A visit to Rio wouldn’t be complete without visiting the famous Copacabana 
Beach, a stylish hotspot for the old and young alike, though only a few miles long, it still boasts close to 75 different hostels and hotels, though they are quickly booked solid whenever a festival or celebration is held in Copacabana.
Even though Copacabana is a hot and modern destination, the borough itself has been around for over five hundred years. Old military forts dot both ends of the beach, marking the ending on the north and south end. Fort Duque de Caxias was constructed over two hundred years ago in 1779, and Fort Copacabana was completed in 1914. Originally named Sacopenapã, this gorgeous metropolitan stretch was renamed after the Patron Saint of Bolivia in the late 1800’s.
It’s not uncommon to see far more than a million revelers whenever a concert or celebratory party is being held. The ocean ranges from a light inviting blue to a mild green, and is always teeming with beautiful people in and around the water.
The people of Rio de Janeiro, known as the Cariocas, are warm and friendly to visitors and often teach tourists about Brazilian culture and life, though there are some people to avoid, as drugs and poverty are rife, because there is a constantly widening gap between the elite super-rich, and the utterly poor, even though Brazil’s economy is the tenth largest in the world. Nonetheless, even Rio has its share of ghettos, know as ‘favelas’ and it’s not recommended that you travel through them by yourself, Carioca and visitor alike.
Many notable bands and singers have held concerts, some impromptu, and others not, at Copacabana beach, attracting millions at a time! Such big name stars as The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart have brought massive crowds to this visually stunning beach, which is worth the trip time and time again.
While a beautiful site during the day, there are still safety concerns at night. Its best to stay off Copacabana at night, there is a very real and frequent danger of being robbed. Avenue Atlantica is also a place to avoid after dark, especially the area around “Help.”
Closer to Leme you can find a few restaurants at those hours that are not filled with workers that are good for a late night drink and meal.
