Feel The Burn

Sooooo, we’re burnt.  Like really burnt… Aka, it looks like we both laid on a grill.  Too much fun in the sun yesterday 🙂  Good thing the plan for today includes some time in the shade.  While most visitors take a taxi boat to the island’s most popular beach destination, Lopes Mendes, we’re going to attempt the two and a half hour hike there instead.

After picking up some SPF 70 and lathering up, off we went.  Now we’re earning back some calories.  With the temperature registering in the mid-90s and the humidity above 80%, we both looked like we had just gotten out of the shower about ten minutes in.  The trail wound up and over the mountain peaks through the thick of the jungle and our legs were burning from the steep inclines.  But thankfully the canopy of trees provided shade most of the way.

About an hour and a half in, we arrived at Palmas, a nearly deserted beach.  Forty minutes further down the trail, we arrived at the beach of Pouso where we refueled with a delicious lunch at a restaurant floating on the water.  Then we completed the final leg of the hike, a 20-minute stretch up and over the last mountain peak to Lopes Mendes.

Coming off the trail, the dense tropical foliage gives way to a vast stretch of white sand that seems to go on forever.  The beach has escaped modern development and remains in it’s natural state.  So if you didn’t bring water or pack lunch, you’re in trouble.  We found a spot in the shade and relaxed for a few hours before hiking back to Pouso and catching a water taxi back to the main village of Abraão.

We did a little shopping in town before having to say good-bye to Ilha Grande 🙁 and jumping on a boat back to the mainland.  Our driver was waiting for us when we got off the ferry and drove us the two hours north to Rio where we got our first view of Christ the Redeemer spotlit and sitting high above the city.  We’re like little kids in a candy store… we’re feeling the energy of being here and can’t wait to get out and explore!  Five fun days in Rio ahead!!

This blog entry was originally posted on www.MayerTwinsTravel.blogspot.com