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South American Explorers |
NAME: Tim Wenzel
ttwenzel@citynet.net
DATES:
November 1999
EXCHANGE:
1.92R$/US$
WEATHER:
cool water, hot sun
TERRAIN:
tropical island, hills, beaches, surf
TRIP RATING: 10
COUNTRY:
Brazil
ROUTE:
Bus from Rio de Janeiro (Novo Rio rodoviária) to Angra dos Reis leaves about every hour,
bus company name: Costa Verde, cost: R$11.47. Travel time: 2.5 hr. Ferry from Angra
to the island leaves at 11:00, 13:50 and 17:00. Returns to Angra 3:35, 12:25 and
15:15, cost: R$2.15 M-Th, R$6.00 F-Sun. Travel time: 70 min. Ferry terminal is about
1 block from bus station, walk out to end of wharf to wait.
HOTELS:
Colibri Resort (Pousada Beija Flor), Rua da Assembléia, 70 in Abraao - turn right off Rua
Getúlio Vargas just before Assembléia de Deus church. email: brazil.travel.hotmail.com.
Homepage www.travel.to/brasilien, or see
ilhagrande.br.com. Phone from Rio 55-21 548-1037 cost: R$35, 50, 75 for 2,3,4 persons in
low season, R$60, 85, 105 in high season. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! Owned by Swedish /
Brazilian couple (Kathe and Toninho) and their friend Bo and cat Ti Maya, it is newly
refurbished, very clean, great breakfast and, true to its name, immersed in hummingbirds.
The owners are extremely helpful, friendly, interesting and multi-lingual. In
the future they hope to offer some unusual island touring opportunities. I can't say
enough good things about this place!
ESSENTIALS:
Camera, sunscreen.
COMMENTS:
Abraao is literally a one horse town (and the horse is very friendly). In low
season, the island was delightful, but in high season, it could get a little crowded.
November was an excellent time to visit all of Brazil, though the water in the
south was quite chilly. A nice day trip is to hike to Praia Lopes Mendes, leaving
Abraao by 10AM. The first large beach you encounter is at Palmas - here you can get
a cold drink and enjoy the beautiful beach. The next beach is Mangues, where the
schooners come in. Finally you arrive at Lopes Mendes, after about 3 hrs total
hiking time. You can return via schooner if you wish, just arrive back at Mangues by
4PM and buy a passage (R$15). This is highly recommended as you will be tired and
besides the boat trip back is very scenic. Note, according to the owners of Colibri,
there is no obvious trail connecting Lopes Mendes with the old penal colony (contrary to
the map in Lonely Planet Brazil) so a circuit hike would be very difficult.
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