Club Med Rio Das Pedras
Club Med Rio das Pedras exists in a category with almost no direct competitors: a full-service all-inclusive within striking distance of Rio de Janeiro, set on a sheltered cove of the Costa Verde with the Atlantic Forest coming right down to the sand. The property opened in 1989 and Club Med builds on less than a fifth of its 330,000 square metres, so the setting does the heavy lifting. Travellers who know the brand know what to expect: included watersports, the G.O. entertainment culture, kids clubs in five age bands from babies to teenagers, and an all-in pricing model that eliminates the tip-everything, pay-extra-for-everything dynamic. The resort is also fresh from a R$40 million renovation that Club Med announced in July 2024 and declared complete in September 2024: a new sea-view Junior Suite category at about 40 square metres, a new lounge bar, a refurbished Jangada restaurant and main bar, a new theatre that turns into a dance floor and bar at night, and a convention centre for 864.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +A sheltered cove on Rio state's Costa Verde, with a fine-sand beach backed by Atlantic Forest. Club Med says less than 20 percent of the 330,000 square metre property is built on, so the forest is the view from almost everywhere
- +Club Med's all-inclusive formula puts watersports, land sports and the G.O. entertainment staff in the base rate. Water-skiing, wakeboarding and kayaking are included off the beach, alongside archery, tennis, team sports and fitness classes, with no tipping culture and no surprise add-ons for the standard programme
- +One of the very few genuine resort experiences within reach of Rio de Janeiro, which makes it the natural add-on to a city trip for Brazilian families and international visitors alike
- +A R$40 million renovation, announced in July 2024 and declared complete in September 2024, delivered a new sea-view Junior Suite category at about 40 square metres in the centre of the resort, a new lounge bar, a top-to-bottom refurbishment of the Jangada restaurant and the main bar in neutral tones referencing Brazilian nature, a new theatre that becomes a dance floor and bar at night, and a convention centre for 864
- +Children's programming runs in five age bands, 0 to 2, 2 to 3, 4 to 10, 11 to 13 and 14 to 17, with dedicated childcare facilities, which is wider coverage than most Caribbean kids clubs offer
- +The cove's calm, protected water suits young children and beginner watersports, and the beach is the resort's own rather than a public strand
- +La Réserve, the Exclusive Collection space, is a resort within the resort: 33 suites and penthouses added in 2016, a private infinity-edge pool, its own lounge bar and concierge service, open to children from age 4
- +Quiet by design. The pace is family-calm rather than party-forward, which is the opposite of most Brazilian beach resorts and the reason regulars choose it
Cons
- −Two and a half hours by road from either Rio airport by Club Med's own estimate, so it is a real commitment rather than a quick hop from the city, and the Rio-Santos highway can add to that on summer weekends
- −The cove gives you calm water, not surf. Guests who want real Atlantic waves or long beach walks will find the beach small; it is tucked between wooded hills with a restaurant and a boat pier at one end
- −Club Med sells it mostly as a flight-inclusive package priced in reais, which makes it awkward to compare the resort price alone against Caribbean all-inclusives quoted per night in dollars
- −Evening entertainment is limited compared with Caribbean all-inclusives. The new theatre-to-dance-floor space helps, but the quiet family vibe can feel flat after four or five nights
- −Brazil's entry requirements, currency swings and domestic travel logistics add complexity that a Cancun or Punta Cana trip does not have
- −The Costa Verde is one of the wettest coasts in Brazil. The summer wet season, roughly December through March, brings high humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms that cut into outdoor time
- −It is a big property, with rooms in the hundreds across the Superior, Deluxe, Suite and Exclusive Collection categories. In Brazilian school holidays (July, and the December to Carnival stretch) it fills with large family groups and the main buffet runs at capacity
The practical experience is Club Med's standard formula on a calmer coast. Dining runs through the main international buffet and Jangada for a la carte dinner by advance reservation, with the main bar, the Jangada bar, a pool bar and the new lounge bar covering drinks, and a separate lounge bar for La Réserve guests. Water-skiing, wakeboarding and kayaking go out from the beach, and the land programme covers archery, tennis, team sports and fitness classes, with the Espaço Bem-estar spa and excursions as the main paid extras. Rooms span Superior, Deluxe and Suite categories plus La Réserve, the Exclusive Collection space added in 2016 with 33 suites and penthouses, a private infinity-edge pool and concierge service. Wi-Fi is included in the rooms. The main caveat is the road: Club Med quotes about two and a half hours from either Rio airport, so this is a resort-first trip, not a day-by-day shuttle to the city.
For who this is right for: couples and families who like Club Med's culture of organised fun without being forced into it, travellers who want forest and cove rather than manicured resort rows, and anyone who wants to see Brazil beyond the urban Rio cliches. The quiet family atmosphere and thin nightlife make it wrong for party seekers. Pricing comes mostly as flight-inclusive packages in reais, so compare it against Club Med's Caribbean options on a like-for-like package basis rather than a dollar-per-night figure. The 2024 renovation has closed most of the polish gap that older reviews complained about, and Rio das Pedras is a specialist pick for the right traveller.
Common Questions
How far is Club Med Rio das Pedras from Rio de Janeiro?
What is the beach like at Club Med Rio das Pedras?
What did the recent renovation change?
What sports and activities are included in the Club Med all-inclusive rate?
Is Club Med Rio das Pedras suitable for families with young children?
How does Club Med Rio das Pedras compare to Club Med Trancoso in Brazil?
Restaurants (2)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Main restaurant |
| Italian | Jangada |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Praia Grande (Mangaratiba)1 min walk · 0.1 mi
14 min drive · 6.5 mi
40 min drive · 19 mi
More things to do (14)
- Praia da Paciência · beach3 min drive · 0.9 mi
- Praia do Sítio Bom · beach8 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Conceição de Jacareí · beach14 min drive · 6.5 mi
- Praia do Saco (Mangaratiba) · beach20 min drive · 8.4 mi
- Mangaratiba town · town25 min drive · 9.8 mi
- Mirante do Morro do Morais · viewpoint25 min drive · 9.4 mi
- Ruínas do Sahy · historic site25 min drive · 11 mi
- Praia do Sahy · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
- Mirante Imperial · viewpoint25 min drive · 12 mi
- Praia de Ibicuí · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
- Praia Brava (Mangaratiba) · beach30 min drive · 12 mi
- Praia de Muriqui · beach35 min drive · 16 mi
- Angra dos Reis historic center (Convento do Carmo) · town55 min drive · 24 mi
- Praia do Café (Angra dos Reis) · beach55 min drive · 25 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 7,552 reviews
“What an amazing place! Club Med Rio das Pedras really blew me away — great facilities and a vibe that makes you relax from the moment you arrive. Right from the start we were super well taken care of, and I’ve gotta highlight the Guest Relations team...”
“Chef Pedro and Gian Luca were amazing. They were super friendly and made us feel really taken care of. They even prepared a few special dishes for us, and everything was delicious. Their good vibes and attention made our experience at Club Med even b...”
“It was amazing, the place is great, service is excellent and a lot of sports. Luiza and Vanessa were outstanding and made our stay unforgettable. 12/10 will definitely come back (when I get the money)”
