The 12 Best Beaches in Brazil
TL;DR — Brazil's best beaches, ranked
Fernando de Noronha (Baía do Sancho, Baía dos Porcos) tops any honest ranking — turquoise water, cliffs, sea turtles, near-zero crowds. Next tier: Pernambuco (Carneiros), Bahia (Espelho, Trancoso), Ilha Grande (Lopes Mendes). Around Rio, the wow-water is at Arraial do Cabo. If it's your first Brazil trip and you want an easy add-on, do Rio + Ilha Grande or Rio + Búzios/Arraial.
Brazil's best beaches at a glance
| #1 overall | Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha — often voted the world's best |
| Clearest near Rio | Arraial do Cabo (2.5h) — the 'Brazilian Caribbean' |
| Best for families | Praia dos Carneiros (PE) & Praia do Forte (BA) |
| Best for couples | Praia do Espelho, Bahia |
| Best time | September–March (dry season, calm seas) |
| Rio entries | Ipanema (urban energy) and Prainha (wild, in-city) |
The 12 best beaches in Brazil (2026)
- 1
Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha
Pernambuco (island) · Best Sep–Mar (dry, best visibility)
Repeatedly voted the world's #1 beach — a hidden crescent reached by iron ladders through a cliff. Turquoise water, sea turtles, near-zero crowd cap.
- 2
Praia dos Carneiros, Pernambuco
Northeast — Tamandaré · Best Sep–Mar
Coconut palms, warm shallow tidal pools, the tiny chapel of São Benedito on the sand. Feels invented for postcards.
- 3
Lopes Mendes, Ilha Grande
Costa Verde (Rio state) · Best Nov–Apr
3 km of squeaky-fine sand, no buildings, only accessible by boat + 25-min jungle hike. The most beautiful beach in Rio state.
Book the Angra & Ilha Grande day tour - 4
Praia do Espelho, Bahia
Southern Bahia (Trancoso area) · Best Nov–Mar
Cliff-backed, low-tide reef pools that mirror the sky (hence 'mirror beach'). Boutique-hotel bohemian scene.
- 5
Jericoacoara, Ceará
Northeast — Ceará · Best Jul–Jan (wind season)
Sand-street village between dunes and lagoon. Kitesurfing capital, sunset from the Duna do Pôr do Sol, Lagoa do Paraíso hammocks-in-the-water.
- 6
Praia do Farol, Arraial do Cabo
Costa do Sol (Rio state) · Best Year-round; Dec–Mar best
Locked inside a military-controlled island — the Caribbean-clear water Rio brags about is right here, 2.5 h from the city.
Book the Arraial do Cabo day trip from Rio - 7
Praia do Forte, Bahia
Northeast — near Salvador · Best Sep–Mar
Coconut coast, Projeto Tamar sea-turtle sanctuary, natural tide pools. Family-friendly with real infrastructure.
- 8
Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
Rio (urban) · Best Dec–Mar
The world's most iconic urban beach. Not the wildest, but no other city beach comes close for people-watching, sunset at Arpoador and 24-hour infrastructure.
- 9
Praia da Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte
Northeast — RN · Best Sep–Mar
Cliff-backed bays, dolphins in the morning at Baía dos Golfinhos, laid-back backpacker vibe with a good food scene.
- 10
Praia Vermelha do Norte, Ubatuba
São Paulo coast · Best Dec–Mar
Fine reddish sand, calm turquoise water, protected inside Serra do Mar state park. The prettiest of Ubatuba's 100+ beaches.
- 11
Prainha, Rio de Janeiro
Rio (west zone) · Best Year-round
Rio's wildest inside-the-city beach — Atlantic forest backdrop, top surf, no buildings by law.
Book the Prainha & Grumari wild beaches tour - 12
Baía dos Porcos, Fernando de Noronha
Pernambuco (island) · Best Sep–Mar
Two Rocks framing the classic Noronha postcard. Snorkel-through arch, resident reef sharks.
If you're building a Brazil beach trip
- 10 days, one region: Rio (5) + Ilha Grande (3) + Búzios or Arraial (2).
- 14 days, two regions: Rio (5) + Fernando de Noronha (5) + Recife/Carneiros (4).
- 21 days, the classic: Rio (5) + Trancoso/Espelho (5) + Salvador (3) + Jericoacoara (4) + Noronha (4).
- See our Brazil 10-day itinerary and 2-week Brazil from Rio.
Book the beach day trips people forget until it's too late
Arraial do Cabo and Ilha Grande day trips from Rio, and Noronha snorkel tours, sell out weeks ahead in high season.
Related guides
All Rio beaches
Ipanema, Copacabana, Leblon, Prainha and 12 more.
Ilha Grande vs Paraty
Which Costa Verde escape to pick.
Rio vs Fernando de Noronha
City vs the world's #1 beach island.
2 weeks in Brazil from Rio
A route that stitches the best beaches together.
FAQ — Best beaches in Brazil
What is the #1 best beach in Brazil?+
Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha. It has repeatedly been voted the world's best beach by Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice — a cliff-hidden crescent of white sand with turquoise water, sea turtles and a strict visitor cap that keeps it near-empty.
Where are the Caribbean-clear waters near Rio de Janeiro?+
Arraial do Cabo, 2.5 hours east of Rio on the Costa do Sol. Praia do Farol (inside a controlled reserve) and Praia do Forno have the cleanest turquoise water in Rio state. Doable as a day trip; better as an overnight.
Which Brazilian beach is best for families?+
Praia dos Carneiros (Pernambuco) and Praia do Forte (Bahia) — warm shallow water, tide pools, no strong currents, real hotel infrastructure. In Rio state, Reserva and Grumari.
Which Brazilian beach is best for a couple / honeymoon?+
Praia do Espelho (Bahia) — cliff-backed, low-key luxury pousadas (UXUA, Villas de Trancoso), no crowds. Runner-up: Fernando de Noronha for a splurge.
When is the best time to visit Brazil's northeast beaches?+
September to March — dry season, calmer seas, best visibility for snorkeling. April–July is the rainy season on most of the northeast coast (except Jericoacoara, which is best in wind season Jul–Jan).
How do I get to Fernando de Noronha?+
Fly from Recife (REC, 70 min) or Natal (NAT, 60 min) on Azul or Gol — no other way in. Book 3–4 months ahead in peak season and reserve accommodation before flights. Environmental preservation tax (~USD $20/day) is paid on arrival.
Are Rio's beaches in this list?+
Yes — Ipanema (#8) and Prainha (#11) both make it. Ipanema wins on urban energy and infrastructure; Prainha for wildness inside the city. See our Rio beaches hub for all 15+ Rio beaches ranked.
Which Brazilian beaches have the best surf?+
Itacaré (Bahia), Fernando de Noronha (Cacimba do Padre, winter swell), and in Rio: Prainha, Recreio and Barra. Big-wave: Praia do Cardoso (Farol de Santa Marta, Santa Catarina).