Hi friends, how are you today?
Invite you to travel with us to a wonderful place that has not only an amazing nature but lots more. Let's find out a little bit more about this incredible place.
Ilhabela, which means Beautiful Island in Portuguese, is an archipelago located in Brazil south East. More precise in Sao Paulo state north coast. Named São Sebastião Island officially with others islands and islets.
Northside has more infrastructure, downtown, hotels, commerce, and houses.
The South coast has fewer people and remote beaches only by boat or 4x4 over a closed jungle and often fallen trees on the way.
Once upon a time some people got stuck there for 3 days until tree removal. Ouch! Locals offered shelter to accommodate them showing how we can be helpful in situations like that.
At first, we are going to stay in the north and then move to the south.
Our first homestay is on a cliff and has a view of the canal, where you can see a wonderful sunset while appreciating boats, ferries, and sailboats cruising.
Breakfast is the most important meal. When traveling and spending the day walking and under got sun, it's more important. Keeping hydrated is also important.
Ilhabela isn't all about beach life .. downtown you will find great restaurants, bars, and also nightlife on the island.
With a lot of Live music playing, you can find yourself between Rock and MPB musicians and even electronic music and pool parties. It's easy to find others styles, especially during the high season.
The streets are very cozy and colonial aesthetical sometimes make you feel like somewhere in past. Others make you feel like a big city with a lot of cars passing by.
Praia dos sinos has this name due to a rock that makes a bell sound when hit.
You will also find souvenir stores and local crafts, Handcraft Fairs, and supermarkets. Also, clothes are something that is always trending displaying bikinis and sophisticated pieces.
Ilha das Cabras is a great scuba point for newbies. Don't have any goats there, maybe it's a family name. No one lives there anymore but has a mansion there.
People are deciding and discussing creating something there or keeping it reserved.
A mix between colonial and modern houses and constructions gives us a nostalgic feeling when walking around.
There are a lot of cuisine options, but fish is the main dish in most restaurants.
Over the winter, it will be ready to find fondue and soups being served in a romantic scene. In my opinion, all-island is a romantic and good place to visit with your love.
Also, many ice cream shops to refresh during hot weather. Try the açaí cream. It is Wonderful.
We nicknamed boat house cause we felt aboard during our stay
After a few days raining is time to get back to the city tour.
One of the tourist points is the downtown church. Small and a charm, attract not only religious people but also architectural appreciator. More than 200 yrs old, made with rocks, shells, and whale oil.
We nicknamed its treehouse.
Let's walk downtown and check what's going on...
Tired of sunburn?! You can visit a great nautical museum and appreciate some artwork. Always with great artists' expositions. Locals and outsiders. Famous and not yet that famous.
Marinas are always crowded and a great place for aquatic sports, such as windsurf, scuba dive, snorkeling, and sailing. Location of many great schools.
Like surf?! Don't worry. There are beaches with good waves too.
Swim competitions had their place there too, due to calm and clear water.
The birds were kind of comfortable with human presence and come very close to stealing some food. Also, we share some fruits with them... Why not. Sharing is good.
The terrain is very rough with a lot of cliffs that make some secrets and small beaches around the island.
You also can get a boat and visit a smaller island in the archipelago. Some of them have just a few families living there without TV, cellphones, or even energy.
It's very rare to come up with Squirrels in brazil, but we have it and if you are lucky you can cross by with them. It's a very rare encounter but this time I had the luck to spot one among trees.
We give him some snacks and he felt more comfortable posing for a picture.
How about a stop on the pier to enjoy ice cream and wait for sunset?
With a lot of piers all over there, you will find a quiet place to have a snack while waiting for sunset.
One of our favorite beaches in the North is called Jabaquara beach, which means refugee in the local native language.
And it's indeed are a refugee where there is no phone and wifi signal, 2 rivers at each side making it more paradisiac and usually not crowded at all.
After spending some days visiting the north part of the Island, we got a few days to stay in the south part and visit other places.
For our new home, we choose a place between trees and local vegetation, waking up with birds singing and sleeping with water falling on natural fountains
A beautiful remote beach called Praia de Castelhanos. It's so remote that you only get there by jeep or by boat. If you go by jeep, go early in the morning... you have to cross a national reserve park that has controlled access and a limited number of visitors.
Totally worth the ride, you will see waterfalls with bird-watching spots and beautiful trees, some of which are so rare that you can even touch them. Removing flowers and or plants can get you in trouble with authorities.
Some birds species you can find there:
- Jacutinga
- Saira 7 cores
- Saira Militar
- Macuco
- Urutau
- Pica Pau do Topete Vermelho
- Sai Azul
Like new tastes?! I taste different and one of the best caipirinha (famous Brazilian drink) from my life at Castelhanos breach. Made with local Cachaça and smashed tangerine leaves, making it incredibly citric and refreshing with a strong tangerine nose.
A great idea is going by jeep and returning by boat, this way you will enjoy the jungle and also stop by at other small and more remote beaches on returning downtown.
Some beaches are good to enjoy the morning sunshine. Others are great for sunset time. And at night, except if you like to party, better have dinner and go rest early, so you can wake up and appreciate the sunrise.
To see everything on the island you will need to spend a lot of days there, but it's ok cause you can save some places for your next trip there. You will definitely want to go back and then see new places and try new things.
Hope you enjoy making this journey with us and I will be glad to answer your comments.
See you soon
Signing off
@vaipraonde
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