1. Ipanema, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro Most travelers will see their first beaches in Rio, which does have some remarkable, if crowded shores. Of the famed Zona Sul beaches, Ipanema is a classic choice.

A five-mile stretch along Copacabana and Ipanema beaches crackles with energy. By Seth Kugel For first-timers, a five-mile stroll along Copacabana and Ipanema beaches — Rio de Janeiro’s two ...