Each year, endless amounts of guys flock to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to hopefully experience a fling or two with any of the countless hot, local girls there prancing around in bikinis during the day, and losing their minds in the clubs at night.

The motivation is certainly understandable, since the women here are famous for their bodies, their beauty, and their fun, outgoing, party-loving personalities.

Here’s the thing though: While you may think this means it’s easy to just go out, impress a girl with your foreign-ness, and bring her back to your place hours later, you’re in for a surprise.

The truth is, getting a Brazilian girl back to your place on the first date or encounter is a rarity, even if you spend plenty of time bumping & grinding with her in the club, and maybe even some kissing as well. At the end of the night, you’re going home alone — unless you’re willing to pay for some fun. I’ve covered that elsewhere on this site.

So, that leaves you with a different option, and that’s getting a girlfriend in Rio. If you’re staying for a few weeks or longer, this is a much better way to get the full Brazilian girl experience in every way. By following a few simple suggestions, you’ll set yourself up for a great stay while in Brazil’s hottest city, and hopefully find yourself a girlfriend to keep you occupied while you’re there.

This is not some fool-proof guide to land you a guaranteed girlfriend, but it’s certainly a blueprint for doing so. The level of success ultimately depends on you, but here’s the best way to go about it.

Learn Some Portuguese

For a country full of expats, students, and locals very much aware of Western pop culture, Brazilians do not speak English very well. Sure, they may know how to say a few random things, and every now and then you’ll run into some super-educated girl that’s fluent, but expecting anyone here to be even conversational in English is a mistake.

If you really want to give yourself a good chance of having any success with girls here, you’d better start learning some Portuguese. If you speak Spanish, or are somewhat conversational with Spanish, you’ll have a much easier time learning the local language here. If you’re fully fluent with Spanish, you can pretty much get by just fine.

I realize that learning a new language is easier said than done, but you will have a much easier time in Rio if you do, and you’ll likely get more out of it too — and that includes your time with the ladies here.

Approach During the Day

I just want to reemphasize that Brazil is not a place to show up and start having immediate success with local girls the first day you meet them. It’s a process, so you have to start somewhere. I’ll touch on nightlife further down, but know that meeting girls during the day is a very effective way to get a foot in the door, secure a date, and see where things go from there.

Daytime approaching is hit-or-miss, but it’s incredibly easy to do, doesn’t cost you anything, and you can do it pretty much anywhere. Beaches are one of the best spots, and Ipanema Beach is a good location, since many girls come here by themselves for a bit on hot days, or with a friend or two.

Rio Sul shopping mall is another great place to meet nice chicas, whether that’s when you’re walking around the mall or stores, or chatting it up with a girl who’s at work.

Juice bars such as Bibi Sucos are another great place, since many girls stop by on their own to get a quick snack or juice before heading off.

Regardless of where you go, talk to her for a minute or two (asking for the direction to an attraction or landmark should work to start off), get her number or contact info, and continue on. The more numbers, the better, because Brazilian girls are flaky as hell.

Know the Areas to Go

There are things to do and places to stay all over Rio, but not all of them are as good for meeting girls as others. Many tourists stay in the southern part of the city, and stick to the usual spots like Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, etc. These are all fine, and you can certainly meet local Brazilian girls in these posts, but it’s best to stray a little further from all the usual touristy stuff if you really want to meet local girls more willing to date you.

Lapa is one of the best areas to go to at night, as there are a ton of clubs, and a lot of the girls going there are students, and a bit more down to earth. Plus, on Fridays, Lapa has street parties all over the place, which of course draws a huge crowd. This is a great atmosphere to meet local women who are hanging out with their friends, buying cheap beers off the street, and of course dancing.

There are also obvious areas to not go. Never go to favelas without a local, and try to stick to the areas with lots of people and lighting.

For some better direction, it’s always good to ask some local guys where to go. They may even introduce you to their social circle, which is a huge advantage.

Be Aware of Social Norms

Dating a Rio girl means knowing the culture in the city. Brazil is already quite the adventurous and sexual country, but native Brazilians from other parts of the country can be a little culture shocked when they first come to Rio. It’s a lot to deal with at first, especially in regards to nightlife.

For instance, it’s very common to make out with multiple girls in one night at a bar or club, and still not get anything more later. This is called “ficando”, which is basically a kiss that means absolutely nothing. It’s all part of the game and flirting.

Speaking of that, you’ll know pretty quickly if a girl is into you or not. Flirting is aggressive here, and girls who aren’t interested in you will quickly trail off, quit talking, or just kind of walk away. If she’s talking to you for more than 10-15 minutes, go in for a kiss, and try to get her number. You’re likely not getting anything that night, but you just might in a few days.

Break into a Social Circle

Getting into a friend group or social circle is crucial to dating a Brazilian girl, even in a crazy place like Rio. When you’re out at a club or bar, or out at the beach, look for opportunities to make friends.

Just be friendly, approachable, and genuine, and you’ll quickly make friends, which then sort of grants you access and permission to ask a girl on a date from that group. You’ll also get invited to parties and other events, making you even more ingrained with them, and even their other friend groups.

Have Some Game

Girls in Rio are not going to be impressed just because you’re a gringo, or have a decent amount of money. This is not Thailand. Lots of guys here also look like fitness models, which complicates things a bit. Because of this, it’s important to actually have some game, and be able to make yourself appealing to girls while you’re here.

Dress well, be in shape, and be confident and liberal with compliments, and you’ll have a much better chance at impressing the ladies.

Meet Girls Online

In case you didn’t know by now, meeting girls online before you arrive in a Latin country is one of the easiest and most effective ways to line dates up. You get all the awkwardness out of the way, get to know them a bit, and build anticipation for your arrival, making the girl excited and more likely to hang out with you. This is especially true in Rio de Janeiro.

There are obviously a ton of dating apps out there for this kind of thing, but if you really want to get some results, check out the popular dating site. This site has the most Brazilian girls on it.

All you need to do is fill out a profile, start matching with girls, and then message them. You’ll be surprised at how many girls are on here, and how receptive they are to white guys. After all, they are on there to meet dudes, so you already have an advantage. Make sure you use it.

Getting a girlfriend in Rio may be harder than some other places, but it’s worth it. Just make sure to use some common sense and be patient, and you’ll likely have some great results, leading to a much better time while you’re down there.