Best of Brazil (by The Times!): Waterfalls, Whales and... Wine!

A recent article in the The Times of London highlighted Southern Brazil: The Iguazu Falls, the coastal area of Santa Catarina - which host the amazing spectacle of Southern Right Whales in Winter and some of the best beaches in Brazil in Summer- , the canyons of Aparados da Serra and the wine regions of Santa Catarina and Rio Gande do Sul, which offer high quality wine unknown to the general international wine drinker.

Surprised? Before and after the Olympics come and discover with Brazil Ecojourneys what South Brazil has to offer in an easily combined, relaxed 2 week itinerary.

Iguazu Falls: http://brazilecojourneys.com/008.php?oq=destinations
Whale Watching in Santa Catarina: http://brazilecojourneys.com/004.php?oq=interests&onde=nature
Wines  & Canyons of Rio Grande do Sul:
http://brazilecojourneys.com/015.php?oq=destinations
http://brazilecojourneys.com/007.php?oq=destinations

Contact us for a customised itinerary.

Winter Hiking on Santa Catarina Island

Winter is a great time for hiking on Santa Catarina Island, as temperatures are mild and visibility is excellent.

Naufragados beach - photo by Augusto Nogueira

We have just uncovered a great new route for a full-day Coastal Path around the southernmost point of the Island- from Solidão to Naufragados beach. Coastal paths like this are great spots to enjoy the views and, with luck, to observe Southern Right ‪Whales just off the coast. We will walk through local isolated communities, pristine Atlantic rainforest and learn the natural and cultural history of this amazing Island and its setllers.

Atlantic Rainforest - Photo by Augusto Nogueira

For a 3-day loop trekking trip of the South of the Island contact us.

For other hiking opportunities in‪ Florianopolis and Southern ‪Brazil check the Adventure & Sports section of our site.

Weekend Specials - Autumn Colours in the Wine Valley of Rio Grande do Sul

The picturesque Vale dos Vinhedos  (Wine Valley) is located 120km northwest from Porto Alegre, in the Italian-influenced Serra Gaúcha.  The best wines in Brazil are produced in this valley, especially those produced by the micro wineries that never reach the supermarkets. You might be surprised, but the local sparkling wines are frequently top rated by many wine connoisseurs.

It is possible to visit the Valley on a day trip from Porto Alegre but you should spend a couple of nights to make the best of the region.

Autumn is a very special time to visit, with the vineyards exploding in colours.

If you are in São Paulo or  Porto Alegre for business you can easily reach the valley to spend a relaxing weekend at the Hotel & SPA do Vinho, the most comfortable hotel in the valley. The hotel is home to the only Caudalie vinothérapie Spa in South America. 

Book now our Autumn Weekend Special from US$ 599 per person for a 2-night stay including  breakfast, 01 lunch, 01 dinner and 01 day of SPA treatments.
 

For a year around program, check-out our great value Self-Drive Tour.

Porto Alegre - a new gateway to Brazil

This week, TAP, the Portuguese airline, operated the first non-stop flight between Europe and South Brazil.

The 4 times a week flights between Lisbon and Porto Alegre , capital of Rio Grande do Sul, open a new entry point to Brazil and to a region that has been largely overlooked by most visitors to the country.

The most southern State in Brazil is well-known for its gaucho culture, the pampas and the Jesuit Missions but it has more to offer.

Porto Alegre, the capital of the State, is the entry point for the attractive wine region- an easy 2 hours drive- and also the best access to the dramatic canyons of the Aparados da Serra and Serra Geral National Parks- a 3 hours-drive through a newly built dual carriage way.

From Porto Alegre, there are direct flights to some of Brazil best natural attractions, such as Iguazu Falls, the beautiful beaches of Florianopolis and to Curitiba, starting point of the most scenic train ride in Brazil and the gateway to the World Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Rainforest.

In the next few blogs we will highlight Rio Grande do Sul's attractions and how Europeans can easily combine a visit to South Brazil to an itinerary to Argentina and Chile, places that also have daily direct flights from Porto Alegre.

Five great reasons to visit South Brazil in 2011

South Brazil is home to many of Brazil best natural attractions, from the Southern Pantanal to the canyons of Rio Grande do Sul, from the Iguazu Falls to the World Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Rainforest. Despite these fantastic places, the region has, until recently, been overlooked by most visitors to Brazil. Here we give you just some reasons to visit the South.

Parana State is best known for the magnificent Iguazu Falls. However, just a short flight away from the Falls, you can enjoy a spectacular train journey that links its pleasant capital Curitiba to the Lagamar, the largest remnants of Atlantic Rainforest in the country, making this region also an unmissable part of any Brazilian trip.

One of the smallest States in Brazil, Santa Catarina has a huge natural and cultural diversity. Besides Florianopolis, don’t miss the stunning Serra Geral mountains, an ideal trekking and horse-riding destination, the whales and dolphins on the southern coast, surfing in Praia do Rosa and relaxing in some of the best beaches of Brazil.

The most southern State in Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, is well-known for its gaucho culture, the pampas and the Jesuit Missions but it has more to offer. Porto Alegre , the capital of the State, is the entry point for the attractive wine region and also the best access to the dramatic canyons of the Aparados da Serra and Serra Geral National Parks.

Brazil Ecojourneys top reasons to visit South Brazil:

1) Iguazu Falls - the most magnificent in the world!
2) Lagamar Estuary- the most unspoilt natural attraction of the South and the World Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Rainforest
3) Whale watching in Santa Catarina- close encounter with the Southern Right Whales
4) Santa Catarina Island in Florianopolis - great parties, gorgeous beaches and preserved nature make Floripa a favourite destination for Brazilians;
5) Relaxation at the Emerald Coast - one of the most exclusive beach resorts in the country- Ponta dos Ganchos;

New Routes to Iguazu Falls- More Reasons to Visit!

I am asked frequently by our clients that already visited Niagara or Victoria Falls, if it is worthy visiting the Iguazu Falls.

Regarding Victoria I can give a personal view, and I can tell that I was seriously disappointed with it when I visited, having expected to see something similar to "our" Iguazu.


For Niagara, I just tell a story that became a legendary tale in Brazil: when Eleanor Roosevelt visited in 1944, her first words were: "Poor Niagara"! Enough said.

Iguazu Falls IS one of the natural wonders of the world - and it is now more accessible.

More direct flights from Brazil and neighbouring countries are coming into place in 2011, making a visit to the most magnificent waterfalls in the world (and I am NOT biased!) easier to fit into a longer South American tour.

From 16th January LAN starts a new direct flight from Lima to Foz do Iguaçu(IGU), making it even easier to combine Peru and Brazil itineraries.

The Uruguayan PLUNA will offer flights Montevideo-Foz do Iguaçu-Santiago do Chile, making it possible to combine 3 countries of the Cono Sur.

For those already travelling in Brazil, additionally to existing direct flights from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo operated by the main airlines GOL and TAM, WEBJET is now offering direct flights from Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Porto Alegre.

Another regional airline, TRYP , offer flights from Cuiaba, an excellent option for those visiting another unmissable natural highight of Brazil, the Pantanal.

Once there , Brazil Ecojourneys can help you make the most of your stay with our Essential Iguazu package.

And if you are just entering Brazil and do not want to fly all over the country to experience the rainforest or relax on a beautiful beach, we have great Escorted Small Group itineraries in South Brazil that start from Iguazu.

Chile, Argentina and now Brazil - Wine Enthusiast Magazine - November 2010

Some of the finest expression of methode Champenoise outside of France can be found in the wine regions of Southern Brazil. Surprised?

Check out this article by Adam Strum in the Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Chile, Argentina and now Brazil - Wine Enthusiast Magazine - November 2010

Brazil Ecojourneys offers self-drive tours of the Wine Region of Rio Grande do Sul.

Record numbers of visitors in Iguazu Falls

Despite the economical crisis and the heat wave that is hitting South Brazil, the numbers of visitors to the National Park of Iguaçu was the highest in January since counting began in 1980.

Last month over 160,000 people visited the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls.

The Cataratas continues to be one the most popular attractions in Brazil, especially for foreign visitors, as it is undoubtedly one of the natural highlights of South America.

Source: Iguassu Blog

For more information in touring Iguazu Falls check Brazil Ecojourneys website.

More Adventure in Santa Catarina

For those adventurous travelers out there that are more into trekking than biking, you can join this month a small group ( maximum 8 people) on the best long-distance trek in Santa Catarina, the crossing of São Joaquim National Park.

This park in the Serra Geral mountains was created to protect the remaining Araucaria forests of the catarinense highlands and is one of the last natural habitats of the puma in South Brazil.

Next departure is scheduled for 28th July, departing from Florianopolis the day before. For more information, click here.

Birds of the Atlantic Rainforest

Brazil is one of the richest countries in the world in bird species and the region between Curitiba and the Parana coast offers unique diversity, as it is in a transition zone between two very different environments: the Aracauria forest and the Atlantic Rainforest.

Click here to watch a recent video from Bom dia Brasil, a Brazilian TV program, showing some local species and the scenery around Morretes, one of the oldest colonial towns in Parana.

Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys:

A great way to visit this area is to make the train journey from Curitiba to Morretes. The train leaves daily and the journey takes 3 hours.

If you have more time you could stay overnight after the train journey in a local lodge to best enjoy the region.

For the more adventurous our Atlantic Rainforest expedition gives you a greater insight into this unique environment.

Special birdwatching departures can be arranged with an ornithologist guide. Please contact us.

The Best Time to Enjoy Santa Catarina

Carnival marks the end of the Summer and high season in Brazil.

Santa Catarina, in special, suffers from seasonal tourism, being most visited from December to February.

But for those that are not tied to school's calendar there is no better time of the year to enjoy Santa Catarina coast than March & April: the weather is still hot, the sea is at its warmest, the fantastic beaches are completely uncrowded and prices are much lower.

Check our beach packages for some ideas.

Brazil Ecojourneys tips:

March and April are also ideal months to learn to surf. Besides the good water conditions you are still outside the Mullet fishing season (May-June) that closes down most of the surfing beaches.

New Update on Santa Catarina Situation

The Santa Catarina Tourist Board (SANTUR) has created a site to give updates on the situation of the State's infraestructure region by region, following last month's floodings.

All the areas that are most visited by tourists in their summer holidays, including Florianopolis region, the Emerald Coast ( Bombinhas, Porto Belo, Governador Celso ramos) and the southern coast (Garopaba, Praia do Rosa) and Balneário Camboriú are back to normal.

For detailed information on the current situation check : http://www.santacatarinaagora.sc.gov.br/#

Update on Santa Catarina Situation

We keep receiving calls and emails about the situation in Santa Catarina, following last month's floods.

It has been more than 2 weeks since the flooding and, contrary to the images on TV and newspapers, most of the State, with exception of the Itajai Valley region, is back to normal. For example, there is only one secondary road in the north of the State that is still closed for traffic.

Along the Central and Southern Coast of Santa Catarina all the infrastructure is working. Roads are open, there is no shortage of water, electricity or food. If you are travelling here and have still doubts about the situation please contact us or your hotel directly.

We have had a week of beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures in Florianopolis. Summer is here and Santa Catarina waits for your visit!

Short trips from Curitiba – Ilha do Mel

I was just back from a few relaxing days on Ilha do Mel, the island off the coast of Paraná, in Paranaguá Bay.

I had wanted to go for many years, as the Island has always been THE destination in South Brazil for those in search of unspoiled hideaways. In the 80s, it was just for the very adventurous as the only option was wild camping. Then it became too popular with surfers and youngsters looking for a party place, so it had lost its appeal to me. But in recent years, the government of Parana decided to implement policies to effectively protect the island, which is an Estate Park, limiting, for example, the number of people that can visit it and banning predatory camping sites, so my interest returned.

The island lived up to expectations in terms of nature: there are many deserted beaches and most of its area is part of a nature reserve, closed to the public. You see quite a lot of birds and a lot of green everywhere. In other ways it exceeded my expectations, as it is really well organised in terms of trails, path signs and very clean.

The one image that still matched my imagination is that of a hippy-ish hang out place. Somehow it reminded me of beach resorts in Thailand that are in the “gringo trail”, with its simple restaurants, guesthouses and bars with reggae music. So it´s no surprise to find that is a favourite place for a lot of travelling foreigners. But don´t let that put you off- I came back VERY relaxed after a few days there.

Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys:

A very nice place to stay is Pousada das Meninas in Vila do Farol. Although the rooms are very rustic, they are comfortable and the garden is lush and has some cosy areas to read a book or just relax. The staff is extremely friendly and can also help you with day trips- a boat trip to the dolphin’s bay or the fortress is a nice option to see the Bay. The owner of the Pousada has his own boat and can take you there.Or they put you in touch with a local monitor to take you in one of the many trails – Marcelo is a very friendly guy but does not speak much English.

My favourite walk was along the beach to Encantadas- you can go walking, have lunch at Pousada Fim da Trilha, the best restaurant on the island, and come back by boat. It makes for a great day trip.

In Vila do Farol have dinner at Mar e Sol- it´s the best option there.

If you have only a short time in this part of Brazil, and would prefer an organised tour, we offer a combined trip 3days/2 nights of the train journey and Ilha do Mel, starting and finishing in Curitiba.

From there you are a short boat away to one of the most fantastic destinations in South Brazil: the Lagamar area, home to the World Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Rainforest. Check out our Rainforest Expedition program for more details.

Photo of Ilha do Mel by Priscila Forone.