Travel Journals - Personal Accounts and Tales from Backpacking Through Brazil
In the summer of 2014, a traveler embarked on a two-week adventure across South America, with Brazil being a significant part of their itinerary. The journey, which took place a decade ago, saw them visit Brazil during a unique time - the World Cup was in full swing, and the country was buzzing with excitement.
Their South American odyssey began in Porto Seguro, a charming town that offered a refreshing escape from the World Cup hype. The traveler stayed here from June 25th to July 3rd, 2014, and found the town to be a budget-friendly haven for backpackers, with plenty of affordable accommodation and restaurants offering English menus.
From Porto Seguro, they headed to the historic and bohemian Santa Teresa district in Rio de Janeiro. Known for its incredible views, nineteenth-century mansions, and vibrant arts scene, Santa Teresa was a perfect introduction to the city. The traveler chose Rio de Janeiro as their next destination because it was far enough away from World Cup towns to be unaffected and had the cheapest hotel rates they could find online.
Their trip coincided with the 2014 World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro. The city was a riot of colours, a fascinating and enticing spectacle that the traveler found hard to forget. They visited Lapa, a beautiful, colourful neighbourhood with old buildings, lively bars, and amazing street art. The traveler also experienced kindness from a Brazilian woman who gave them a lift when they were walking along the road toward Paraty, as they were waiting for a bus.
One of the highlights of their journey was the visit to Iguassu Falls. The traveler crossed into Brazil from Argentina at Iguassu Falls and visited the iconic waterfalls on both sides. They found the photos of Iguassu Falls do not do justice to the experience, which involves the motion of the water, the power, the thunderous noise, the heat of the sun, the rich green forest, and the fragmented sunlight through wet leaves. The Brazil side of Iguassu Falls offered a more modern and sleeker park with a transport system included in the ticket price.
The trail on the Brazil side started far back and offered incredible views across the falls and over to Argentina. The traveler also took an optional side trail to the center of the Garganta do Diabo, which was wet and refreshing. A few days later, they discovered another swimming hole, the Poço do Inglês, on the recommendation of Hans, the owner of the Shambhala Lounge where they had lunch.
The traveler continued their journey to Belo Horizonte, Porto Seguro, Paraty, and Rio de Janeiro. They found Paraty after choosing it because it was nearer to Rio than Florianopolis and avoided them an extra few hours on the bus. Paraty was a backpacker haven, with cheap accommodation, plenty of tours, and restaurants with English menus.
They headed into the forest on the hunt for waterfalls and found Penha, where a short walk through the rich Atlantic forest brought them to a long wooden bridge over the shallow river which led to a strategically placed restaurant alongside a small, trickling waterfall. They also discovered a huge natural slide further along the river; a big slab of slanted and perfectly smooth rock along which a thin layer of river flows, leading to a short drop into a very cold natural pool.
The traveler finished their week in Paraty with a wonderful treatment at the Shambhala Spa. They visited Mundaí, a lively beachside resort which showed World Cup games on a big screen and played music the rest of the time. They also visited Mutarí, which they found after taking a bus up the coast and getting off at random seemingly in the middle of nowhere, and which they had almost entirely to themselves.
The traveler spent the final week of their five-month South American Adventure in Rio de Janeiro. They walked around the town and found it to be colourful and pleasantly rundown. They started with the beach and took a bus to Trindade, where they discovered a small bay at the foot of an enormous, forested hill.
The traveler visited Brazil during a significant period in the country's history, and their experiences ranged from the cultural immersion of the World Cup to the natural wonders of Iguassu Falls and the diverse landscapes of Rio de Janeiro. Their journey through Brazil was a memorable one, and they have gathered their old blog posts from that time and placed them on their website, as they hold sentimental value and are a significant part of their life and career as a blogger.
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- The traveler discovered that Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro, with its charming views, historic mansions, and vibrant arts scene, was a perfect introduction to the city during their South American adventure.
- In Brazil, the traveler found Iguassu Falls on both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides to be a natural wonder that surpassed the beauty captured in photographs, with the Brazilian side offering a more modern and sleeker park experience.
- During their stay in Paraty, a backpacker haven, the traveler enjoyed exploring the town's cheap accommodations, English menus, and waterside attractions such as the Penha trails and natural slides.
- The traveler ended their week in Paraty with a rejuvenating treatment at the Shambhala Spa before moving on to spend the final week of their South American adventure in Rio de Janeiro, where they celebrated the World Cup final and marveled at the city's colorful, rundown charm.
- As a blogger, the traveler cherishes their experiences in Brazil, including their cultural immersion during the World Cup and the natural wonders they encountered, recording their memories and reflections on their website as a testament to their memorable journey through South America.
