It has been about 10 years since I was there.
There is more than one beach..Ipenema(sp?)
and another one..so check the maps!

At least the currency has "settled" down. I took American Express traveler's checks...not
all that easy to convert at that time. I did
on the "gray" market..AMEX office sent me to
a place, they did not do it.

Have a good one. Rio is a fascinating place.