Visiting Barra da Tijuca
The neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca is one of the most affluent areas in Rio de Janeiro. Located in the southwest of the city, it was developed recently, beginning in 1969, based on a plan by urbanist Lucio Costa that prioritized functionalist and modernist architecture. The result is a car-centric district with wide avenues, high-rise buildings, and an urban highway connecting it to the city center. The neighborhood is known for its beach and for hosting the Olympic Village and the majority of sporting venues during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
An affluent residential area of Rio de Janeiro
Barra da Tijuca was built according to North American urban development standards, characterized by large-scale infrastructure and reliance on motor vehicles. The neighborhood features the largest shopping mall in Brazil, Barra's Mall, which houses over 700 stores and numerous recreational options. The area is also known for its trendy atmosphere, bars, and restaurants. Its main beach, Praia de Barra da Tijuca, is less famous than those in Copacabana or Ipanema and is popular for family outings. It offers opportunities for water sports like kite-surfing, wind-surfing, and paddle-boarding. Stretching from one end of this vast expanse of sand to the other are the more intimate beaches of Reserva and Recreio.
The host area for the 2016 Olympic Games
The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games significantly accelerated the development of Barra da Tijuca, notably by bringing in Metro Line 4 and modernizing bus routes. Environmentally, the neighborhood includes three lakes, an ecological park, Chico Mendes, which houses protected animal and plant species, and a forest, Bosque da Barra (Barra Forest).
Before discovering this beach, the longest in Rio de Janeiro (18 km) with some Brazilian friends, I had never heard of it. It is located after Tijuca Park and the Rocinha favela, so it is a bit out of the way to the west. And yet, it is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city. This beach is perfectly suited for surfers because of its big waves. It is also much quieter than Copacabana or Ipanema, but it is not ideal for young children...