Ipanema Shopping & Leisure (Self Guided), Rio de Janeiro

Ipanema is one of the hottest shopping and leisure locations in the city, famed for the long stretch of sand that is Ipanema Beach. If you are looking for fun, thrills and excitement, you will definitely find it here. The area was made globally famous by such songs as Girl from Ipanema, a huge Bossa Nova hit from the 1960s, composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes.

Head to the beach for sunbathing, swimming and surfing among other activities. A popular location to wax down your surfboard and then ride the waves is Arpoador, considered by many to be one of the best metropolitan surf spots in Rio de Janeiro. At various points in the summer, you may be able to see the sun setting over the sea in this part of the world. This is a rare occurrence because of the typically eastward-facing Brazilian coast.

Ipanema is also a superlative shopping destination, with many specialty stores and exclusive boutiques. In fact, it is one of the city's most fashionable shopping districts. On Sundays, go to Square General Osório for the 'hippy fair' where you can purchase handicrafts and handmade clothes.

At night, the upscale neighborhood comes into its own with chic bars, stylish lounges and upmarket restaurants where the fine dining on Brazilian and international cuisines is exquisite.