Joatinga is a small beach located between Barra and São Conrado, accessible only through a small mountain road.

It is quite secluded, which makes it a perfect spot to spend the day. Joatinga Beach is also very popular amongst local surfers because it has some really nice waves.

One thing to know about Joatinga Beach is that even though it is beautiful, the stretch of sand is really small so only a handful of people fit there. During the day, as the tide goes up, even less of the beach becomes available.

For this reason, Joatinga can get really crowded during hot summer days. I highly recommend arriving early!

Pro tip: Even though there is always at least one vendor in Joatinga, the options for food and drinks are very few. I recommend bringing snacks and at least a water bottle with you.