Brazil has an exotic charm that attracts everyone. It is its vibrant culture, its amazing natural spaces or the famous postcards that we have all seen of Ipanema and other beautiful corners that make we want to make a great getaway to this country. Beyond the unmistakable icons of Rio de Janeiro or the beaches of Brazil, there are excursions and tours that can be very interesting.
This time we are going to focus on one of those places that may not be so well known, but that are gaining importance as people discover them. The Tropical Islands are in the Bay of Sepetiba, near Rio de Janeiro, so once we have seen the whole city and the emblematic places, we can immerse ourselves in the beautiful places that await us on the coast of Brazil.
Excursion to the Tropical Islands
One of the most recommended excursions in the Rio de Janeiro city is a getaway to the Tropical Islands. These so-called Tropical Islands are part of the Sepetiba Bay, a tourist site that is only 95 km south of the city of Rio de Janeiro, and close to the city of Itacuruca.
To get to this place you can take a bus that will take you through the Rio-Santos highway in the direction of San Pablo. Arriving at the port of Itacuruçá it is possible to find a coast of green and warm waters surrounded by abundant vegetation. There is the small and quiet cove of Sepetiba Bay that houses the peaceful Tropical Islands, an excellent place for those who want to enjoy the sea and nature and relax during their stay in Rio.
It is at this point that the traveler will embark on a schooner, called there saveiro, to enjoy the bay. The navigation will be carried out crossing the calm waters of the Restinga of Marambaia. The boat will make some stops so that visitors can dive into the clear waters of the bay, and also to have a delicious lunch and snacks.
These excursions have become very popular, and today the Itacuruçá area, in addition to continuing to be a fishing village, is a place that has more and more tourist importance. To the visit Itacuruçá, we can enjoy a place where mollusks and fish are caught daily. In addition, there are many interesting beaches in the area, such as Coroa Grande, Muriquí or Sahy.
Visiting Paraty
Once we have enjoyed these typical excursions to the Tropical Islands, we can immerse ourselves in other nearby places that will also bring us great things on those vacations. Paraty it is a very small and close town, in the bay of Sepetiba. It can be reached by boat or by public transport.
The town of Paraty is located in a natural setting, just as quiet as Itacuruçá. From the bay you can already see the houses or the church in the Baroque style, the whole town being one of the great legacies of the colonial era which is kept in very good condition. That is why it has been declared a World Heritage Site. You can walk through its paved streets, which are only pedestrianized. In addition, many excursions are organized from here, to be able to see the surroundings.
Very close there various national parks that offer incredible natural spaces and interesting routes and towns. You have Sierra de Bocaina, Serra do Mar, Saco de Mamangua among others. Small tours are also made from the town to see nearby areas, such as the beautiful Praia do Sono or the fishing village of Ponta Negra.
We arrived at Ilha Grande
This large island is another of the places near this area of Sepetiba, and it constitutes an interesting excursion. To get there you have to get used to the idea that it will be necessary to use a boat. This can be taken from different points of the coast. From the city of Mangaratiba, from Angra dos Reis or from the well-known Paraty, of which we have already spoken. There are boats that leave with fixed schedules to visit Ilha Grande, where there are hotels and other accommodations, but free camping is not allowed.
One of the most sought-after sports on this island is trekkingas there are many marked hiking trails. However, the safest and most sensible thing to do is to hire excursions to have guides to take us along the trails, as some go into wooded areas and can confuse the less expert. It is also an ideal island for fans of water sports, since in its clear waters you can go snorkelling and diving.
There are very special places to discover within this island. The Feiticeira Waterfall o Cascada de la Hechicera is one of them. To get there, you have to follow a hiking route of medium difficulty from the Feiticeira beach. We will reach a 15 meter high waterfall, a waterfall between trees and thick vegetation that is totally spectacular. One of the sports that is most practiced is rappelling, which is the descent through the rocks of the waterfall with the appropriate equipment, only for adventurers.
Another excursion that can make a difference when visiting this island is that of the Papagaio Peak. This is the second highest mountain on the island, and offers panoramic views of the entire bay, from where we can see other islands and the mainland. However, here it is recommended that all who go to do so with guides since the path can get confused, and the wrong routes can lead to areas of the forest in which many tourists have gotten lost. And of course you can forget about your mobile, because up there there is no coverage either, hence the importance of taking someone who knows the way well, although the views are well worth it.
It must be amazing to get lost there for ten days.