WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN GOING TO THE BEACHES IN BRAZIL

Cariocas have developed a very sophisticated cultura de praia with habits and codes worth taking note of if you want to blend in. You might think you know your way around the beach, but if you’ve never been prepare to be surprised.

The beaches in Brazil aren’t just beaches, they are also gyms, playgrounds, restaurants, and shopping centers. There’s a lot more going on than you’d expect, and if you’re not ready you’ll likely find yourself both overwhelmed and overpacked. Here’s what to expect on your first visit to a Brazilian beach. When you start feeling hungry, there’s no need to start packing up- the food will come to you. When you walk onto the beach and sit down at one of the plastic tables facing the ocean, you are actually sitting down at a restaurant that operates a stand towards the back of the beach. Soon a waiter will arrive with a menu, and you’ll open a tab. Sometimes these stands are connected to certain hotels, which comes with the perk of being able to charge the food to your room.

In much of Brazil, the beach isn’t a place you go for a few hours on vacation. It’s a lifestyle. I was warned ahead of time that Rio in particular has a strict beach etiquette and rules that had to be heeded — luckily when it comes to all things sand and sea, I’m a quick learner. Despite wildly overscheduling my trip and visiting in autumn, when Brazil’s beaches are lightly buzzing but not overblown with people, I managed to hit the beach in Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, and Jericoacoara. Here are a few of the rules I learned along the way — the rare kind that are more fun to follow than to break.

The frumpy schlep of coolers and chairs and endless beach supplies is a major faux pas in Brazil. A towel in particular is considered a horror-inducing no-no. A canga (the Brazilian term for a sarong), some cash, and maybe a volleyball are basically the only acceptable items to take anything else you need can be supplied on the sand.

Tips Before Going To The Beach

• Don’t wear a bathing suit from home; purchase one on location. Rio’s cutting-edge bikini and sunga (the male version of a bikini) styles are light-years ahead of the rest of the world, and prices are generally affordable.

• Do wear flip-flops (Havaianas are the coolest) to and from the beach and don’t wear shoes.

• Don’t bring a towel to the beach. Cangas are lighter, de rigueur, and are sold all over the beaches. For more comfort, rent a chair.

• Don’t schlep food or drinks to the beach. Rio’s beaches are well-serviced with food and drink vendors.

• Don’t go swimming if a red flag is flying; Rio’s beaches have strong currents in places. Only go in the water where locals are already swimming.