Rio de Janeiro stands out for its natural beauty. It is a metropolis that has managed to retain its natural wealth: beautiful beaches, mountains and green areas, which make the city a pleasant place for its residents and a must-see destination for tourists.

The Rio coastline extends for more than 246 kilometers, and has all kinds of beaches. Rio’s sands have inspired the creation of various sports such as beach volleyball, which since 1996 has been an Olympic sport.

Copacabana Beach is famous worldwide and is particularly popular with visitors to the city. The famous mosaic sidewalk made of “Portuguese stones” laid in the form of waves inspires Brazilian and international artists, and is a symbol of all things Brazilian. Busy day and night, the Copacabana beachfront has bars and restaurants offering the most varied of menus. At the end of the beach is Fort Copacabana, which in the past helped to defend the city. Today, the site hosts cultural events such the Rio 2016 Ferris Wheel.

Ipanema and Leblon, along the coast from Copacabana, are two beaches that are distinguished both for large numbers of young people and for their natural beauty. Off the coast, one can see the Cagarras Islands, which attract many divers and tourist boats.

Close to these beaches is Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Considered the heart of the city, this space plays host to a great deal of physical activity, both on the lake itself and around its seven-kilometer perimeter. On weekends, families come together to run, cycle, play tennis or simply socialize in its many parks. From there you can see the main mountain formations of the city: Corcovado with its “Christ Redeemer” statue, Pedra da Gávea, the Tijuca mountain range and Morro Dois Irmãos.

Barra da Tijuca Beach is another highlight of the Rio coastline. Eighteen kilometers in length, the longest beach in the city attracts families, young people and sports-lovers. Surfers, windsurfers and kite-surfers enjoy perfect conditions in its waters.

Located in the middle of the city, Tijuca Forest brings together much of the fauna and flora typical of the Brazilian coast. Covering around 3,200 hectares, the largest urban forest in the world is only a few minutes from various districts of Rio de Janeiro. This large green area was reforested in the nineteenth century, after years of deforestation and crop-growing (mainly coffee). The reforestation was a pioneering initiative for Latin America and mainly involved species native to the Atlantic Forest ecosystem. Today, it is well equipped for visits, and is a particularly stunning location for bicycle rides, running and hiking.

The city has many other beautiful landscapes that delight visitors and provide residents with many opportunities to contemplate nature.