Advice for trekking in the Pantanal and Brazil

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Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

Q. ” Hi Alison,

I am planning on arriving in Brazil with my boyfriend at the end of may. We have booked our flights and the inca trail for the end of July but that’s it. We plan to travel down through Brazil, into Uraguay then Argentina up to the falls and into the Pantanal and then onto Bolivia and Peru. I wanted to ask about the Pantanal. We are both very keen to do some sort of trekking experience. We were going to do a Bamba experience hop on-off bus tour which included the pantanal in a 4 day 3 night trek however have decided against this as it is too expensive and not what is expected after researching online. I think after the Iguacu Falls we would probably travel from Bonito to the Pantanal or Campo Grande? But are there any trekking companies you could recommend? I would be grateful to hear from you.”

E.J, UK

 

A. Hi there,

Thanks for getting in touch. Actually I have just got back from the Pantanal and regrettably for you it is not trekking country. It is beautiful flat, vast and wet and only “doable” by 4×4 or Pantanal horse.  Bonito is actually not in the Pantanal and has a completely different terrain of caves and rivers and hills although it is indeed an equally beautiful place to visit. Much like the Pantanal it is expensive, and similarly you can’t explore alone. All activities are organised.

If I were interested in trekking I would go to Chapada Diamantina in Bahia. (get a 5 hour bus there from Salvador).  It’s a lot easier and cheaper with a big variety of walks at different difficulty levels. You don’t see the same number of birds and animals you see in the Pantanal, but the scenery is gorgeous. Stay at Alcino Estalagem, or Villa Serrano in Lençois the main town, or Lagoa das Cores in Vale do Capão an hour a way. All of them will recommend guides and trips and trekking.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Um abraço

Alison

For further information on Brazil Travel & Pousadas visit Hidden Pousadas Brazil

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Looking for Bahian pousadas to celebrate wedding anniversary

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Taipu de Fora, Maraú, Bahia

Q. ” Hi Alison

We lived in Sao Paulo for three years twenty five years ago and would like to return to Brasil to celebrate our pearl wedding anniversary. We are interested in a ten day touring holiday in Bahia travelling to little pousadas with a chance to relax along the way. Our Portuguese is a rusty but suadades for Brasil are still there! Can you help us?”

J. B, UK

 

A. Hi there,

Many thanks for your email and congrats on the forthcoming wedding anniversary. I was also living in Brazil 25 years ago and can understand your saudades if you haven’t been back for a while. You’ll find a lot of changes (including the fact that  it is considerably more expensive than before unfortunately) but the pousadas are much better than they used to be and you can still find some gorgeous unspoilt places off the beaten track.
Coincidentally I have just come back from another trip to Bahia (Peninsula de Maraú and Boipeba) where we found some amazing new pousadas to add to the places we already had. As a group they offer a mixture of prices and comfort, so I suggest you just check them all out on www.hiddenpousadasbrazil.com and see which ones you like the look of most.
Dreamland Bungalows, Taipu de Fora beach, Maraú (beautiful suites in 2 floor villas overlooking the sea!)
Butterfly House, Praia do Cassange, Maraú (which is not a house at all but 5 bungalows and 3 suites, fabulous Moroccan/Brazilian design)
Pousada a Mangueira, Morerê, Boipeba (a friendly boutique pousada with bungalows set in leafy tropical gardens. Very friendly price tag!)
Casa Bobô, Monte Alegre, Boipeba (another lovely new boutique pousada in the hills of Boipeba island. Great if you want to be alone but still only a tractor ride down to the village of Morerê or across to Boipeba village)
Pousada Santa Clara, Boipeba . This is where it all started and I have to go back once a year to get my fix! Suites are fine without being luxurious; the pleasure here is in the company, the atmosphere, the lovely leafy gardens, the superb restaurant, the New Yorker brother owners, Charles and Mark. Quiet but all just moments from the main beach.
Do get back in touch if you need more help or want to discuss logistics as none of these places have made it in any detail onto Google maps! If this doesn’t suit and you want to see a different part of Bahia, I’ll also be happy to advise.
All the owners of the pousadas above speak good English so no problem with rusty portuguese.
Um Abraço
Alison
For further information on Brazil Travel & Pousadas visit Hidden Pousadas Brazil
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Do we need yellow fever immunisation for our Amazon trip?

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Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Q. “Hello Alison,

I am traveling from the US to Manaus and the Amazon River for 10 days. I do not like to get immunizations or vaccines when I can avoid it and am wondering where I can find information on the incidence of Yellow Fever in Amazonas. Can you help?”

H.O, USA

A. Hi there

The official advice is that you should have yellow fever immunization for the Amazon region, but it is not required by Brazilian immigration unless you fly into Brazil from Venezuela, Colombia or parts of Africa.
If you are thinking of trekking off deep into the jungle then it may be wise to consider the yellow fever vaccine as a precaution. Alternatively you will need to make sure you take lots of repellant and protection and bring clothing that also covers the skin. I am not familiar with any cases of infections, but it is always best to be safe and consult your GP. You can find some more information about general health and vaccinations for South America here.
Um Abraço
Alison
For further information on Brazil Travel & Pousadas visit Hidden Pousadas Brazil

Travelling to Floripa and looking to discover other parts of Brazil

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Florianópolis, Brazil

Q. Hi Alison!

We are in the process of planning a trip to Brazil. Our oldest daughter is studying in Florianoplis at the University. That is why we are planning our trip to come and discover Brazil! My husband, myself and our younger daughter, will be flying in on May 14th. We will definitely want to spend time in flori at the end of our trip (4 or 5 nights!?). We are thinking of Rio, Paraty, Minas Gerais, Salvador da Bahia, Porto da Galinhas!? That is probably too much but, wanted you to know what we are thinking. Not the Amazon or the Falls (our daughter will have already visited there with her school). I found you from the NYTimes article. Thanks in advnace for your help!

J.R. USA

A. Hi there,

Many thanks for getting in touch. If you want to spend the last 5 nights in Floripa, where we recommend Pousada Natur Campeche, then you don’t have a lot of time to spend doing other things. I would stick to one other area- probably Rio de Janeiro state if it is your first time here.

A possible scenario would be:

Rio- 3 nights: staying at Castelinho 38, Guesthouse Bianca, Casa Cool Beans or B&B O Veleiro

Ilha Grande: 2 nights- Pousada Aratinga Inn or Pousada Naturalia

Paraty: 3 nights- probably best in Pousada do Ouro if you are travelling as a family.

You can find all of these on www.hiddenpousadasbrazil.com- , or you can check out other options here with our partners at Booking.com

Um Abraço

Alison

How to get to Boipeba island in Bahia, Brazil

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Boipeba, Bahia, Brazil

Q.  ”Hello Alison!

I am flying into Rio on March 8th with my cousin. We are staying in Rio for the weekend, and would like to visit Salvador and beaches near there for the week of March 11th. Would like to end up in Salvador for the second weekend before flying back to Rio on Sunday the 17th. Do you recommend visiting Boipeba? Is it very difficult to get to? We don\’t want to spend too much time traveling. Would like to have some beach time and city exploration time in Salvador. But would love a tranquil couple of days on a beach as well.”

M.M, USA

 

A. Hi there,

Many thanks for your email What you are planning to do sounds great – a wonderful combination of history and culture and deserted beach!

Regarding Boipeba you actually have the choice of how to get there. You can either get a very short half hour plane ride from  Salvador which will drop you on the neighbouring island of Tinharé with boat over to Boipeba (around 10 minutes) included in the price. Or you can get the ferry over to Bom Despacho on Itapirica, get on a waiting bus to Valença, taxi to the port and then a speed boat (lancha rápida” 1.5 hours over to Boipeba. (Total time around 5 hours) I think in your position I would go down there the slow way and then get a flight back which connects with you flight back to Rio.

I hope that helps.

Um Abraço

Alison

 

Honeymooning 10 days in Rio, Ilha Grande Iguaçu Falls & Amazon

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Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Q. “Hello Alison,

I really really enjoy your site! Thanks so much for helping us out. We are going to Brazil for our honeymoon in early April. We would like to have a few first days to relax in Ilha Grande and then some discovery at Iguaçu Falls, an Amazon trek and leave our last days for discovering Rio. Putting travel aside, we have 10 full days. How do you see it? Here are a few questions:

1)      I have read mixed reviews about rain in April for Rio and Ilha Grande. What do you think? 2)      WE would like to get to Ilha Grande from Rio as soon as possible.  Is Green Toad the best way?  I cannot seem to figure out from their website if they pick up or not from the airport. In Ilha Grande, for the first few nights we would like to really splash out. . . is Aratinga Inn (from your website) the best bet for honeymooners? 3)      Is there a way to get a flight from the Angra dos Reis to Foz Igassu or Manaus or do we need to go back to Rio? 4)      It seems difficult to fit in Ilha Grande, Igassu Falls, or Amazon in these 10 days. Which would you cut out seeing that we are traveling in early April? Being that it is our honeymoon, we would like to start the trip with some sort of relax (that is why we chose Ilha Grande).

I am looking forward to your feedback!”

J.B

 

A. Hi there,

Many thanks for your email. It’s a pleasure to help you out. Regarding your questions:
1) Rain in Rio and Ilha Grande. The rainy season officially finishes at the end of March but with global confusion no-one knows these days what the weather will be like. One thing you can be sure of though, if it does rain it will be warm rain!!
2) Big Toad picks up only from pousadas and hotels in Rio as far as I know. If you want a transfer from the airport then I think you’ll be looking at a private (and very expensive) transfer. A better way to do it would be to spend a couple of days in Rio at each end of your trip. it is a 2.5 hour ride down to Conceição de Jacarei where you get the boat over to Ilha Grande (another 1.5 hours) and most people don’t want to do this right after a long flight. Aratinga Inn is lovely and very comfortable but you wouldn’t exactly be splashing out. Vila PedraMar is probably a more exclusive option for honeymooners, buit if you go there you won’t be able to take the Green Toad transfer as their boat only goes to the main town of Abrãao.
3)There is no flight from Angra to Foz do Iguaçu so you’ll either have to go back to Rio or take the Green Toad bus all the way there (it’s a vey long journey so maybe not a good idea if you are on your honeymoon!) If I were you in Foz I would splash out and stay in the Hotel das Cataratas, which is a very special hotel, right overlooking the Falls.

4) Regarding timing you’re right-  if you only have 10 days you may have to leave one place out. The distances are huge in Brazil and an Amazon trek for example is difficult to do in fewer than 4 days, without even considering the expense of 4 hour plane ride each way to Manaus. I would do 2 nights Rio, 3 nights Ilha Grande, 3 nights Foz do Iguaçu, 2 nights Rio if you don’t want to feel you are rushing everywhere.

I hope that helps!
Um Abraço
Alison

Beach pousadas along the Rio/Santos coastal road

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Ubatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Hidden Pousadas Brazil

Q. “Hey Alison, we are two girls, planning a short road trip from Rio to Sao Paulo/Santos. We want to rent a car and drive next to the coast and stop at 2 pousadas. Do you have any advice or tips for us, where to stay over night (not too expensive) and which places to stop at and visit? Is it dangerous for two girls (about 20 years old) to go there by car? Looking forward to your response!”

M, Brazil

A. Hi there,

The drive  between  Rio and Santos along the coast road BR101 is one of the most beautiful trips in the world so you are in for a real treat. In terms of where to stay, first stop should be Ilha Grande (park the car and get the boat over from Angra dos Reis) You can stay at either Pousada Naturalia or Pousada Aratinga Inn there. Alternatively  go straight down to historical Paraty for a couple of nights at Pousada Vivenda or Pousada do Ouro. Another recommendation would be a lovely beach pousada a bit further down the coast from Ubatuba –  A Casa do Sol e da Lua on Praia da Fortaleza. You’ll find details on all of these on www.hiddenpousadasbrazil.com and you can book directly from the pousada page. You definitely need at least 6 days to chill out in this region!

The trip is not dangerous as such but the Rio/Santos road gets very busy at times and you need to have your wits about you to escape other crazy drivers!. I personally would only travel in daylight hours- ie between 6.30am and 6.30pm. Hope that helps!
Um Abraço
Alison
For further information on Brazil Travel & Pousadas visit Hidden Pousadas Brazil