Sao Conrado Beach
Sao Conrado Beach
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
325 reviews
Excellent
132
Very good
114
Average
50
Poor
23
Terrible
6
Ute&Carlos
Toronto, Canada36 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Here, on the bottom of Pedra Bonita is the office of the biggest paragliding school in the world: Clube Sao Conrado de voo Livre. They have 100 instructors and each instructor is only allowed 4 flights a day. They take you up to the top of the mountain and off you go. Fabulous. If you never tried paragliding before, this is the place to do it. Spectacular views and very professional, mostly english speaking, instructors.
Written March 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shaun C
London, UK10 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
São Conrado is a small beach neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, just 15 minutes away by car from Ipanema. To its immediate north lies Rocinha, Latin America's largest favela community. To its south, the amazing and bizarre double highway road, Elevado do Joa.
Overhead fly vast numbers of hang gliders and para gliders, who use the spot as a gathering place and landing strip. Part of the beach is cordoned off for this purpose. The beach road at the landing strip is a dead-end roundabout, surrounded by a variety of parked vehicles commonly used by ‘surfistas’ and, apparently, those who like to jump off mountains while attached to a kite.
Getting out of the car, I head over the beach bar, or 'posto', where a waiter is chopping up a fresh coconut for a customer. Others are sitting around its red plastic chairs and tables drinking Brahma beer.
I'm approached twice by instructors asking if I want to fly 'asa delta,' or hang gliding in English, but I'm already set to fly with an instructor called Mauro Sacramento, who arrives a couple of minutes later, smiling and fresh from the flight. He points inland to a huge, rainforest-covered mountain called Pedra Bonita (beautiful rock). It towers to what looks like a colossal height.
The sun is shining bright and it's hot, but Mauro says these aren't ideal flying conditions, pointing next to a limp windsock on the beach. "We need wind to gain lift, but there's none. You will need to run fast or we will drop." A nervous flyer in any aircraft, let alone what I'll refer to as a kite, I start to sweat.
Caught On Camera: my asa delta flight on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJidTMVzUMo
Mauro leads me over to his flying association's beach hut, where I sign what I presume is a fairly comprehensive legal disclaimer. More sweat arrives on my forehead. You see, on top of a crippling fear of heights and a dislike of flying on planes, adventure sports have never filled me with enthusiasm. Rio, this inspiring city, urged me to throw caution to the wind, and she is too beautiful to reject.
Mauro takes me in his pickup truck and we head off up the mountain where the road narrows, climbs steeper, and is increasingly surrounded by rainforest. Even his powerful car struggles on the climb. More sweat pours out.
At the top of the hill, Mauro takes me to the wooden launch pad. Looking back down towards the beach landing strip, it's adjacent 20-story apartment blocks look like little blocks of Lego in the distance. Pedra Bonita stands at 2,283ft, and feels every bit of it.
Mauro shows me some of the safety equipment and the hang glider itself. Its supporting ropes, which I will soon be hanging from, appear flimsy, though he assures me that a car could be hung from them.
We are connected up and head to the platform with our kite, where I'm reminded that, due to the lack of wind, we need to run fast in tandem to make sure we gain enough speed, and therefore lift, so we will actually fly. Mauro points to the fact that we are both overweight men, so running fast will be all the more important.
I'm focused on the task; running for my life. At the count of three, we bolt to the edge and simply fall off the edge platform. I was forewarned not to attempt to jump. We descend straight down towards a mound of grass about 20 feet below, not yet flying but not quite falling. An audience has gathered beneath the viewing platform to watch our attempted take-off. It happens so quick, but we fall to just a couple of feet away from the grass below, going at what feels like breakneck speeds. Will we crash? No. Our kite catches the air and we lift upwards and outward just in time - away from the grass. In any case, the grassy bank below suddenly falls off a sheer cliff and we now have instant height as well as lift. We are no longer falling. We are flying.
The trees below are a great many hundreds of metres below. Considering my fear of height, I tell myself it is all a painted canvas – it certainly appears that way. Rocinha twinkles in the distance alongside the 'two brothers' mountain. The ocean glows a deep blue. A humid mist rises from the trees below as the sun burns off the tropical rainfall we’d had last night. Everything appears as a picture. The feeling of weightlessness is a thrilling. Rio's beauty from this height is awe-inspiring.
The flight, which felt slow and elegant, started to quicken as we come in towards the beach landing strip. Mauro reminds me to keep my hands away from the bars, which are his steering wheel. The gentle waves below are a vibrant turquoise colour.
As we swoop towards the beach, I realise our speed is far greater than I can run. Mauro pushes the bars up; the angle of the hang glider’s wings then slows us to a halt. Out feet touch the soft golden sand. The flight is over. Mauro congratulates me. For him, this is his office, 7 days a week. I can see why he loves it. My fear of heights and flying is cured. I want to climb back in the pickup truck and do it all again. Rio has inspired me. Its official tourism slogan was once 'Celebrate Life.' It now all makes sense.
There are many hang gliding instructors connected to the São Conrado facility. Bookings aren’t necessary but it might be worth booking ahead, especially on weekends. Prices range from R$300-450 (£100 – 150) and photographs and live video are usually provided.
My blog on Brazil has more info: http://sometimebrazilian.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/celebrating-life-in-rio.html
Contact Mauro Sacramento:
Phone: (21) 7816-5737
Email: mauromsfly@hotmail.com
Overhead fly vast numbers of hang gliders and para gliders, who use the spot as a gathering place and landing strip. Part of the beach is cordoned off for this purpose. The beach road at the landing strip is a dead-end roundabout, surrounded by a variety of parked vehicles commonly used by ‘surfistas’ and, apparently, those who like to jump off mountains while attached to a kite.
Getting out of the car, I head over the beach bar, or 'posto', where a waiter is chopping up a fresh coconut for a customer. Others are sitting around its red plastic chairs and tables drinking Brahma beer.
I'm approached twice by instructors asking if I want to fly 'asa delta,' or hang gliding in English, but I'm already set to fly with an instructor called Mauro Sacramento, who arrives a couple of minutes later, smiling and fresh from the flight. He points inland to a huge, rainforest-covered mountain called Pedra Bonita (beautiful rock). It towers to what looks like a colossal height.
The sun is shining bright and it's hot, but Mauro says these aren't ideal flying conditions, pointing next to a limp windsock on the beach. "We need wind to gain lift, but there's none. You will need to run fast or we will drop." A nervous flyer in any aircraft, let alone what I'll refer to as a kite, I start to sweat.
Caught On Camera: my asa delta flight on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJidTMVzUMo
Mauro leads me over to his flying association's beach hut, where I sign what I presume is a fairly comprehensive legal disclaimer. More sweat arrives on my forehead. You see, on top of a crippling fear of heights and a dislike of flying on planes, adventure sports have never filled me with enthusiasm. Rio, this inspiring city, urged me to throw caution to the wind, and she is too beautiful to reject.
Mauro takes me in his pickup truck and we head off up the mountain where the road narrows, climbs steeper, and is increasingly surrounded by rainforest. Even his powerful car struggles on the climb. More sweat pours out.
At the top of the hill, Mauro takes me to the wooden launch pad. Looking back down towards the beach landing strip, it's adjacent 20-story apartment blocks look like little blocks of Lego in the distance. Pedra Bonita stands at 2,283ft, and feels every bit of it.
Mauro shows me some of the safety equipment and the hang glider itself. Its supporting ropes, which I will soon be hanging from, appear flimsy, though he assures me that a car could be hung from them.
We are connected up and head to the platform with our kite, where I'm reminded that, due to the lack of wind, we need to run fast in tandem to make sure we gain enough speed, and therefore lift, so we will actually fly. Mauro points to the fact that we are both overweight men, so running fast will be all the more important.
I'm focused on the task; running for my life. At the count of three, we bolt to the edge and simply fall off the edge platform. I was forewarned not to attempt to jump. We descend straight down towards a mound of grass about 20 feet below, not yet flying but not quite falling. An audience has gathered beneath the viewing platform to watch our attempted take-off. It happens so quick, but we fall to just a couple of feet away from the grass below, going at what feels like breakneck speeds. Will we crash? No. Our kite catches the air and we lift upwards and outward just in time - away from the grass. In any case, the grassy bank below suddenly falls off a sheer cliff and we now have instant height as well as lift. We are no longer falling. We are flying.
The trees below are a great many hundreds of metres below. Considering my fear of height, I tell myself it is all a painted canvas – it certainly appears that way. Rocinha twinkles in the distance alongside the 'two brothers' mountain. The ocean glows a deep blue. A humid mist rises from the trees below as the sun burns off the tropical rainfall we’d had last night. Everything appears as a picture. The feeling of weightlessness is a thrilling. Rio's beauty from this height is awe-inspiring.
The flight, which felt slow and elegant, started to quicken as we come in towards the beach landing strip. Mauro reminds me to keep my hands away from the bars, which are his steering wheel. The gentle waves below are a vibrant turquoise colour.
As we swoop towards the beach, I realise our speed is far greater than I can run. Mauro pushes the bars up; the angle of the hang glider’s wings then slows us to a halt. Out feet touch the soft golden sand. The flight is over. Mauro congratulates me. For him, this is his office, 7 days a week. I can see why he loves it. My fear of heights and flying is cured. I want to climb back in the pickup truck and do it all again. Rio has inspired me. Its official tourism slogan was once 'Celebrate Life.' It now all makes sense.
There are many hang gliding instructors connected to the São Conrado facility. Bookings aren’t necessary but it might be worth booking ahead, especially on weekends. Prices range from R$300-450 (£100 – 150) and photographs and live video are usually provided.
My blog on Brazil has more info: http://sometimebrazilian.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/celebrating-life-in-rio.html
Contact Mauro Sacramento:
Phone: (21) 7816-5737
Email: mauromsfly@hotmail.com
Written February 9, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pollythais
Dublin, Ireland13 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
It used to be good! When it wasn´t poluted. It used to have caribbean/clear water. Unfortunately now they throw poo (yeah that´s right) into the beach. All poo from "rocinha slum" is going straight to the ocean... when will this change?
Written December 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
impressionniste
Rio de Janeiro34 contributions
Beautiful but too dirty. The beach is in the feet of Rocinha, one of the biggest "favelas" of Rio, which sewage makes its way into the wonderful blue waters. Regretful but true...
Written February 18, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GUSDALI
Rio de Janeiro, RJ8,164 contributions
Oct 2010
The beach where hang-gliders land is one of the most beautiful in Rio. Dramatically situated between the mountains and the sea (as if being pushed through the green forest toward the blue ocean), its edge is also one of the most exclusive and expensive addresses in the city, despite being very close to the largest favela, Rocinha - and what an amazing contrast! Although not recommend the dive due to pollution, not found unfit for bathing, but it really could be a little cleaner.
Written September 2, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
be1t0n
Stockport, UK65 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
This is a good beach for people that want to avoid the chaos of the main Rio beaches as it is in a more residential area. There are plenty of bars/kiosks along the edge of the beach but not many places for proper food. Some reviewers have mentioned that it isn't clean. This wasn't my experience at all.
Written March 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
glawrie
Maidenhead, UK85 contributions
Aug 2015
A small beach 'one bay round cost' from Ipanema beach (going west - i.e. away from Rio city). About 15 minutes walk over hill from Leblon if you know the way, or about same by taxi / bus etc.
Very similar to Ipanema beach in quality of sand, with same gentle surf and amazing views. But many fewer people and so much more space (and less feeling that you are getting 'hustled' somehow). There are a couple of hotels right on the beach, and a couple of snack / bar type places but being smaller the number is less, and it is further away from Leblon / Ipanema / Copacabana shops and so on. If you can get to it, worth the trip.
Very similar to Ipanema beach in quality of sand, with same gentle surf and amazing views. But many fewer people and so much more space (and less feeling that you are getting 'hustled' somehow). There are a couple of hotels right on the beach, and a couple of snack / bar type places but being smaller the number is less, and it is further away from Leblon / Ipanema / Copacabana shops and so on. If you can get to it, worth the trip.
Written August 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jose J
26 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
São Conrado was once (reportedly) the nicest beach in Rio. Today it is plagued by one unforgivable problem: raw sewage daily flowing into the beach. If you look from the above, the place looks beautiful. It is a small beach (1,5 km), encapsulated by a mountain chain and a lot of green. However, the place is terribly mistreated by the public administration. Raw sewage flows into the left corner of the beach (towards Vidigal).Sometimes the smell is just disgusting. . The right corner, know as Praia do Pepino looks a bit better and the sewage problem seems slight less serious. Anyway, I do not recommend anyone to dive.
Additionally, São Conrado neighborhood is quite unattractive. No shops not life, just residential buildings and a shopping mall. Unless you are into hang gliding and similars, don't wast your time: Stay in Ipanema/Leblon or go to Barra and beyond.
Additionally, São Conrado neighborhood is quite unattractive. No shops not life, just residential buildings and a shopping mall. Unless you are into hang gliding and similars, don't wast your time: Stay in Ipanema/Leblon or go to Barra and beyond.
Written April 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edward's Assessments
Houston, TX345 contributions
Feb 2015 • Family
We didn't go in the water, but it looked about as good as any other beach in the area. However, if you love to watch parachuting or hang gliding, this is the spot. You can watch as the parachuters and hang gliders jump from the cliff and glide and circle and eventually land on this beach on a pseudo-runway. They also have vendors and kiosks here as well. FYI - the parking looked like it could get a bit difficult.
Written February 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Russell B
1 contribution
Stayed in Brazil for a just over a week. We were meant to stay for 3 weeks, but due to poor quality workmanship and management we had to come home early.
We will not want to come back here ever due to the awful memories.
Kind regards.
England Football Team.
We will not want to come back here ever due to the awful memories.
Kind regards.
England Football Team.
Written October 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marcelany
Argentina20 contributions
hola !hay servicio de alquiler de sombrilla y reposeras en la playa?o el hotel las brinda (royal tulip)gracias!
É seguro chegar em São Conrado a noite vindo do aeroporto do Galeão?
Teresa Araújo
184 contributions
Andrea quando você pegar o táxi no aeroporto, ele com certeza escolherá o melhor e mais seguro roteiro porque ele conhece todas as rotas nos horários adequados. Costumo sair a noite para a zona sul e venho sempre pelo túnel, acho mais seguro que pela Niemeyer que tem mão dupla, estreita e se houver algum problema não tem para onde correr.
maizcu
Buenos Aires, Argentina24 contributions
Hola viajeros. Yo voy a Ipanema este fin de semana, cerca de Leblon. Y necesito saber como ir a Sao Conrado desde el Jardín de Ala. En el plano se ve cerquita, que me dicen?
Gracias!!!
Marian04
Buenos Aires, Argentina19 contributions
hola, una pregunta, es segura la zona? un cliente brasilero, me dijo que la zona es hermosa y no pasa nada..que mucho igual no voy a hacer por ahi...que tenes parada de colectivo sobre la av y te lleva a las playas populares, yo tengo miedo por la fabella rocinha pero me dijo este cliente que esta lejos desde la playa..yo estaria en royal tulip justo frente al mar
natalia v
Bahia Blanca, Argentina119 contributions
Hola Marian, la verdad es que es un contraste imponente ya que atras de sao conrado y tijuca se puede visualizar la rosinha pero es verdad que es una de las zonas mas seguras de rio, se pueden ver autos importados a granel y el lugar denota una clase social mas alta que copacaban e ipanema. Lo otro que tambien es verdad que en la avenida tenes todos los micros que necesites no solo para ir a copacabana ipanema y leblon, sino tambien para ir al corcavado o al pan de azucar es muy facil manejarse en micro, tene en cuenta que tu seguridad tambien depende de vos, donde anda gente no pasa nada, ahora si no hay nadie ve para otro sitio, esto es regla en brasil y en cualquier parte del mundo! espero te sirva mi comentario y cualquier duda me consultas! disfruta de rio por que es lo mas!!
silvinacerini
Montevideo, Uruguay
Voy a ir a Sao Conrado a fines de abril sola, a un congreso. Que atracciones ofrece este barrio y que tan seguro es? Hay algún lugar donde cambien dólares a reales cerca?
Pueden recomendarme algo mas? Muchas gracias
natalia v
Bahia Blanca, Argentina119 contributions
San conrado es una zona hermosa de rio de janeiro, la zona es super tranquila y segura, muy cerquita de ahi esta tijuca otra playa para conocer, te podes mover tranquilamente en bus, lo mismo si queres ir para el lado de copacabana e ipanema, o al pan de azucar, Rio ofrece muchas atracciones y es digno de conocer. que lo pases hermoso!!
jmaadv
Estoril, Portugal36 contributions
Levando em conta a poluição e a altura das ondas, a praia de São Conrado é adequada para crianças ?
Taleroy
34 contributions
Sim é uma praia bem tranquila pra levar crianças, mais se for em um domingo de sol favor prestar bastante atenção nas crianças pois fica muito lotada! !!
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Claim your listingSao Conrado Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Sao Conrado Beach
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Sao Conrado Beach:
- Biking and Hiking Tour from Copacabana to Two Brothers Hill (From $47.30)
- Rio de Janeiro Main Landmarks Tour Including Christ the Redeemer and Selaron Steps (From $42.00)
- Experience Hang Gliding or Paragliding in Rio (From $183.53)
- Tijuca Peak Hiking - The Highest Summit in Tijuca National Park (From $93.85)
- Hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro (From $187.49)
- Hotels near Sao Conrado Beach:
- (0.25 mi) Vanazul
- (0.40 mi) Para Ti Guesthouse
- (0.40 mi) Casa Sao Conrado
- (0.99 mi) Hotel Nacional Rio de Janeiro
- (0.05 mi) Apartamento Luxo em São Conrado
- Restaurants near Sao Conrado Beach:
- (0.03 mi) Soga Beach
- (0.12 mi) Bartho Praia
- (0.19 mi) Mané Praia São Conrado
- (0.80 mi) Gurumê Fashion Mall
- (1.86 mi) Mocellin Mar
Sao Conrado Beach Information
Excellent Reviews | 132 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 114 |
Sao Conrado Beach Photos | 278 |