Arpoador, playa de Río de Janeiro
Arpoador is a rocky peninsula jutting into the Atlantic between Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, with multiple levels and natural platforms that provide different vantage points. The formation rises above the shoreline and allows visitors to walk around its surfaces while surrounded by ocean views on multiple sides.
The name comes from colonial-era fishermen who hunted whales from this vantage point using harpoons to catch them offshore. The rock has long served as a distinctive landmark for people living along this stretch of coast.
The rock serves as a gathering place where locals and visitors applaud together as the sun dips below the horizon each evening, a spontaneous ritual that happens naturally throughout the year.
The rock can be reached via established pathways and steps that provide access to different areas and levels. Visiting in late afternoon works best if you want to avoid crowds and get good light for photos.
It is one of the few spots on the Brazilian coast where you can watch the sun set directly over the water, since most beaches along this coastline face east. This westward orientation creates a rare natural phenomenon for the region.
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