegean, Greece
15. The adventurous Papafrangas Cove in South Aegean, Greece
16. The relaxing Polis beach in Paphos, Cyprus
17. The beaches in Porto Santo island in Madeira, Portugal
    Quinta Palmeira 
    Praia do Cabeço 
    Praia das Pedras Pretas 
    Praia do Penedo
    Praia da Fontinha 
18. The historical Palanga beach in Klaipėdos Apskritis, Lithuania
19. The beaches in Sylt island in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
    Sansibar 
    Oase zur Sonne
    Fun-Beach Brandenburg
20. The beaches in Terschelling dunes in Frisian Islands, Netherlands
    Spathoek 
    Noordergronden

Do you agree with this list? If not, why don't you go to Beachionary.com and write reviews for your favorite ones? They may end up the hottest ones for 2011!

The Beachionary team wishes you a Happy New Year!

 

Photo by Flickr user Abeeeer

Hello and welcome to the beachionary blog. Watch this space for updates on what's happening in beachionary, technical articles and personal experiences from traveling the world (we always wanted to be writers deep inside)!

Have fun!

The beachionary team

Photo by Flickr user heatheronhertravels