Sex on the beach: Top five sandy hotspots

5. Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ever found yourself humming that mellow, seductive tune by Stan Getz and Antonio Jobim, The Girl From Ipanema? Natural Viagra to anyone who sets foot on its fine sands, the real beach behind the song is divided into segments called postos - it is pretty much universally recognised that posto number nine is where the fittest specimens hang out. There they drink glasses of chilled Cachaça - sugar syrup and limejuice otherwise known as a caipirinha, and rumoured to be quite the aphrodisiac.

The beach is also trendily appointed, in a wealthy, glamorous area. At the western end of the bay one can see Rio's famous twin mountains, the Two Brothers. They certainly chose the right spot to linger.

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