The beaches around Ilha Grande

One of the islands taken from the ferry on the way in.
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Wow, the beaches around this place are amazing! Please forgive the superlatives, but really they are. I guess comparing them to beaches in Australia would be difficult, because of the built-up nature of most of them. Perhaps the more remote ones, say those on Frazer Island may come close. Apart from Rio, as you head south along the coast, the beaches do not suffer the same predatory development all over them that we see in Australia. Occasionally you'll see more resort-type developments, but mostly its just small, modest houses and very underdeveloped, rustic settlements, and often favela-type communities. As you drive along the highways there are also people selling all kinds of things from little trolleys or stands.  Everything from coconuts to packets of chips to drinks to sweets and home made cooking. When you see this I guess you're reminded about the third-world status of this country.  Anyway I digress, this was meant to be about the beaches wasn't it?

Green Lagoon
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The beaches around Ilha Grande are truly beautiful. Because its an island I guess it means they're more unspoiled, and less potential for rabid development. However don't think that its just somewherer the poor/middle class can escape. I have also seen real wealth here. The vessels that transport the rich Brazillians around would be quite at home in Newport, Rhode Island, Sydney Harbour or Hong Kong. Spectacular craft whizzing by with bronzed bikini clad beauties draped all over them heading off to their getaway which is invariably on one of the islands with its own private beach and helipad. So yes, the rich mix it with the poor quite easily here.

The beaches around Ilha Grande

One of the beaches on the way to Mendez Lopez
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Apparently Mendez Lopez beach is in the top 10 beaches of the world. I'll have to look that up I guess, but yes it does come pretty close! Now for the tale of how to get there. Its a 2.5 hour hike through the jungle up mountains in the tropical heat before you even get there! Thankfully there's a boat to return otherwise I would have been marooned there overnight. It took that amount of time, and nearly bloody killed me. Jose said it was easier than the first day of Macchu Piccu, so that's something to look forward to, right! But seriously it pushed me to the edge of my physical limits and beyond. Needless to say we all nearly collapsed at the end (apart from the 62yo Austrian, the Canadian guy and one of the Irish gals who are all extremely fit - they even hoofed it back!) and sat on the beach under the line of trees which you'll see from the photos line the beach itself. Many of the English roses were smitten by the sun, unfortunately and are suffering for that. Thankfully I stayed under the shadiest part of the tree between 10 and 3:00 so escaped the burns they've copped. I did try to mention this, but they're wanting to sport a tan when they return I guess. Above all it was another perfect day in paradise!

The beach at Green Lagoon
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Anyway you'll be able to see from the photos, the whole area is pretty special!