Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Ilha Grande, Brazil




Left Rio today and took a three-hour bus ride to Angra to catch the boat (another 2 hours) to Ilha Grande - described in my guidebook as ´a mountain ridge covered in tropical forest sticking out of an emerald sea and fringed by some of the world´s most beautiful beaches.´

On of these is Lopes Mendes, a good 2-3 hour hike through dense forest with poisonous snakes! Oh well, I hope paradise is worth it.
Ilha Grande used to be a notorious pirate lair, then a landing port for slaves and then a prison for hardcore criminals which closed in 1994. There are no cars or roads so the only way to get around is to trek though the forest or take a boat. It has a lovely laid back feel and there doesn´t appear to be much to do apart from trek, swim and take boat trips around the island (and eat and drink of course). Fantastic.

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