Activities in The Southeast
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Sandmar
Tour operators who organize dives in these waters abound - the tourist office keeps a complete list. One good company is Sandmar.
reviewed
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Circuito do Abraão
The Circuito do Abraão is a short jaunt 1.7km return hike that leads past two small beaches to the claustrophobic moss-covered stone ruins of Ilha Grande's other former prison, Lazareto, shut down in 1954. This easy hike affords some pretty views of Pico do Papagaio and takes you past an old aqueduct adjoined by a large swimming hole called Poção, perfect for a picnic and a dip. Along the way you can hear all sorts of birds and jungle creatures, and you may run into local kids jumping into the water on their way home from school.
Before hitting the trail, let people at your pousada know where you're going and when you'll be back, stock up on water and bug repellent and…
reviewed
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Boat Trips
Boat trips leave from the port at Praia de Saco da Ribeira, 12km south of Ubatuba. You can book cruises (four hours, departing around 11:00 Thursday to Tuesday) into the Baía da Enseada and out to the Ilha Anchieta. Ilha Anchieta is a lovely island, now protected by the national government. The island offers rare glimpses of beautiful fish and birds undisturbed in their natural habitats. You can also see the local Tamar Project, which protects native turtles and their eggs.
These minicruises offer enviable views of the coast and its beautiful, deep-green waters. You can make reservations at the tourist office or many hotels and guesthouses. However, you might get a bette…
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Hiking the High Country
Climbing and trekking enthusiasts will want to pit themselves against the high country's more challenging peaks, cliffs and trails. The park's diminutive upper entrance station - almost two hours from Itatiaia town - is reached via an extremely rugged unpaved 15km road from a junction called Garganta do Registro, on the border between Rio state and Minas Gerais.
Prominently visible as you enter the park are the dramatic pointy profile of the Agulhas Negras (at 2787m, the highest peak in the area) and a bit further on, the boulders of the Prateleiras.
reviewed
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Sudoeste SW Turismo
The best-established Sudoeste SW Turismo offers services that include private boat tours, bike rentals (R$10/40 per hour/day), kayak rentals (R$10/30 per hour/six hours), surfboard rentals (R$40 per day), treks with bilingual guides (R$40 to R$50), round-the-island boat tours (R$60 to R$150), and daily schooner excursions to prime beaches and snorkeling spots, including Lopes Mendes (R$15), Saco do Céu (R$25 to R$30) and the twin lagoons Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde (R$35 to R$40).
reviewed
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Phoenix Turismo
The best-established Phoenix Turismo offers services that include private boat tours, bike rentals (R$10/40 per hour/day), kayak rentals (R$10/30 per hour/six hours), surfboard rentals (R$40 per day), treks with bilingual guides (R$40 to R$50), round-the-island boat tours (R$60 to R$150), and daily schooner excursions to prime beaches and snorkeling spots, including Lopes Mendes (R$15), Saco do Céu (R$25 to R$30) and the twin lagoons Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde (R$35 to R$40).
reviewed
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Cars & Ferry
For those bringing a car to the island, avoid huge lines at the ferry by booking in advance. The ferry arrives from the mainland in Perequê. About 4km north along the straight lies the historic town of Vila Ilhabela. Good roads run along the western coast of the island; however, the south and east coasts are reachable only by boat or foot except for a rough road accessible by 4WD that reaches Praia dos Castelhanos on the west coast.
reviewed
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Swimming, Diving & Snorkeling
The biggest draws in Búzios are the natural setting plus the intoxicating mixture of opportunities for relaxation, nightlife, shopping and ocean sports. There are some fine swimming, diving and snorkeling sites near Búzios; the offshore islands of Âncora, Gravatás, Filhote and Feia are especially good diving destinations. Several local operators offer tours to local beaches and islands.
reviewed
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Guided Tours of Lumiar
Lumiar (34km from Nova Friburgo) is a popular destination for Brazilian ecotourists, with cheap pensions, waterfalls, walking trails, a brand new Alê Friburgo hostel and white-water adventures centered around the Encontro dos Rios, the tumultuous confluence of three local rivers. Guided adventure tours of the area are available through the Alê Friburgo hostel or Lumiar Aventura.
reviewed
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Travessia Rui Braga trail
At the time of writing, the brand new Travessia Rui Braga trail, starting at the foot of Prateleiras, was scheduled to open in late 2007, linking the upper and lower parts of the park and allowing visitors to experience Itatiaia's alpine and Atlantic rain forest ecosystems in a single long day hike (nine hours one way, descending).
reviewed
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Museu Aberto/Cidade Viva
Launched in 2005, Ouro Prêto's Museu Aberto/Cidade Viva program invites you to keep your eyes open at every turn, treating the entire city as an open-air museum. Informative historical plaques have been placed on 150 houses around town to heighten visitors' curiosity and expand their knowledge of the city's treasures.
reviewed
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Maremar Aventura Turismo
Maremar Aventura Turismo in Barra Velha near the ferry organizes all kinds of outdoor activities, including schooner trips around the island (from R$45 per person), diving to offshore wrecks (full day including equipment from R$240), and horseback riding (three hours from R$70).
reviewed
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Buziosnauta’s
Buziosnauta’s boats depart Armação daily at 9:30am and 12:30pm for a 2½-hour boat circuit including 12 beaches and two islands, with stops for swimming and snorkeling at Praia João Fernandes, Ilha Feia and Praia da Tartaruga. It also has a dive center.
reviewed
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City Guides
Official city guides are available from the tourist office. The office also organizes treks and horseback rides into the surrounding hills. Beware of unofficial guides, as there are some nasty characters hanging around.
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Búzios Trolley
This outfit runs a variety of excursions, including a daily two-hour open-sided bus tour that visits 12 of the peninsula’s beaches. You can also book rafting tours, and trips by glass-bottomed catamaran.
reviewed
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Grupo Excursionista de Agulhas Negras
A guide is required for climbs to the high country's peaks. You can contact the Grupo Excursionista de Agulhas Negras, which organizes climbs every other week, or ask local pousadas to help you find a guide.
reviewed
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Tour Shop Búzios
Tour Shop Búzios runs the Búzios Trolley, an open-sided bus that visits 12 of the peninsula’s beaches daily. It also operates rafting tours and trips by glass-bottomed catamaran.
reviewed
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Surf Camp Saquarema
If you’ve ever wanted to learn to surf, what better place then Saquarema? Surf Camp Saquarema has friendly instructors, all certified by the Confederação Brasileira de Surfe.
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Homo Bikers
Homo Bikers offers paragliding, rafting and mountain-bike excursions in the surrounding mountains. It also rents high-quality mountain bikes (R$50 to R$80 per 24-hour period).
reviewed
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Elite Dive Center
There is excellent diving around the Ilha Grande island. Elite Dive Center has a wide range of courses and offers two-tank dives in some fantastic spots.
reviewed
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Associação de Barqueiros
The Associação de Barqueiros operates small tourist boats. Check schedules at its information booth near Abraão’s ferry dock.
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Elite Dive Center
Elite Dive Center offers courses and two-tank dives with English-speaking guides in some fantastic spots.
reviewed
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Altus
Altus organizes groups for hiking, rock-climbing, mountain biking and other outdoor adventure activities.
reviewed
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Levy
A guide is required for climbs to the high country's peaks. One highly recommended guide is the park ranger Levy.
reviewed
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Queen Lory
This outfit offers daily 2½- and five-hour schooner tours to Ilha Feia, Tartaruga and João Fernandinho.
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