The Smallest Big Island

A little bit of background information on Ihla Grande. Despite the name, the island is actually quite small. It is very tranquil, there are no roads or cars and no cash points on the island, so be sure to have cash before you come or else you are going to be stuck. Furthermore, the Internet connection on the island is poor to say the least so if you need to sort transfers etc out ensure you do this before or have a plan B to contact the necessary people. 

Ultimately, this place is a little piece of paradise, perfect if you have just been in the hustle and bustle of Rio. 

The Journey 

So to get to Ihla Grande from Rio, you need to get a public bus or shuttle bus to the town of Jacareí. The hop off hop on bamba pass we have for the trip means all travel is included so the boat and bus is all taken care of, but if you are going it alone I would recommend booking in advance to guarantee you have a boat before travelling. The company we used was called easy transfer brazil so check out their website to see what they have to offer. 

The view once you get off the bus is phenomenal as you can see below. 

 The boat takes about an hour and I would recommend going on the top of the boat however make sure you are wearing lots of sun cream because it's so easy to burn up there. 

The boats often stop in two different ports, I would recommend looking at this to decide which pousada/hostel you stay in because you don't want to be walking for ages especially because there are no cars so this would mean a walk across the beach. In normal circumstances a walk across the beach sounds like a dream but when you are faced with a massive backpack/suitcase it slowly becomes a nightmare. Believe me, I have seen it happen!

Praia Julia

The island itself has several beaches, you can really take your pick. We often went to this one because it was round the corner from our hostel, was never crowded and you did not have to treck to get to it. As always, I left valuables back at the hostel...better to be safe rather than sorry! So again, will have to wait for the disposables to really appreciate the beauty of this beach!

Umbrella Restaurant 

The main restaurants here are located on the main beach front near the ports. We stopped at this restaurant which I have named the umberella restaurant because they use umberellas as lights, giving the restaurant a unique feel and stand out. Marketing as its best if I do say so myself! 

Seats are on the beach, just adding to that peaceful vibe that Ilha Grande effortlessly has. As we sat, we were given mosquito repellant cream which I thought as a nice touch especially because the Mosquitos have taken a real fancy to me! 

We ordered the seafood risotto to share and of course a couple of caipirinhas- because when in Brazil! The seafood risotto was amazing, just the right amount of saltiness and so many types of seafood; octopus, mussels, prawns and much more. 

The only downside to this place is not only do they charge a 10% service charge but also R$5 each for live music. As we were not informed of the music charge they did actually take this off for us when we inquired what it was. All in all, a really good night with really good food!

Che Lagarto Night Fun 

Due to Ilha Grande being a small island, nightlife is not a massive priority here. Che Lagarto however has a good bar which keeps beers and caipirinhas flowing all night long. You also don't necessarily have to be a guest here to enjoy. It is a great way to integrate with other travellers, swap stories and you are bound to have lots of fun. So definitely get involved! 

A Few Snaps of the View 

I couldn't let this blog post end without showing you the real beauty of Ihla Grande and highlight why it is definitely a must if you are planning a trip to Brazil. 

Love Imogen xoxo

Ilha Grande Hostel Review

CHE LAGARTO

We chose this hostel because we knew it was so close to the port we were dropped off at. After a quick scan of Hostelworld for review section, we thought we best give it a go. 

Facilities 

Che Lagarto had a really nice decking area to chill in, in both the day and night. The view from this was just amazing and good if you did not fancy getting sandy. It is also where a lot of socialising goes on especially at night. There is also a bar here which sells beer for $R5 and caipirinhas 3 for $R25 or $R10 for one. The bar men are really friendly and it is a great way to spend the night with minimal effort. 

There is a kitchen you can use but it shuts at 10 and if neededby staff you may find yourself being pushed out but the actual facilities are good and there is quite a lot of shared items like oils and herbs etc.

The Internet here, like on the whole island is poor; wifi and wired. If you need to book transfers do it before you get on to the island, if not embrace being uncontactable for a few days!

Breakfast 

Breakfast was included and was really filling. There was normally different types of fruit, a selection of juice, homemade bread dolls and cake, cereals aswell as an assortment of jams and hot beverages, 

Breakfast was replenished several times although 9 o'clock is the busiest time especially if you want an outside seat. Plus, look at the view you are faced with at Breakfast!

Showers/Toilets 

We opted for ensuite because it was the only option left. The bathrooms were of a good size and shower pressure was good, although the temperature can vary. The bathrooms are cleaned daily, although there is question as to whether it should be more if only because of the sheer amount of sand brought in. 

Staff 

Speaking Portugese or Spanish can really go a long way. Also, it goes without saying but if you are nice to the staff they are nice to you and will help you and it really does show here. We were nice to the staff and got tips for future destinations. Although, on Hostelworld it states they have a 24 hour reception, this is actually 8 till midnight,this didn't cause an issue for us but worth making a note of if you were to stay here.

Value for Money 

This cost us just over £10 per night which was a good price for what you are provided with.be careful though as Che Lagorto hostels off the island are more expensive. 

Dorms 

The room was nice, quite spacious considering it was a 4 bed. They were lacking in plugs, which takes me to my next point, American plug adapters do not work here. F you need to charge electricals you can do this using the use lead etc as they do not provide adapters. Lockers are provided under the bed and were large enough to fit my whole backpack in. The air con here is really powerful aswell! 

Location 

The hostel was perfect location for where we were dropped off, plus the centre was just a 5 minute walk if that, across the beach. 

OVERALL

I would really recommend staying at Che Lagarto, it is a great way to meet people and in a great location. I would really recommend checking this place out if you want to stay in Ilha Grande.

Imogen xoxo

Flying Down To Rio

I won't Iie I have been so excited to come to Rio since we first booked the trip and it didn't disappoint. From the beautiful beaches, the spectacular tourist attractions and the food and drink, Rio has it all. 

The Beaches 

Ipanema 

We were staying in Ipanema so after along flight we ambled down to the beach to spend the day recuperating. The beach itself was phenomenal. Golden sand, gorgeous blue water...I was in my element. Unfortunately, until I get my disposable camera developed I am lacking in photos but believe me...it was AMAZING! This brings me on to an important point, do not flash your wealth whilst in Rio, you will become a target for pickpockets. Also, do not take your valuables to the beach, often they are stolen whilst you are in the water, be careful, be wary and be smart. You wouldn't leave your valuables alone at home so why change in a different country. Also, hire chairs or bring a bed sheet or sarong to lie on, towels are considered very touristy and you again could be a potential target! There are sellers for everything here, whether it be sarongs, caipirinhas or water, there will be a someone selling it on the beach.

 

Copacabana 

This beach has better eateries beside it and a lot more sellers. You have great views of the Sugarloaf Mountain, again you will have to wait for the disposables! I would advise the same regarding valuables and beach etiquette. Also, get ready to see a lot of speedos and thong bikinis...apparently less is definitely more here!

Garota di Ipanema 

We were recommended this restaurant by someone staying in our hostel. It was literally on our doorstep so if you were staying at Mango Tree it is great if you cannot be bothered to cook etc. This restaurant gets very busy very quickly so if you are in a large party or want a table looking out of restaurant, I would recommend booking. We  noticed here that the portion sizes are massive, so often main meals are best to share between two. We ordered garlic steak, rice and what we thought we chips...turns out they were crisps. Nevertheless,  the food here was really good and the service was too. Something to take a note of; bills in Brazil come with a 10% cover charge, whether this is in a restaurant or a bar. 

Christ Redeemer 

It wouldn't be a trip to Rio without seeing this famous monument. There are two main ways to get to e Christ Redeemer; tram or van. We picked to use the tram because it was cheaper and we could get a public bus for R$3 to the Trem de Corcovado (The tram station). The trams themselves are every 20 minutes. *WARNING* If you have vertigo, the tram is not for you because it is quite steep so may not be very enjoyable!

One interesting point regarding a visit to the Christ Redeemer, is whether you book online or you pay in person. I personally think this depends on: what day you are going, what time of year you are going, what you are planning to do for the remainder of the day. We didn't book online because we were informed it wasn't necessary by people who had been before and also from staff at our hostel, plus it is more expensive to book online. We arrived at just after 12 and were informed that the next available tram was for 4:20. Bare in mind, we went on a Saturday so it was obviously going to be busy. We booked this tram because we had no other time to see the attraction and because we were already there so in his time went for lunch. So when making your decision to book or to not book, if you are going on a weekday and only plan on doing this that day, then don't book...otherwise really consider it. 

Anyway back to the tram, we were lucky to be able to get on the 4oclock tram in the end... I am not sure why but a worker asked if we would like to go on the 4oclock rather than the 4:20 and we Ernest going to say no. The tram ride itself, showed the best panoramic views of the city. 

Once you arrive at the monument, you can either take the lift or walk up. Just walk, the line to get in the lift is ridiculous and the walk takes two minutes. Once you are up there,regardless of the stautue the views are amazing. The day we went was abit foggy and it still looked spectacular. 

I would definitely recommend making a trip here if you are in Rio, if only to take touristy photos of you doing the infamous pose...GUILTY.

Mamma Rosa's 

This was a recommendation from a member of staff at the tram station. If you come out of the tram station and turn right, carry on for about ten minutes and it's on the left hand side of the road. We again shared a steak but this time ordered broccoli rice and chips. This was more than enough for two people but again was such a good filling lunch. I would really recommend eating steak if you come out to Brazil because you get such good value for money! This place is perfect if you have some time to kill before or after going to see the Christ Redeemer. 

Out in Ipanema 

The nightlife in Rio is notorious, wherever you are there is something going on. We were advised that as two young girls who don't know Portuguese, the infamous Lapa may not be be best idea. On hearing this we decided to go out around Ipanema. After a drink at our hostel we headed out, there are numerous bars in Ipanema so decide on which one has he best music/atmosphere/drinks prices and have fun! After a few caipirinhas, we then went on to Bar emporio which is free to get in to! Make note that bars will also put 10% on to bills so be wary! I had an amazing night and would definitely recommend Ipanema for a good night out!

Sugar Loaf Mountain

Again, if you have vertigo unfortunately this attraction is not for you. Sugar load mountain or Pao de Acuçar, is a mountain in Rio in which you can take a cable car first to Mount Urca? And then on to Sugarloaf where you are met with the most amazing views! 

We took the public bus, if you choose to do the same the bus stop is not clear but you will drive down a road where there are colonial buildings and a military base. 

If possible I would advise you to eat before going because one of the restaurants at the half way point does not always serve food and the selection after this is not great and very expensive. However, if you do want a snack I would definitely recommend the fruit pot place but remember that you pay by weight here.

As well as the amazing view, you will be met by little monkeys scampering around. Just remember to not feed them! 

The views from the top of the mountain are phenomenal! The pictures don't even get close to doing it justice. 

Si Señor 

This is a Mexican restaurant we visited in the Ipanema area. For a good price and good portions you can get fajitas, enchiladas, burritos and much more. I ended up getting a burrito and had chicken and also machaca which is shredded beef with pepper- definitely worth a try! We had churros for dessert which were sublime but I feel I a biased because I have such a sweet tooth. 

All in all, we had very attentive service and a good meal I would definitely recommend checking this place out.

Rayz

This bar/restaurant is very near Ipanema beach. For R$20, there is an all you can eat buffet with fruit, meat, fish, vegetables, rice, pasta dishes and all different types of potatoes- so something to please everybody! The staff here are really nice, I managed to misplace my ring in there and they all banded together to help me find it, which I did so I owe the staff big time.