By the time we reached Brazil, we had five months of travel under our belts and longed for more stability and a slower pace of travel. What better way to spend our downtime than on the Brazilian beaches. We booked eight days in Angra de Reis and devoted the time solely to beach lounging, pool activities, and lots of relaxation, which is very out of the norm for our style of travel. It was very unusual for us to be stationary, but we established a rhythm that restored our minds, bodies, and souls over time. The beaches south of Rio were beautiful and have been compared to Southeast Asia by some people. We were surrounded by lush forests, islands, and aqua-blue water. Our lodging was surrounded by protected Amazon forests, which made it easy to observe wildlife, including the infamous Capybaras. We saw them on the river banks that connected our room to the beach.
The week in Angra de Reis was also a way to celebrate my birthday, and we honored our time by reading books, lounging on the beach, and drinking copious amounts of caipirinhas and fresh coconut water.
By the end of the week, we were itching for more activities, so we headed to Ilha Grande for adventure. The island is known for its beaches and laidback feel, so we were excited to soak up more time on the beach but intermixed with hikes, snorkeling, and some body surfing.
The island's history is also quite fascinating. The Brazilian government used it to house a leper colony. The land was later used as a top-security prison, which housed the most dangerous prisoners in Brazil until 1994.
Despite its once unconventional history, we were pleasantly surprised with Ilha Grande and appreciated the short time we spent exploring the area. We stayed in the small village of Vila do Abraão at a bed and breakfast called Aratinga, which was divine. The host was immensely kind, knowledgeable, and attentive. Very day after our activities, we were treated to afternoon tea and a relaxing atmosphere. Thanks to the recommendations of Rennie, our host, we hiked in dense forests, visited nearby ruins of the leper hospital, and even took a board around the island in search of snorkeling spots. Our highlight was walking the thick forest from town to the infamous protected beach, Lopez Mendes. During the hike, we were accompanied by a symphony of bird songs and caught glimpses of monkeys dangling on trees. To top it off, the Lopes Mendes was out of this world. The waves were the largest we’d ever seen, and the sand felt like fine flour between our toes - it was a heavenly paradise.
Our days on the island made time stop, and we weren’t quite ready to leave, but alas, our final destination in our travels was also long awaited - the charming city of Cuenca, Ecuador.
