Praia do Espelho – BA – Brazil

One of the most beautiful and relaxing beach I ever been. This hidden paradise is located between Caraíva to Trancoso (12 miles from each). The nearest airport is in Porto Seguro (BPS).

Once the tourist gets to Porto Seguro, I would recommend the following itinerary:

Book a hotel or lodge in Trancoso – BA. Nice destination, good restaurants and historical places. There are options for all budgets, from hostels to luxury resorts.

Take an entire day to Praia do Espelho. The coolest way to get there is by renting an ATV, but you can also rent a car. Getting off from Trancoso, there are a lot of signs on the road, it´s impossible to get lost.

Pick one of the kiosks in the shadow and enjoy the sea in the morning as the tide is still low.

Parking, kiosk and the snorkeling mask will cost approximately USD 50 per person.

For the other days, explore Trancoso and places around – by foot – and get in touch with local culture and the famous craftwork.

4 days – 3 nights is good enough.

How to get there

From Porto Seguro (BPS), take a bus to Trancoso, rent a car or a private transfer/taxi.

Road map Porto Seguro – Trancoso: http://goo.gl/maps/WtZ32

Tips

During the winter (June to August), you can take a 1-day boat tour to Abrólios, a secret diving paradise. And it´s also the humpback whale reproduction season.

Have a nice trip!!

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hidden-Paradises-in-Brazil/1403583196523260

São Miguel dos Milagres – AL – Brazil

This destination owns one of the most beautiful beaches of Brazil – Patacho - according to the famous Brazilian tourist guide “Guia 4 Rodas”. 

Take an entire day just to relax in your “pousada” (there is no hotels). I strongly recommend the exquisite Pousada Beijupirá, which has a huge swimming pool, wonderful rooms, personalized service and an excellent restaurant.  

During the morning, tourists can walk to the sea, as the tide is very low. At noon, natural pools begins to fill up, so it´s a perfect moment to forget about everything and enjoy the warm water, which sometimes gets up to 28 degrees Celsius.

Another must thing to do is to take the raft tour to the natural pools of Patacho. After a 15 minutes sailing, you will get to a sea animal nursery. Snorkeling is a must. This tour usually takes 3 to 4 hours in the morning, and it costs something about USD 50 per couple.

4 days – 3 nights is enough to enjoy and relax…

How to get there

From Maceió Airport (MCZ), it´s a 1,5 hour driving in an oceanside road. The best way to get there is by renting a car or a private transfer at the airport.

Road map Maceió – São Miguel dos Milagres

http://goo.gl/maps/YggWz 

Tips

Maragogi is a popular destinations and it´s located just 20 miles from São Miguel dos Milagres. If you have 10 day vacations, I would recommend to split it up in 5 days for each destination.

Have a nice trip!!

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hidden-Paradises-in-Brazil/1403583196523260

Cumuruxatiba – BA - Brazil

150 miles from Porto Seguro Airport – Bahia, this is a real hidden Paradise. A fisher village, with small lodges and hotels, but very comfortable and ocean-front , gorgeous empty beaches on the low season. There are nice restaurants and travel agencies offering 1-day tours. The majority of the lodges and hotels offers bikes to the tourists for free. This is the best way to explore Cumuruxatiba.

My suggestion is to spend 4 days / 3 nights. 
Low season: from March to September. July usually rains a lot.

To do list

1. Barra do Cahy – 11 miles far from the city center, the beach is just beautiful, deserted, there are many cliffs, palm trees, rivers and shadows. 

2. Corumbau – 1-day trip. Find one of the tour agencies at the city center to check timetable. After a 2 hours trip on a very nice boat, the tourist arrives in a spectacular beach, with warm and very calm water, excellent for swimming and snorkeling. There are 2 or 3 places to eat and drink something. Do not forget to take sunblock.

3. Main beach and City Center – ride a bike in the beach (yes, it´s possible, as the sand is very firm) or in the ground streets of the city center, and get in touch with the local culture. Tourist can also buy some local souvenirs.

How to get there

From Porto Seguro Airport, take a bus to Prado, and another bus to Cumuruxatiba. This trip can take a entire day. Or rent a car and drive straight to Cumuruxatiba.

Road map Porto Seguro – Cumuruxatiba
http://goo.gl/maps/w49EF

Tips

Relax, enjoy! I´ve been in an excellent lodge – Villa Cumuru – and there is also a great restaurant just a few steps from there – Hermes. As a main course, do not miss the Muqueca. 

Have a nice trip!!

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hidden-Paradises-in-Brazil/1403583196523260

Ilhabela - São Sebastião - SP - Brazil

This paradise is just 125 miles far from the Guarulhos International Airport, in São Paulo. Tourists have to take a ferry boat from São Sebastião to Ilhabela, which takes about 20 minutes. Getting there, the best option to explore freely the place is by renting a car.

I would say that 4 days is quite enough to get in touch with the best of Ilhabela.

To do list

1. Praia do Bonete – heading to Borrifos, stop at the parking place (there is no access by car). After a 9 miles walk with an spectacular view of the ocean and passing through 3 waterfalls, you will get to Bonete. There are some camping spots and small lodges. This is a great place for surfing as well.

2. Praia de Castelhanos – to get there, you should take a 4x4 vehicle – specialized companies can be found in the city center – and it costs probably something around USD 70 per person.  Enjoy a nice beach with good places to eat and drink something. Great place to take kids together. There is a waterfall on the left side of the beach.

3. Ilha das Cabras – small Island where tourists can just enjoy the beach and kiosks, or go scuba diving – 26 feet with instructors – it takes about 45 minutes and does not require Scuba certification.

How to get there

From: Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)

• Expensive way: take a cab to the ferry boat in São Sebastião.

• Best way: Rent a car at the airport and follow the map - http://goo.gl/maps/1JLiR

• Budget way: take the Airport Service Bus to the Rodoviária do Tietê (40 minutes) and take the bus to São Sebastião (3 hours).

Tips

The waiting line at the ferryboat for vehicles can take more than 3 hours during the high season (December to February), national holidays and weekends. Free of charge for walkers and bicycles, and there is no waiting line.

Credit cards are welcome at the majority of places, such as lodges, restaurants and travel agencies.

Have a nice trip!

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hidden-Paradises-in-Brazil/1403583196523260