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Published: March 3rd 2007
The day started with great expectations however this changed within a few hours as we first realised that the clocks had gone back an hour and then, due to a misunderstanding of the tour instructions, we arrived at the tour meeting hotel only to discover that we weren´t due to start the next leg of our adventure until the next day. We did however meet the rest of our tour companions that evening - a mix of 11 guys and gals from the US, UK, Oz, Germany and Norway. After the false start on the 26th Feb we finally departed Rio at noon on the 27th heading for Ilha Grande, via the port of Angra Dos Reis - a 2 hour minibus journey followed by a 1.5 hour boat trip on a schooner - arriving at the main town on the island, Abraâo. The Island has a population of approximately 500 and apart from the Fire Service´s VW Camper Van there are no vehicles - A Pedestrian´s Paradise!
Our home for the next three nights is a small chalet, a short walk from the town and beach which are both very busy with a mix of backpackers and locals.
It is
on the Island that we enjoy our first ice cream - ¨their first ice cream?¨ we hear you cry!!
The second day we take a 2 hour hike, in soaring temperatures, over the mountain behind the town ending up on a picturesque beach called Dois Rios - Two Rivers. The beach has 2 rivers joining the sea at either end (hence the name) and has the softest sand, The sea is also warm and shallow, although there is a strong under-current constantly trying to drag you out to sea. We spend the next few hours here, soaking up the rays, cooling off in the sea and attempting to body surf the waves before it is time to endure the 2 hour hike back to the hotel again. However, it is all worth while as we are greeted with a barbeque and caiprinihas, followed by several beers in one of the the only bars in town.
The next day we head off on a boat trip to visit a couple of places around the island, including Lagâoa Verde and Lagâoa Azul (the Green and Blue Lagoons) and a couple of beaches. We swim with yellow and black striped Zebra fish in
Lagâoa Verde but don´t stop long enough at Lagâoa Azul to take a dip. We then stop off for lunch at one of the beaches but have to return to the town early as the wind picks up so it is too dangerous for us to stop at the last beach. In the evening we have paella made with loads of local seafood, which is delicious.
The final day on the island and it´s an early start to catch the boat back to the mainland followed by a 2 hour ride on public transport (surrounded by over-filled backpacks) before we reach our next destination of Paraty...
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Kaz
non-member comment
Very envious!
Wow, looks like you chaps are having a fab time. Those beaches look idyllic and the tans don't look too bad either! Carry on trekking, having a brill time, and we'll be thinking of you from the snowy slopes of the French Alps next week. Have fun, Dudes! Love Kaz x