Brazil – 2 Travel Is 2 Live

Praia do Forte

Posted on March 24, 2021June 5, 2023 by Debs and Mike

Praia do Forte is a beautiful beach village 50 miles from Salvador de Bahia in Brazil

Travelling to Salvador

We flew to Salvador on 19th June 2018 from Rio De Janeiro We stayed all inclusive at a lovely hotel called Iberostar Praia Do Forte which was about a 40 minute drive from the airport. Praia Do Forte is a prime example of eco-tourism. There are 4 endangered Sea Turtle’s in Praia Do Forte. Iberostar is involved in a plan to protect the Turtle’s

Accommodation

The hotel was a good standard of all inclusive but not quite 5 star. The rooms were very spacious and clean. The food and drink in the hotel is also very good with 6 restaurants (Do Lago – Gourmet Restaurant, Novecento – Italian Restaurant, Pelo – International buffet, Mai Tai – Asian Restaurant, Maresia – Mexican Restaurant, Odoia – Bahian Restaurant) and 5 bars. There are also 5 pools at the resort.

There is also a lovely little bar and restaurant down by the beach which is lovely to eat at during the day.

The complex itself is very big with a lot of activities day and night. The hotel was directly on to the beach which was a beautiful beach with soft sand and clear blue sea. You could walk on the beach for miles. There is the centre of Praia do Forte a short distance away with bars and restaurants.

There was entertainment around the pool each day. It was waiter service around the pool but you could go up to the bar and order yourself. The cocktails were made fresh and were very nice. One of the cocktails looked and tasted like raspberry ripple ice cream but because it did not taste very alcoholic we were unaware of how much we were drinking. Caipirinha is Brazils national cocktail which is a made of lime (other fruits can be used), sugar and Cachaca (Brazilian Sugar Cane Brandy). These drinks are very refreshing but also strong. This hotel made the most amazing fresh cocktails.

Location

We walked most days on the beach. The beach was very quiet not sure if it was the time of year we went but each day there wasnt many people on the beach. It was a lovely stretch of beach that you could walk a fair distance in either direction. The sea was warm and relatively calm so could not understand why there wasn’t more people in the sea etc considering there were other hotels near by. There wasn’t anything else within walking distance of the hotel.

World Cup

We stayed at the hotel during the World Cup 2018. The hotel made a lot of effort with regards to the guests enjoying the football. There were a lot of large sculpture relating to the World Cup around the hotel.

On one of the days Brazil were playing, There were live bands throughout the day and BBQ food etc in area’s around the pool which did not usually serve food. Everyone was having the most amazing time.

When it was time for the game a large room was set up with large screen, buffet food, waiter service, bar service and cocktail station. Almost every seat in the room was taken. The whole room was going crazy when Brazil scored a goal. They played Switzerland that day and drew 1 all.

We had met some Brazilian couples so spent the day with them even though they couldn’t speak English and we couldn’t speak Spanish/Portuguese but through google translator we got by. This was one of the best days we had at the hotel. When the game was over the room quickly emptied and although Brazil did not win the party still carried on,

We went to watch England play on one of the days which was quite a contrast to the Brazilian game. The large room was set up again as it was with the Brazilian game but we were the only English guests in the hotel so there wasn’t many people watching the game although it did come with an advantage we worked out that their were 2 waiters to each person watching. Plus point on one hand but the down side was drinks were flowing extremely quickly lol. Did not see much of the evening that day.

Summary

We did experience some very heavy downpours through out our stay but they were short lived and did not spoil our holiday. We did have one day when it rained most of the day. June is one of the wettest months here so did expect some rain. The weather was mainly hot, sunny and around the pool weather.

We were travelling to various detitanations in Brazil and wanted an all inclusive beach holiday in between. We did not venture out of our hotel apart from on the beach during our stay as we had been sightseeing in other destinations prior to this hotel and was going to further destinations of interest after. For what we wanted from the hotel and location this was a very good choice. The only downside was that there wasn’t many English speaker guests at the hotel. Many of the staff also struggled with English. We did try and use a bit of Spanish but unfortunately our Spanish isn’t good enough at the moment. If we venture back to Brazil hope our Spanish has improved.

Images

Forte beach
Pool Scene
Pool bar
World Cup 2018
World Cup 2018
World Cup 2018
Brazil playing in the World Cup
England playing in the World Cup
Cocktail bar in function room for the football games.
Brazilian singers, dancers and footballers
Friends with the locals
Show cooking in Mai Tai restaurant
Buffet restaurante
Meal at Beach Bar

Things to do

Dink a Caipirinha
Visit one of the wonderful beaches
Visit the Tamar Project
Try scuba diving
Do some snorkelling.
Try the local cuisines

Top Tips

If visiting anywhere in Brazil try the Caipirinha cocktail it is amazing
Tamar Project is a Turtle Sanctuary which is a short drive away although we did not go there it does seem a worth a visit for a worthy cause.
Watching the World Cup in Brazil was amazing if you are going to go to Brazil the year it is the World Cup do it then.
This is not a main tourist destination for many countries so be aware that many will not speak English.
Check out the best time of year for weather as some months have a lot of rain. Hurricane season is from June to November.
Check out the Government information before travelling to Brazil https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil/safety-and-security
Check out other destinations we have visited in Brazil. Please click on the following links Rio de Janeiro , Foz Do Iguacu
If going out of the resorts be aware that there is a high risk of mugging and pick pocketing especially in El Salvador.

Weather

Rio de Janeiro

Posted on March 2, 2021December 14, 2022 by Debs and Mike

Rio De Janeiro is the 6th most populated place in the Americas.

It was founded by the Portuguese in 1565. Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil until 1960 when the capital changed to Brasilia

Travelling to Rio De Janeiro

In the month of June we travelled to Rio De Janeiro. We were fortunate enough to fly on British Airways in Business Class using staff travel from Heathrow Airport. As we were boarding the plane we noticed 2 armed police officers with a man in handcuffs it was clear that this man was being deported back to Brazil. Due to being in Business Class fortunately we were not sat anywhere near the Police or the man. The flight was around 11 hours 50 mins but did not seem that long as the cabin crew were very attentive and provided us with al a carte meals and lovely drinks. We arranged a private transfer which took about 25 minutes and cost £20 return.

Accommodation

Finally we arrived at Rio Othon Palace at Copacabana beach which we were staying at for 4 nights. The hotel was ideally situated on Avenue Alantica and we had an excellent view of the beach from our hotel room balcony. The hotel costs around £100 a night in June. The rooms are very clean and were adequate for our stay. Additionally there is a roof top pool which is small but again adequate. We didn’t go in the pool as we were only in Rio a short time and wanted to make the most of sight seeing.

Safety in Rio De Janeiro

Prior to visiting Rio we had been warned to be careful at night due to muggings so we were mindful of this when we went out for a walk on the first evening, but the streets were fairly busy and we didn’t encounter any problems. Please check out the government website for safety and security advice when visiting Rio https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil/safety-and-security

Full day tour of Rio De Janeiro

Whilst we were walking around Rio De Janeiro we were approached by a tour guide who offered us a full days tour of Rio De Janeiro for £60 which seemed like a good deal. The guide showed us his ID and the company he worked for which all seemed good. The tour was even better than described, the guide spoke excellent English and was very informative.

San Corado Beach

Firstly we were picked up from outside our hotel and headed off to San Corado Beach where there were a number of hand gliders floating down from the Pedra da Gavea mountain. The San Corado Beach is famous for the hand gliding which is very popular with both tourists and locals. On the hills above the beach there is the largest Flavela of Rochinha.

National Park of Tijuca

Our next destination was the Tujica rainforest which was declared a National Park in 1961. Tijuca rainforest is described as the largest urban rainforest in the World but not sure if this is actual correct as other rainforest also tries to claim this title. A lot of the rainforest has already been cut down for development of Coffee and sugarcane farming. Fortunately due to its status has a National Park the rainforest will now be protected. Our guide showed us around the National Park providing us with information along the way. The National Park is beautiful and definitely worth a visit. From the National Park of Tijuca there were amazing views of the city to be seen. We also saw our first glimpse of Christ the Redeemer from here, looking spectacular in the distance.

Favelas

As the minibus took us around the city we saw a number of favelas which our tour guide told us were safe enough to walk through waving your I-phone around, but we weren’t too sure about that and so decided to give that a miss. The army vehicles situated right outside the entrances to the favelas didn’t give us any confidence either! Rochinha is the largest hill Favela in Rio and even in the whole of Brazil. During the World Cup of 2018 the Flavelas of Rio hit the headlines with regards to the drugs and the mistreatment of residence of the favelas whilst the stadiums were being built.

Christ the Redeemer

Finally we arrived at Christ the Redeemer which is the fourth largest statue of Jesus Christ in the World. The statue stands at over 2310ft tall. The minibus parked up and we then embarked on our walk up to the top. We were very excited to be seeing our first of the seven modern wonders of the world, and when the statue came into full view it didn’t disappoint. It was well worth the walk. It was pretty crowded up there and so getting a photo of the two of us without anyone else in was a challenge, but we finally managed to take one. Seeing the Christ the Redeemer was the highlight of the day.

Santa Teresa

After spending some more time admiring the wonderful views from the top, it was on to our next stop, the Santa Teresa neighbourhood. This was a very colourful village where all of the lamp-posts were brightly painted and was full of quirky buildings and artist’s studios. It also is home to a very interesting tram museum. We spent about an hour wandering round the narrow streets, before heading into the city to see the Serlaron Steps.

Selaron Steps

Our final destination was the Seleron Steps Selaron Steps, a beautiful set of tiled steps created by the Chilean artist Jorge Selaron as “my tribute to the Brazilian people”. The steps connect the neighbourhoods of Lapa and Santa Teresa. Selaron has added tiles from around 60 countries and there are now over 2,000 tiles added to the staircase. Apparently both U2 and Snoop Dogg have recorded music videos on the steps!

Cocabana Beach

The beautiful Cocabana beach is lovely and we walked on this most days and did not feel threatened but we were very cautious to keep our valuables safe. On one of the days there were 100’s of Santa’s, elves etc which was very strange in the middle of June but everyone seemed to be having a great time. It turned out that it was 25 years since Santa school started and May, June is the time they start growing their beards for the Christmas period (not 100% sure if this was the reason but this is what we were told).

Bars and Restaurants

The bars in Rio de Janeiro vary as in most places. You can find the usual cocktail bars where you pay around £5 a cocktail and around £2.60 a pint of beer. The smaller bars are cheaper with around £2.10 but not much choice of cocktails. Eating out in a mid – good range restaurant costs around £25 for two (Not including drinks). There are some bars that are just put up for the evening and are selling drinks from small carts. We sat at one of the carts and had a Caipirinha just to give the guy some custom. The drink was lovely and a lot cheaper than the bars. Many of the bars on the front were pretty quiet not sure if this was due to the time of year or if this was due to the risks of mugging etc.

Summary

Rio is an amazing place to visit with lots to see and do. We would recommend anyone to visit here. You have to be aware of the risks when walking around especially at night. We never came across anything that made us worried or felt threatened.

Images

Christ the Redeemer
Christ the Redeemer
Tyuca National Park
Tyuca National Park
Tyuca National Park
Sugarloaf Mountain
View of Rio de Jeneiro
Santa Teresa
Selaron Steps
Selaron Steps
Copacabana Beach
Copacabana Beach
View from hotel room of Copacabana Beach
Copacabana Beach at night
Copacabana Beach at night
Steet Parade of 100’s of Santa’s in June
Steet Parade of 100’s of Santa’s in June

Things to do

Visit Christ the Redeemer
Visit Sugarloaf Mountain
Visit the Selaron Steps
Visit Santa Teresa
Visit Copacabana Beach
Visit Tijuca National Park

Top tips

Book sightseeing with the hotel or a trusted tour guide. Our guide spoke good English and was very informative.
Keep as many of your valuables in the safe in the room as possible.
Be alert when walking on the beach and streets.
Try and avoid the beaches on an evening.
If going to see Christ the Redeemer try and avoid the busiest times as it is hard to get photo’s without a stranger in the picture.
Lots of photo opportunities so ensure camera and/or phone is fully charged.
We did not go to Sugarloaf Mountain which is accessible by cable car and we regret not having the time to do this.
Check out temperatures below for best times to visit Rio de Janeiro
Check out other destinations we have visited in Brazil. Please click on the following links Foz Do Iguacu, Praia do Forte
Check out the government safety advise before visiting Brazil. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil/safety-and-security

Foz Do Iguacu

Posted on November 18, 2020June 26, 2023 by Debs and Mike

Foz do Iguacu is famous for its waterfalls which are one of the largest in the world.

The falls border Argentina therefore you can see the falls from the Argentinean side or the Brazilian side.

Travelling to Foz do Iguacu

We flew to Foz do iguacu in the month of June. When we arrived at the Airport our private transfer was waiting for us.

Accommodation

We stayed at Need name of hotel and more information which was a small hotel with a small outdoor swimming pool. The weather in June can be a bit chilly as this is one of the coldest months therefore did not go in to the pool. You also need a jacket on the evening if going in the colder months.

The hotel was situated with in walking distance to bars, shops and restaurants. The place seems to have kept a lot of its local feel and does not seem as tourist as some places. Although it is where most people stay whilst visiting the falls.

Bars and Restaurants

Foz do Iguacu is not a very big place. It does have many bars, shops and restaurants though. The bars and shops seemed to be mainly Brazilian people in them. We did found a bar that was not like any bar we had never seen in any country before. On one occasion we were walking past a petrol station and noticed a lot of people drinking and smoking (yes smoking ) on the petrol station forecourt.

There wasn’t any bar as such just a lot of people with alcohol. We asked where we got a drink from and we were told to go in the petrol station buy what ever tokens we want then bring them to a hatch and he would exchange for a bottle of beer. We had to do it just to experience this. It was bizarre and most likely to be very dangerous with people drinking and smoking whilst people are filling up their cars with petrol/diesel.

Foz do Iguacu Falls

We went to Foz Do Iguacu mainly to see the falls and we were not disappointed. Words can not describe how beautiful and impressive they are. After spending hours looking at the falls from different viewing points we still felt in awe of them. Although it is very touristy the natural beauty of the falls is evident no matter where you view them form. There is a bus that you can catch which stops at various places in Foz do Iguacu which takes you to the falls. When you get to the falls you queue to pay. Once you have paid you go through, catch a bus up to the falls where you can wonder around at your leisure. I would recommend buying waterproofs before going to the falls as there a lot more expensive at the falls.

Coati’s

Before you walk down to the falls there is a viewing and picnic area where Coati run freely. Be aware these animals will bite if you go too close. Do not take any food in your bag as the Coati’s will sniff the food out and do what ever is in their power to get it. We witnessed a woman who had taken sandwiches in her bag and several Coati’s pounced on her bag trying to rip it open. She let go of the bag and the Coati’s managed to get the sandwiches. Someone had to push the Coati’s away to retrieve the bag. There are several signs telling you not to take food in and how the Coati’s can bite so I don’t know why she did this. There was also a sign that stated if you see a leopard coming towards you don’t run what!!!!.

Viewing points

Once you walk down to the falls there are several viewing points. It is one of the most amazing things we have seen . On speaking to an American who had been to Victoria Falls and Niagra falls he felt that these were more spectacular. We took so many photo’s as words can not explain how spectacular it was. (Need to elaborate on this section)

Speedboat

You can also take a speedboat that takes you as close as you can go to the main water fall. It also takes you under some of the smaller falls. You are taking by jeep to where you catch the boat. Ensure you take plenty of mosquito repellent. You have to wait in the Jeep until it is your turn to queue for the boat. You then have to sit in a small tramway to take you to the bottom where the boat was. The boat journey was so much fun bouncing high on the water with the water gushing over your face. If we weren’t we t enough we sure was when we went under the waterfall. If you like a bit of speed and adventure it is the thing to do whilst at the falls. Although it is very tame for adrenalin Junkies

Sightseeing tour

In the centre of Foz do Iguacu there is a sightseeing tour bus that takes you to several different destinations. We cant remember the cost of this but remember it was good value for money.

Patisserie and Mosque

The first destination was a patisserie serving a variety of home made treats. We had the baklava which was so nice. The Patisserie was opposite a mosque which was our next destination. Females need to take clothing to cover up although they will provide clothing when you are there. We were able to enter the mosque and look round. It was a large mosque which was very ornate inside and creatively painted.

Chen Tien Buddhist Temple

Our next destination was the Chen Tien Buddhist Temple. We got off the bus we were given a timescale to return to the bus so we could walk round as we chose. It was an amazing place with lots of interesting statues including elephants and dragons. The main attraction is the 23ft tall Buddha. In one of the rooms there are statues of several Buddha’s one of which is in a glass cabinet need name of this . This looked a bit scary to be honest. The Temple is set in large lovely green grounds. There are plenty of photo opportunities here.

3 Frontiers

Our final destination was the 3 frontiers where Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil all meet. As we were on the Brazil side it was strange looking over at both Argentina and Paraguay as they both had viewing points where people were looking over at us. You have to pay in to the 3 frontiers but it was not a large amount and well worth the visit. There is a lot of information regarding the history of the 3 frontiers which makes an interesting read. There are also various places to take some wonderful photo’s

Summary

Foz Do Iguazu is a place where you must visit if going to Brazil to see the water falls as they are spectacular but it is not a place we feel we need to visit again as we had seen and done everything we wanted to do.

Images

Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Foz do Iguacu Falls
Ready for boat ride under the falls
Coati’s
The Buddhas Square
The Buddhas Square
The Sakhyamuni Buddha
The Sakhyamuni Buddha
Mile Pusa (The Smiling Buddha)
Boddhissatva Manjushri
The Great Amithaba Buddha
3 Frontiers
3 Frontiers
3 Frontiers
3 Frontiers
3 Frontiers
Mosque
Inside the Mosque
Bar on Petrol Station Forecourt
Bar on Petrol Station Forecourt

Things to do

Visit the 3 Frontiers
Visit Iguacu Falls (If your budget allows you can take an helicopter ride over the falls)
Visit the Buddhist Temple
Visit Omar Ibn Al-Khatttab Mosque
The bar on the petrol station forecourt is an experience.

Top tips

Buy waterproof mac and waterproof phone case before going to the falls as it is much cheaper.
Do not take any food in to the falls as the Coati’s will rip the bags apart to get to the food and they can give you a nasty bite.
Ensure your camera and phone are fully charged as there are so many photo opportunities.
It is easy to get your own way to the falls from the centre of Foz do Iguacu as a bus runs very frequently.
The tour bus which picks you up in the centre is a good way to see the temples, 3 frontiers etc at a very reasonable price.
Check out best time to visit Foz do Iguacu on temperature table below
Check out other destinations we have visited in Brazil Rio de Janeiro , Praia do Forte
Check out government safety advise before travelling to Brazil https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil/safety-and-security

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	33	32	32	29	25	24	24	27	28	30	31	33
Low Temp	21	21	20	17	14	12	12	13	14	18	19	20
Rainfall	110	100	80	90	70	110	50	60	100	110	110	100
Number of days	11	10	9	9	9	9	7	7	9	12	9	9

Average daily temperatures and rainfall