Brasil

October 23 2024

Exploring Cuba with the Passporter App 🇨🇺🍹

baacon Backpacking, North America, Travel Brasil, travel

Cuba is a country rich in culture, history, and breathtaking natural beauty. From the lively streets of Havana to the crystal-clear waters of Varadero, there are plenty of attractions to explore in this country. With so many options to choose from, planning a trip to Cuba can be overwhelming. This is where the Passporter App comes in. This innovative travel app takes the stress out of travel planning by offering personalized itineraries and inspirations tailored to personal interests and preferences.

Day 1: City tour in a typical vintage car

Our trip to Cuba began in Havana, where we stayed at the legendary Hotel Nacional. This historic hotel has hosted numerous famous personalities over the years, including Frank Sinatra and Winston Churchill. The architecture and decor of the hotel take one back to the glamorous era of the 1950s. We spent our first day in Havana on a small city tour in one of the typical vintage cars that can be found everywhere in the city. Our tour included stops at Havana's art market, lunch at the famous Floridita where we mixed our own daiquiris, and some time to relax at the Iberostar Packard Rooftop Pool, with a wonderful view of the city. 🏊‍♂️

Day 2: Exploring the city on foot & our first cabaret show

On the second day of our stay in Cuba, we explored the city center of Havana on foot. We were fascinated by the many sights and the lively activity on the streets. After spending some time getting lost in the streets, it was time for lunch at the stunning La Habana Hotel, housed in a magnificent colonial-era building. It offers stunning panoramic views of the entire city and is a truly impressive place.

In the evening, we were excited as we headed to the Tropicana in Havana. The Tropicana is a famous nightclub that has been entertaining visitors for over 80 years. We were treated to a spectacular cabaret show that provided an excellent portrayal of Cuban culture and history. The talented dancers, singers, and musicians impressed us with their skills - it was a truly unforgettable experience! 👯

Day 3: Exploring the Vinales Valley

Our third day in Cuba was full of adventure and excitement. Early in the morning, we set off and headed to the Vinales Valley to learn more about the traditional cigar-making process. The valley itself is already a highlight, with its picturesque landscapes, tobacco plantations, and limestone cliffs that majestically rise into the air. When we arrived, we were greeted by a farmer who took us through the entire manufacturing process. We saw how the tobacco plants were grown, harvested, and dried. Then we were shown how the leaves were sorted, rolled, and stored in barrels to achieve the perfect taste. The passion and care that goes into making each cigar were impressive. Of course, we also got to try a freshly rolled cigar. 😉🚬

After this exciting experience, we set off for our next adventure: ziplining! We soared over the green jungle, flew from platform to platform, and enjoyed spectacular views of the valley. Later, we rode horses to the Mural de la Prehistoria, a giant artwork that depicts evolution and is carved into the rocks. It was impressive to see how precise and detailed the artwork was and how well it was integrated into the natural environment. 🌴

Our last destination on this day was the Cueva del Indio, a fascinating cave with underground rivers and crystal-clear lakes. We enjoyed taking a small boat through the cave and admiring the stalactites and stalagmites.

Day 4 - Off to Varadero!

After a fantastic breakfast in the hotel garden, we continued our journey to Varadero, known for its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. Our accommodation for the next few days was the luxurious Melia Internacional Varadero. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by friendly staff and shown to our spacious rooms, where we relaxed in the afternoon.

In the evening, we visited the stunning Mansion Xanadu restaurant, once the home of American millionaire Irenee Du Pont. The restaurant was a true feast for the eyes, with magnificent views of the Gulf of Mexico. The menu offered a delicious selection of dishes, all prepared with fresh local ingredients. After a wonderful dinner, we made our way back to the hotel.

Day 5 - Action in Varadero

The next day, we started our adventure early with an exciting jeep safari that took us to Playa Coral. As we drove through a beautiful landscape with breathtaking views, we could hardly wait to dive into the crystal-clear water when we finally reached Playa Coral. The snorkeling experience was simply unforgettable. We saw an incredible variety of colorful fish and coral formations living in the deep blue waters.

After snorkeling, we made our way to Cueva de Saturno, an impressive cave hidden deep in the jungle. The coolness of the water was a welcome refreshment, and we enjoyed swimming in the waters and being inspired by the beauty and tranquility of the cave.

Back at the hotel, we had a romantic snack with live saxophone music and watched the sun set behind the horizon. Later in the evening, we also enjoyed a candlelight dinner personally prepared by the chef.

Day 6 - Catamaran to Cayo Blanco

Our last day in Cuba was an absolute highlight of our trip, as we had planned a private catamaran tour to Cayo Blanco. The island, only accessible by boat, was a true paradise. We were immediately enchanted by the breathtaking beauty of the white sandy beaches and crystal-clear blue waters.

Our day began early in the morning when we were picked up from our hotel and taken to our catamaran. The boat ride itself was an experience, as we enjoyed the view of the open sea and surrounding islands. When we finally arrived at Cayo Blanco, we were overwhelmed by the beauty of the island. The beach was flawless, the water was so clear that you could see all the way to the ocean floor, and the surrounding landscape was simply breathtaking. We decided to spend the day relaxing on the beach and swimming in the crystal-clear water.

As the day slowly came to an end and we returned to the hotel, we enjoyed the stunning sunset. It was an unforgettable sight as the sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon and the sea turned warm orange and red tones. We also had a last romantic dinner with live music before we reluctantly said goodbye to Cuba.

October 2 2024

Road trip to northern Brazil - the most beautiful beaches in South America 🏝

baacon Backpacking, South America, Travel Brasil, travel

Big City bustle in Rio de Janeiro 🏙

Before we headed to the north coast of Brazil, we spent a week in Rio de Janeiro. From the start, I had high expectations of this city, and they were not disappointed, as there is just so much to experience here, and so many different cultures coming together in one place. We could have easily spent two more weeks in Rio without getting bored. Our highlights included the Museum of Tomorrow, the hike from Praia Vermelha to Sugarloaf, and of course, the incredible view from Christ the Redeemer. Additionally, you should definitely try a typical Caipirinha at Copacabana or Ipanema Beach - starting at 1.50 €, you can enjoy a first-class Caipi that is rarely served in Europe, with the option of passion fruit, strawberries... 😉

At the wrong time, in the wrong place

From Rio, we continued our journey by plane to Fortaleza, where we arrived in the middle of the night. Luckily, it is easy to book an Uber anywhere in South America, because Fortaleza is one of the most dangerous cities in South America, and you don't want to walk through the streets at night with all your luggage. The next day, we found out that it would have been smarter to go directly to Cumbuco by Uber instead of staying a night in Fortaleza, because Cumbuco was our actual destination for the first week. This small village, located only 30 minutes away from Fortaleza, is well-known among kite and windsurfers. Throughout the year, there is always an excellent wind for these activities, and the entire north coast is well-visited by surfers. However, there is only one month in a year where there is no wind, and that happened to be the month we were there! 😀 So, there wasn't much kiteboarding for us, and I only managed to get on the water with a huge 14-meter kite for one afternoon. The whole town was deserted, so we had to focus on work, swim in the sea, and sip cocktails in the whirlpool in the evenings.

The only tourists around

Since we still wanted to explore the north coast despite the bad wind conditions, we rented a small VW Polo in Fortaleza for less than 10 € per day and drove along the coast to Jericoacoara - one of the most famous holiday resorts in Brazil. Along the way, we passed many beautiful beaches that were deserted because even the locals don't vacation here during the rainy season. However, the off-season should never stop you from traveling, as it offers many advantages, such as cheaper prices and empty beaches.

Stress test for our Polo

Just before Jericoacoara, we were surprised when we were stopped several times on the road by supposed tourist guides who wanted to "escort" us safely to Jeri. We found out why shortly after: there is no proper road to Jericoacoara, only an unpaved path along the beach. During the rainy season, there are often floods, so you sometimes have to cross pretty deep puddles. After a quick check on the internet, we weren't deterred and tried to reach Jeri through the sand dunes in the dark. Luckily, we had a local woman in front of us who knew the way well and checked the small streams and puddles in front of us for depth. Some were easily 30 cm deep. However, our Polo held up, and after about 45 minutes of off-road driving, we reached the place where we had to park our car by the roadside, as only residents are allowed to use their cars here.

Jericoacoara reminds me a bit of the Gili Islands in Indonesia, as it is quite quiet due to the ban on cars and has its own unique vibe. Additionally, the beach of Jericoacoara is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen – it is definitely the shallowest beach I know, and you can walk infinitely far into the water. The water temperature is almost like the Indian Ocean, so you can stay in the water for a long time without getting cold. Over the next few days, we spent our time with extensive beach and dune walks, and we explored the wildlife between the stones on the cliffs.

From Jeri, we went to the small village of Tatajuba, which is about 20km away as the crow flies. We were on the road for a total of 2 hours with our Polo, as we encountered the same problem as on our way to Jericoacoara: the incredible amount of water during the rainy season. To avoid most of it, we roughly circumvented the flooded area. After we had managed the familiar sandy road, we drove 50 km along the highway in pouring rain, dodging holes every 100 meters where children and sometimes adults can hide. 😀 Then we continued through the hinterland, where the rain made things pretty tough for us. After an hour of constant rain, we could no longer see the sandy road, and we were basically driving in a big river. Fortunately, our Polo survived this too, and we reached Tatajuba without any problems, which was even emptier than all the other places we had been to so far. In our entire five days here, we saw only one other tourist – so it couldn't be any more peaceful! 😀 Nevertheless, we didn't get bored because we had a lot to do, found interesting animals in the hotel, and were entertained with beach tennis. Janet also had the opportunity to take a few lessons in the nearby kite school, and on the last day, I was lucky enough to get back on the water, even if it was only for two hours. 🏄‍♂️ 🏄‍♂️

From Tatajuba, we drove all the way back to Fortaleza with two short stops. In Fortaleza, we spent the last week on the north coast, worked a lot again, and explored the dreamy beaches that can be found here as well. In addition, there is a huge shopping mall in almost every district of Fortaleza, so it never gets boring. From Fortaleza, we will fly back to Rio, where we will finally experience Carnival – what a thrill we have! 😀

September 13 2024

The Costa Verde – My Highlight of Brazil 🇧🇷

baacon Backpacking, South America, Travel Brasil, travel

From carnival bustle to paradise 🏝

After the carnival in Rio was an incredible experience for us, we had another exciting week ahead: we embarked on a rental car tour along the beautiful Costa Verde (from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo), organized by Gateway Brazil. Before we set off with our own rental car, however, our tour started a little more relaxed for the first few days - we were driven! Our driver picked us up at our hotel in the morning and drove us to Angra dos Reis, about 3 hours away from Rio. From there, we took a small boat to Ilha Grande - a dreamlike island with crystal-clear water and Caribbean-looking beaches. The Ilha Grande had already been on our minds before our trip to Brazil, as we had been recommended this island by many people - and it quickly became clear why. Here you find this very special "island vibe", great people, and an incredibly beautiful nature! 😍🍀

When we arrived on the first day, we walked 5 minutes along the beach to our hotel and were initially thrilled with the view from our balcony - we could look directly into the beautiful bay of Abraão from our room. Then we explored the town, which is the largest on Ilha Grande, on foot because there are no cars on Ilha Grande! We ended the evening in one of the many small restaurants. 😊

The Lopez Mendez Beach - one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! 🏝

The next day, we had a hike planned - we wanted to see the Lopez Mendez Beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil and even the world! But first, we walked for nearly 3 hours through the rich jungle and saw many different animals, including giant worms (easily 30 cm long!), lemurs, large iguanas... We also passed by other beautiful beaches, all of which reminded us of the Caribbean. 🌴🥥

Finally, we reached Lopez Mendez Beach and it earned its title - the beach is infinitely long and the yellow sandy beach forms an incredible contrast to the turquoise blue water. Another bay away is another beach: Santo Antonio Beach, which is also beautiful and especially deserted! We took the taxi boat back, which takes you home in just 15 minutes. We also had a fantastic sunset! 🚤🌅

Swimming with giant fish and turtles 🐠🐢

Our last day on Ilha Grande was coming up and we had something special planned - we took the "Meia Volta" snorkeling tour with stops at a total of 5 different beaches and bays. We set off with the speedboat and at each of the beaches, we had the opportunity to explore the underwater world with the snorkel set, which I did at every single beach! 😂

I just love snorkeling and diving because there is nothing more calming for me than watching the underwater creatures in their activities and "drifting" among them. But we didn't just see many colorful fish, we also saw two turtles. With one, I was able to glide side by side through the water for several minutes, which was an incredibly beautiful feeling! I also saw two giant fish, about a meter long, but unfortunately, I still don't know what kind of fish they were. 🙈

Off to Paraty - a city entirely in colonial style! 🏠

Unfortunately, we had to leave Ilha Grande the next day - it was an incredibly beautiful few days, and it won't be the last time we're here! We also had a very nice hotel, right by the beach, with a delicious breakfast. On this tour, Gateway Brazil provided all the organization, including rental cars, hotels, schedules... so we didn't have to worry about anything and could finally concentrate exclusively on our trip and experiences. Back in Angra dos Reis, we got our rental car - a brand new Chevrolet sedan with automatic transmission. With this, we drove a relaxed two hours to Paraty - our stop for the next two days.

Paraty has a unique touch, as the entire old town is in a colonial style, which is especially colorful! Our beautiful hotel was also in this style and in the best location. We had a very nice suite and were even greeted with a handwritten, GERMAN card, including handmade chocolates from Paraty. However, a special highlight for us was breakfast at the hotel, as we could choose from a large selection of dishes the night before, and breakfast was super delicious. During our time here, we extensively explored the old town, which not only has beautiful houses but also many small boutiques, cute cafes, and really great bars and restaurants. 😊

Exploring the Atlantic rainforest 🎋

On the way to our next hotel (near São Sebastião), we visited several waterfalls and saw the old town of São Sebastião, which, like Paraty, was built in a colonial style and also offers many colorful colors. Our next hotel was in a fantastic location right on the beautiful beach of Maresias and offered not only the beautiful location but also a very nice pool and delicious cocktails. In addition, we had another wonderful breakfast the next morning with a large selection, such as a sandwich with smoked salmon and avocado or freshly baked tarts. 😍🥞 In general, the entire tour with Gateway Brazil offered beautiful hotels in perfect locations.

Ending the tour luxuriously 💎

The next day, we continued. However, we didn't have to drive many kilometers as our next stop was only about half an hour away. On the way, we took another little detour into the rainforest and hiked to the waterfalls Cachoeira Pedra Lisa & Cachoeira Samambaiacu, which are also very popular with locals. We quickly understood why because the waterfalls were not only very beautiful to look at, but you could also refresh yourself in the many different pools - with the high humidity and difficult ascent, that was urgently needed! 💦

After the short refreshment, we continued to the next accommodation, which really impressed us! 😍 Not only did we have a very nice room with a large bathtub and two bathrooms, but the hotel was also right on a beautiful beach again, with a pool, whirlpool, and its own spa area. Again, we were provided with a magnificent breakfast the next day - and directly on the beach, with a view of the surfers who tried their luck at the beach's high waves. What more could you want? 🤷🏼‍♂️

The final stretch to São Paulo 🚙

On our last day, we drove the car all the way to São Paulo, where we easily returned it. By the way, this can be done at any of the countless drop-off stations in São Paulo, including at the airport. The last week went by incredibly fast and we would have loved to extend the trip, as the Costa Verde truly has an incredible number of beautiful places to offer and there are enough attractions to easily fill three weeks. However, our one-week tour included the best highlights of the coast between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and impressed us mainly due to one thing: variety! From the hustle and bustle of Rio to the idyllic tranquility of Ilha Grande, to the Atlantic Rainforest with its countless waterfalls - in one week, you can experience exactly what makes Brazil so special! 👌

Be sure to check out our partner Gateway Brazil , who put together this wonderful tour for us. At Gateway Lateinamerika Be sure to check out our partner Gateway Brazil, who put together this wonderful tour for us. On Gateway Latin America, you can also find tours in other beautiful countries in South and Central America. It's worth it! 😊

Below, I'll show you my personal highlights of this tour so you can get an idea of what the Costa Verde has to offer. Here you can directly see the tour we took:

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