|
|
Angra dos Reis
Rio de Janeiro State
- Brazil
365 islands
Angra is one of the most beautiful places I know in Brazil. My trip started with a departure in bus from Rio de Janeiro, and as I have mentioned in other stories, buses in Brazil are really bad. This case was no exception. Apart from that, the landscape that you see during the trip is just fantastic.
Angra dos Reis is located some 150 km far from Rio de Janeiro. The village in itself is quite small, but the peculiar thing about Angra is that it is the gateway to discover countless islands. Many celebrities, like Xuxa or Ayrton Senna, have bought islands of their own. Famous-and-rich magazine Caras has an island here too, where celebrities are invited for some relaxed shooting sessions.
Interestingly enough, due to such profusion of islands, there is more sea traffic rather then inland traffic. Without any doubt, tourist attractions in Angra are closely connected to the sea.
The inn where I stayed is a very nice place, despite being somehow isolated. One of the greatest things I enjoyed there was the evenings, because due to the inn orientation I had the chance to witness the sun falling into the sea.
There are several companies charting sailboats and yachts, which is for sure an excellent option for you to fully enjoy your trip.
Angra is definitively one of those places that I recommend 100%, especially if you are a sea lover.
Places to visit:
Ilha Grande
This is a very pleasant island, particularly the Lopes Mendes beach. If you want to visit this paradise, you will most probably need to take a boat to Palmas and then walk up a steep, rough track. Under the noon sun, the journey can be rather tiring, but it will only take you 30 minutes to get there.
Another breathtaking point in the island is the so-called Lagoa Azul, where many boats will anchor so that tourists can plunge into the crystal clear waters.
Paraty
This colonial village is located just a few miles south of Angra. No cars are allowed to circulate in the downtown area, since it is preserved as a historical area.
Picturesque Paraty also boasts some quite tasty regional food and good restaurants.
In the route from Angra to Paraty you can see the Angra 1 nuclear plant. People say that it is free of danger, but I heard that the refrigeration process employs sea water which is then spilled back into the sea...
Paraty Mirim
This is the next beach in the way south of Paraty. When I visited this location it was virtually abandoned and I only saw some native tribes.
Trindade
Heading a little bit more to the south, I arrived in Trindade. The beaches here are really beautiful and the whole village seems to be an unexplored paradise, what makes it well more attractive.
In my way, I found a refreshing waterfall near Brava Beach. To get there you need to take a long and rough track, but the stroll is worthwhile.
Taking yet another track, I got to the natural swimming pools of Caixadaço, after going through the nudist and well-hidden Figueira Beach.
Traveler's nightmare: I believe that the worst aspect of my trip was the location of the inn. It was placed in a beautiful yet distant neighborhood, reason why I ended up renting a car in order to visit other beaches.
If your idea is to spend some calm and tranquil vacations, you really doesn't need a car because tourist boats will pick you up daily at most inns and offer you some interesting excursions.
Things you should not miss: Do not miss visiting Ilha Grande by boat, while you taste some tropical fruits by the sound of Bob Marley.
Ilha dos Porcos is a very beautiful place to visit, as well as Ilha de Paquetá.
I also recommend you stop by in Trindade, where you will find some amazing beaches.
|
|
|
|
