Requesting input for trip to Rio in October
Sep 10, 2015 | 7:38 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: GVA
Programs: A3 Gold (*G), Bonvoy LTTE, Accor Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,933
You have been unlucky with the weather: the beach fills a lot of the time of visits to Rio. Did you go to Santa Tereza? Good to start the night there.
Rio is disappointing for nightlife, gay or straight. I hear The Week is a good gay spot (on Fri or Sat) but DO NOT walk around that area at night. Lapa is worth checking out on weekend nights, but leave your valuables behind...
Sep 10, 2015 | 7:42 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Sep 11, 2015 | 7:23 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 12 stops from ORD
Programs: UA, AA, DL
Posts: 994
From Rios bus terminal to Angra dos Reis, the published travel time is 2:45
http://www.costaverdetransportes.com...gina=horarios#
Then youll need to make your way from the bus station to the pier (by taxi or bus add 15 mins with wait times)
The boat ride is about 1:30. Careful as theres only one official boat per day!
http://www.ilhagrande.com.br/como-ch...s-para-abraao/
Theres no beach at Abrao. Hiking to Lopes Mendes is a must (1:30 hike, or take a boat to Palmas and its a 30 min walk from there). The ocean facing beaches are the best: Cachadao is an amazing tiny cove (can hike from Abrao, prob in 2hrs, via Dois Rios). Then theres Parnaioca, with its creek and natural pools, the wild Leste and Sul beaches, and Aventureiro, with its very white sand and iconic horizontal palm tree. During the high season there will be little fishermens boats doing these as a day-tour.
As much as I do love Ilha Grande, depending on how much time you have (and how much infrastructure you need), I would encourage you to take a look at Paraty, which is 1h further from Angra, on the same bus. You can hire little boats at the pier for R$60/hour, put some drinks in their ice-box, and just chill while you cruise to loads of beautiful unspoilt beaches. And at night you can enjoy the beautiful colonial town, and sample the local cachaas. In one day trip you can head to north to Ilha da Sapeca, and Ilha Comprida, and another day, head to Saco do Mamangu, a tropical fjord (where one of the Twilight movies was shot). Each of these will take about 4 hours.
It rains a lot in this region, any time of the year! But its one of the most beautiful places ever (looks much better live than in pictures, for some reason).
http://www.costaverdetransportes.com...gina=horarios#
Then youll need to make your way from the bus station to the pier (by taxi or bus add 15 mins with wait times)
The boat ride is about 1:30. Careful as theres only one official boat per day!
http://www.ilhagrande.com.br/como-ch...s-para-abraao/
Theres no beach at Abrao. Hiking to Lopes Mendes is a must (1:30 hike, or take a boat to Palmas and its a 30 min walk from there). The ocean facing beaches are the best: Cachadao is an amazing tiny cove (can hike from Abrao, prob in 2hrs, via Dois Rios). Then theres Parnaioca, with its creek and natural pools, the wild Leste and Sul beaches, and Aventureiro, with its very white sand and iconic horizontal palm tree. During the high season there will be little fishermens boats doing these as a day-tour.
As much as I do love Ilha Grande, depending on how much time you have (and how much infrastructure you need), I would encourage you to take a look at Paraty, which is 1h further from Angra, on the same bus. You can hire little boats at the pier for R$60/hour, put some drinks in their ice-box, and just chill while you cruise to loads of beautiful unspoilt beaches. And at night you can enjoy the beautiful colonial town, and sample the local cachaas. In one day trip you can head to north to Ilha da Sapeca, and Ilha Comprida, and another day, head to Saco do Mamangu, a tropical fjord (where one of the Twilight movies was shot). Each of these will take about 4 hours.
It rains a lot in this region, any time of the year! But its one of the most beautiful places ever (looks much better live than in pictures, for some reason).
I'm going last week of November - probably Mon-Wed so I'm guessing not exactly high season yet. Will the little fishing boats you mentioned be running then?
Sep 11, 2015 | 8:23 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: GVA
Programs: A3 Gold (*G), Bonvoy LTTE, Accor Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,933
Thanks for all the info RafKa! ^ Paraty is likely next up on my Rio side-trips. I'm going solo on this trip and Ilha Grande seems like the better fit for that. I think those boat trips you referenced would be a lot more fun if I was with someone....so I'll save Paraty for next time.
I'm going last week of November - probably Mon-Wed so I'm guessing not exactly high season yet. Will the little fishing boats you mentioned be running then?
I'm going last week of November - probably Mon-Wed so I'm guessing not exactly high season yet. Will the little fishing boats you mentioned be running then?
Sep 14, 2015 | 11:35 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Iowa City, IA
Posts: 337
I would like to advice against spending more than 4 days in Rio. I am here for almost a week now and I am becoming annoyed with the bad service and quality of the Ipanema/Copa restaurants (apart from Rua Bolivar). Gay nightlife is extremely boring as well.
Sightseeing you can do in 4 days:
1) Morning visit to Corcovado (on a clear day) + late afternoon/evening visit to Sugarloaf.
2) Walking/shopping at Ipanema
3) Jardim Botanico
4) Downtown
Sightseeing you can do in 4 days:
1) Morning visit to Corcovado (on a clear day) + late afternoon/evening visit to Sugarloaf.
2) Walking/shopping at Ipanema
3) Jardim Botanico
4) Downtown