Brasil Ride
We ended up in Brazil for a cycling race. And so we approached Sapa Pana Travel with an unusual request: to plan an organised trip that was already 50 per cent underway. This assignment led us to Petra. We also had further requirements as we were travelling with a two-year-old, which meant we were slightly limited in the number of places we wanted to visit. It wasn’t our first time in Brazil either, so we were looking for the hidden gems rather than the tourist hotspots.
“ Sapa Pana Travel came up with a proposal that actually turned out to be spot on straight away ”
So our trip began in the heart of Brazil (Arraial d’Ajuda), a place I can highly recommend to everyone, by the way!
The first two weeks or so were all about a mountain bike race (the Brasil Ride). I was there to compete, and my two loyal supporters were with me.
After the race, we set off for Rio de Janeiro. We left very early, at 4.20, and so arrived at 5.20. When we got there, a rental car was waiting for us, just as agreed, and we were able to set off for Paraty without any problems.
Paraty
When I arrived in a grey and rainy Paraty 4.5 hours later, I wondered for a moment where on earth I’d ended up. But to get straight to the point, it turned out to be a real gem.
The next morning, when the sun was shining again and the skies had cleared, we went for a walk with a guide through the historic centre of Paraty. This little town, with all its large stones, was an instant playground paradise for our son, who could jump from stone to stone.
The guide adapted perfectly to our (child’s) pace and took plenty of time to tell us about the history and the different phases Paraty has gone through.
The next morning, we set off by car in search of a lovely little beach. After a drive of about 25 minutes, we arrived at a beautiful Praia and had a lovely time relaxing. We played in the water, enjoyed some good food and also had a bit of a rest after that match.
The next day, as it had gone so well, we repeated the experience at another little beach. In the afternoon and evening, we were back in Paraty and decided to look for a nice little restaurant in the historic centre – of which there are more than enough.
“ ‘No stress’ was the motto, and we were able to indulge in that to the full ”
After three days in Paraty, it was time to head back to Rio de Janeiro. The two of us had been here before and had already seen the main tourist attractions.
On our return to the airport, where we were dropping off the car, our guide was waiting for us. A very friendly man. He spoke good English and took us to our hotel in Leblon. During the journey, he sensed exactly what we were looking for and immediately recommended a few restaurants that we’d probably enjoy.
Once we arrived at the hotel, we checked in and unpacked our things. We then explored the hotel and the neighbourhood a bit, and the day was over before we knew it.
Rio de Janeiro
Over the next few days, we spent some lovely time wandering around this vibrant city. From the Escadaria Selarón steps to the Cristo Redentor statue to the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema.
As we were travelling with a little rascal, we didn’t plan too much for each day here either, and took the time to do a few really fun activities rather than cramming the day full.
At the end of our holiday, our guide was waiting for us as agreed to take us back to the airport. Here, we were also given a lesson in how to navigate an airport very quickly with a child, and learnt that you receive special treatment for this here in Brazil.
After nearly four weeks in Brazil, back in the Netherlands in the cold, I look back on this trip with nothing but positive memories. In my case, it was a journey of hardship and struggle, taking in fantastic views of the unspoilt nature in Bahia, through to the wonderfully relaxed and serene Paraty, right up to the vibrant and bustling Rio.
For us, it was the perfect cocktail… and wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly what they specialise in over in Brazil!
Would you like to go on a self-guided trip of Brazil or another country in Latin America, and are you curious about the possibilities? Then do take a look at the itineraries we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.