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.

Brazil LGBT Travel - Pernambuco, Nov 2010

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.

Oscar Niemeyer Museu - Curitiba

Curitiba is one of the greenest and best organized cities in Brazil.

Besides its numerous parks and green areas, the city has a lot of culture to offer.

If you are in town, make sure you reserve an afternoon to visit the Museu Oscar Niemeyer (aka MON), which is for me the current unmissable attraction of the city.

Open in 2002, it houses an interesting permanent collection of local and national artists as well as great seasonal exhibitions, so everytime you visit you can have a great experience.

The building alone is worth the trip. Built in the 50s by the master of Brazilian architecture to house a School of Art, it was transformed into a museum by Niemeyer himself. An outstanding new feature is the grand hall or "the Eye", as it is known locally, inspired on the very Paranaense Araucaria tree.

The museum opens Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 6pm.




Brazil Ecojourneys tips:
Curitiba is a great stopover on your way to/from Iguazu Falls and the starting point of the most beautiful train journey in Brazil, and the World Biosphere Reserve of the Lagamar.

Buenos Aires Welcomes Gay & Lesbian Tourists

WELL, I am definitely going way down south on this one, but there is a good reason for it.

Last week we were in Buenos Aires for the GNETWORK event - the 2nd International Meeting for Gay and Lesbian business. The event was at the beautifully designed Axel hotel , the first "hetero friendly" hotel in South America. It was a great event with speakers from all over the world and with a big audience on both days.

I gave a talk on incoming LGBT tourism in Brazil and the promotion of destination Florianopolis for the international LGBT market (here is the connection to this blog!).

Another reason to link Buenos Aires to Florianopolis is that a lot of Europeans and North Americans that visit one, want to visit the other. And it is a great combination for a short holiday: Buenos Aires with all its culture, excellent restaurants and parties and Floripa with its great beaches and relaxing atmosphere (and parties too!).

In summer, there are direct flights (a mere 2 hours journey) between the two cities, making it a very easy going holiday.

Brazil Ecojourneys tips:

• To find your way around gay and lesbian Bs As grab a GMaps guide. Updated every 3 months the guide is a great help for any G and L visitor;
• An economical alternative for accommodation in Buenos Aires is to rent a flat. There are many options but these two companies cater mainly for the LGBT community: BA4U and Friendly Apartments.
• When going out to clubs , remember that Argentineans go out even later than Brazilians- places don't get busy until 3 am!

• Tango has become popular once again with the younger crowd and there are venues that cater for same-sex tango classes- check GMaps for details;

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.

Rainy days in Florianopolis

It has been raining for 3 days solid in Florianopolis and most people look truly miserable.

Florianopolis unfortunately lacks the museums and cultural centres of big cities, as we are so spoiled with fantastic nature (most people really come here for the 42 beaches) and good weather most of the year. BUT bad weather does happen and if you are here on holidays and don’t want to follow the crowds to the nearest cinema or shopping centre here goes a few suggestions.

Some outdoor activities do not get spoiled by rain- you can still take some surf lessons, for example. Once in you are in a wetsuit and swimming you will not notice the rain at all.

Rafting in the Cubatao River with class II-III rapids is ok for beginners most of the year, but when it rains a lot in a few days, it becomes an adrenaline-fuelled experience. If you really enjoy rafting, rainy days are the best days to go.The rafting base is about 40 min from Florianopolis. If you want even more excitement try kayaking down the rapids. It is fantastic!

If you just don’t like the idea of the outdoors on a rainy day, head for the Spa town of Santo Amaro. The thermal baths there are wonderful; the local mineral water is considered one of the best in the world.

Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys team:

• If you are on a budget you can get a bus from downtown Florianopolis to Caldas da Imperatriz that stops just outside the public baths. Next door you can have a café colonial in the old hotel that once welcomed the last Brazilian Empress (hence the name). Your day out should cost you less than R$ 30,00.

• If you like a bit more pampering, we can arrange for a day use of the facilities of the local 4 stars Spa resort. The Jacuzzis, sauna, mineral baths and Spa treatments followed by an excellent lunch will soon lift your spirits! Contact us for details.

Short trips from Florianopolis II – Serra Geral Mountains

Santa Catarina is so well-known for its gorgeous coast that most people totally ignore the interior. Just a few hours away by road from the capital you can be in one of the most stunning mountain sceneries in Brazil: the Serra Geral Mountain Range.

The journey to get there is already very scenic- to reach Serra Geral, you need to drive through one of the 3 mountain roads that cut Santa Catarina East to West. Originally open as mule tracks, they are still the few connecting points between the highlands and the coast. The BR-282 is the busiest and the least dramatic, while the Serra do Rio Rastro (SC- 438) and the Serra do Corvo Branco (SC- 439) are not for faint hearts, but they are both stunning.

Once you get there, you are spoiled for choices of activities; you can go trekking, cycling, horse-riding, fly fishing or simply relax in a lodge or a resort.

Some of my favourite programs in this area are the hiking trips near Urubici. Staying in a cosy mountain lodge, you can choose between easy day treks or the more demanding 3-days crossing of the São Joaquim National Park.

We visited this area many times in the past and fell in love with its beauty. This weekend, however, we drove up the stunning Serra do Rio do Rastro mountain road, further south from Urubici to inspect another base to explore this region.

The Rio do Rastro is a small resort in a 900-acres farm in Bom Jardim da Serra. Although this hotel is larger, lacking the intimacy of Rio Canoas mountain lodge, it has excellent facilities and a wide range of activities. We took a trip to the canyons, a horse riding trip and did a short trek through Araucaria and ancient ferns forests.

For the cold or rainy days they have a heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and some romantic bungalows with lake views. The food was excellent as well.

The highlight for us, however, was horse riding through highland fields to the edge of the mountains. The views were absolutely incredible, helped by a gorgeous sunset over the highlands.

When visiting Santa Catarina next we really recommend you reserve a few days to explore this beautiful area.

For more information about the Serra Geral mountains click here or contact us.

Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys team:

• You can only drive up the Serra do Corvo Branco in dry weather;

• The best time to visit the area is autumn and winter as the weather is drier then and there is less fog, allowing for the best views;

• Temperatures there are often below zero at night, with the occasional snow shower in winter so take enough warm clothes;

• If you really enjoy riding, we offer a fantastic multi-day Horse riding trip, staying at mid-19^th Century Farm houses, that offers a mix of culture and adventure;