So here in Brazil, there's apparently a worker's rights law in which employees receive a month of paid vacation each year. A MONTH! Alexandre is going to get this month off work in November. We're going to spend about 5 of those days on a trip together (I don't get a month of paid vacation, so I'll need to get back to work).
We just can't decide where to go! Our dream trip is to Manaus, but it's just too far out of our budget. I also convinced Alexandre about how amazing it would be to go to Belem by showing him the Anthony Bourdain episode (we seriously looked up plane tickets after we watched it), but it seems like a trip to Belem would be more like a trip to a big city (with delicious food) rather than something more relaxing and nature-based (the preference for this vacation). Am I wrong about that? Would there be nature-y options (hiking, waterfalls, boat rides, etc) in Belem?
I emailed the nice lady from CVC who helped Bianca and me plan our Pantanal adventure and asked her for some ideas and price estimations. She recommended Florionópolis, a southern beach, and Itacaré, a northeastern beach, but I'm worried that Florionópolis will be too crowded and touristy, and Itacaré is almost the same price as the Belem trip.
A friend of Alexandre's recently went on a hiking trip in the VERY rural state of Tocantins, and he recommended it. But it's also going to be more money than we're planning on spending, and I think it would be too hard-core of a hiking trip (more like trekking/backpacking) to allow for much relaxing.
Today, I also remembered the historical beach town of Paraty, but that would mean lots of driving (meh).
Now that I've typed all this out, I realize how I really really want to go to Belem, how I keep finding things wrong with the other possible locations in order to justify a Belem trip. I've also kept the Anthony Bourdain link playing as I've typed this, and it got me all excited about the city again. Maybe it'd just be better to save our pennies (or centavos, as it were) over the next two months so we can have a bigger trip budget to accommodate the extra cost of Belem.
What do you guys think? Have any of you been to (or lived in) Belem? (Can you think of ideas for justifying the extra cost during a conversation with Alexandre? :) Do you have any other ideas for a nice, relaxing, domestic 5-day vacation? We're trying to keep the hotel + flight price to as close to R$1000 per person as possible (though without staying in a crappy hotel or hostel -- the idea is to relaaaax and I'm old now and I value a good night's sleep).
Yayayayayay! All these weekends of cooking at home and translating will be totally worth it if I can FINALLY eat pato com tucupi.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
November isn't a good time to visit Manaus or the surrounding area (which is what I assume you want to see?), anyway--save up to go in May-August, though even February-May can be nice. In November a lot of the water is dried up and it can be difficult to get around. And it isn't as beautiful. It doesn't have to be super expensive, though, I promise! Sometimes there are good airfare deals, and there's a wide range of prices for jungle tours once you get there.
ReplyDeleteFlorianópolis is crowded from December to Carnaval. In november it would be ok (no Thanksgiving here, ha ;)]. I lived there for two years and I would recommend it. But you're going to need rent a car there.
ReplyDeleteAbout Belém, maybe you could find some information that would help you with Alexandre here: http://www.feriasbrasil.com.br/pa/belem/oqueverefazer.cfm
[Have you heard about the Itaimbezinho canyon? I've never been there, but it's a lot of nature. http://www.cambaradosul.tur.br/ponto_turistico/canyon_itaimbezinho_parque_nacional_aparados_da_serra-cambara_do_sul-21-1-4-3.html]
I saw the anthony bourdain episode to! and you know what, I think that it looks like such an exotic place. The food looks soooooo interesting and good!! Plus, the Amazon is at your doorstep, so in that case it's probably like Manaus. I say GO FOR BELÉM!!!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear about it. It would be great to get the opinion of someone I trust on it! So go!! hehe
Abraços
Come to Florianópolis! I've only lived here for three weeks now and haven't had time to see the beaches, but I'm sure they're lovely :D :D
ReplyDeleteCome to Florianópolis! I've only lived here for three weeks and haven't had time to see the beaches yet (furniture shopping and federal police were too much fun and time consuming), but I'm sure they're awesome :D. It's really calm and clean in here and the temperature is really nice (warm, but not too hot or humid). Should you ever visit, please let me know.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Belem, and I live in Floripa, so I thought I should throw my two cents in here :)
ReplyDeleteBelem was nice, but I didn't really see many things to do - although you have to check out the old wharf that they have changed into a heap of restaurants (and expensive stores). There's a micro-brewery there which makes some of the best beer I've ever tasted (FYI - I don't usually drink beer AT ALL) and they have a great buffet (all you can eat and drink) for a ridiculous $25 during the week! You might have to search a bit for tours to places nearby for more natural related activites. For me, Belem was a big city. I used Belem as a base to take a boat down the river to Manaus, and was lucky enough to see pink dolphins while waiting for the boat to leave Belem, so there's definitely wildlife to see!
Florianopolis won't be too crowded during November, as long as there's no public holidays during the week you want to visit - it will probably be pretty hot, and the amount of tourists will depend on where you choose to stay on the island. If you head to the south, you can avoid a lot of the tourist traffic and umbrellas. There are some great trails you can do between different beaches, too. You can definitely make a trip to Floripa as touristy or nature based as you want.
Let me know if you want more info on either place! :)
stay away from CVC or other agencies, book the flights and hotels by yourself, you'll save much more...2000 is enough to go from SP to Belem + hotel if you take your time to plan everything...I always travel by myself....I cant write lots right now cos I hate thiis keyboard but I can start with the basics: IBIS hotel is a chain that has braches in almost all over Brazil, and they sre a very good value for money hotel...similar to Days Inn or Best Western ... You can use the blog Melhores Destinos to find air tickets bargains, just google for both of those sites and I'll write again later.
ReplyDeleteHow about you go in between Manaus and Belém and go to Santarém?
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI'm planing a Belem-Manaus trip to the end of the year and I think it woulb be nicer if you had more time. I'm planing at least two weeks because I also want to get the boat from Belem to Santarem and then to Manaus. It's two expensive to travel that far for just 5 days. Why don't you go to Minas Gerais and travel around the colonial cities such as Ouro Preto, Mariana, Sao Joao Del Rey and Tiradentes? You're in SP, right? You can come by car. I'm from Minas and I could send you some information on that. Anyway don't use CVC, it's a very expensive travel agency.
My parents love Belem when they go there. Belem and Manaus are their two favorite stops when they come down to Recife.
ReplyDeleteAnother great place is Tamandare. It is a very nice beach about 90 minutes south or Recife and then just past that is Maragogi, which has some amazing natural pools.
We are trying to buy a house in Tamandare.
Sarah and I moved here to Recife in January of this year, we are finally getting the hang of it. We have been reading your blog and have enjoyed it.
You can check ours out here: tobyandsarahonthemove.blogspot.com
Best of luck on your vacation and if you make it to Recife make sure and look us up.
Toby
I would drive to Iguaçu Falls. Neither fly nor take a bus, as the route is an opportunity to see the Brazilian countryside. On my way to the falls, I would stop in Maringá, a lovely midsize city in Paraná state. Last time that I went to the falls, I stayed at the Argentinean side. Don't forget to do some research to book hotels and to take a roadmap and a GPS with you. I like the Guia 4 Rodas roadmap and hotels guide, the Trip Advisor website for hotels and restaurants reviews and any Navteq GPS, like Garmin and Airis.
ReplyDeleteDon't go to Paraty. It is beautiful and nice and all, but I think there are much better options out there. And if you want to go to Belem, go to Belem! You don't want to later be talking about your trip and have to say, "We wanted to go to Belem, but..." That sucks.
ReplyDeleteThere are better trips than Paraty. You could do that for a couple of days after swinging by Rio...
ReplyDeleteAnd did you know that workers are supposed to get extra pay during vacations! Got to love a country that supports a worker's need to blow off steam!
Rachel
www.rachelsrantings.com
I think that seeing as you're totally pumped and dreaming about Belem, you should go there. Save your centavos and do it. It's what you really want anyway!
ReplyDeleteIf you are looking for a more relaxing vacation, I would suggest Praias de Pipa. I was able to stay there quite cheap and there are so many beautiful beaches that you can hike and find nice private beaches.
ReplyDeleteIf you want something more mountainous, Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina is lovely. You don't have to backpack the park, you can do day trips on different hikes and also explore the caves and rivers. If I remember correctly they also have some amazing cafes there.
I hope wherever you go you will have a fabulous vacation!
Have you considered the historic towns in Minas Gerais? Ouro Preto is amazing, and there are several - off the beant path - options for daily adventures. Serra do Cipó is a great place for hiking. Lots of rivers and waterfalls.
ReplyDelete