Extended Sails Down the Coast
About 70 miles west of the city is Rio’s “Green Coast”, one of the most beautiful areas that we have sailed. The Bay of Ilha Grande is a tropical paradise scattered with hundreds of islands that boast sandy beaches with emerald green waters and towering mountain ranges covered in Atlantic rainforest and hidden waterfalls. The experience of spending a few days exploring this area is incomparable, as each corner you turn has a new treasure to be enjoyed. Doing it aboard the Ancorauê it is even better since you always have the freedom to pick up anchor and go wherever you want. Whether its snorkeling in the clear waters of Lagoa Azul, sunbathing on the white sands of Lopes Mendes, hiking to the waterfalls of Cajaíba or enjoying a delicious meal in Paraty’s charming historical center, the Green Coast always has a little something for everyone.
The largest island in the bay is appropriately named Ilha Grande and it alone has over 100 beaches to be explored. If you only have a couple days this is a great option since its closer to Rio and all of its attractions are compacted in a relatively close area. The main town is Abraão and there you can find ferry rides to and from the mainland, but the real treasures are spread out around the island. The south side of the island is open to the Atlantic Ocean and where you find the whitest sandy beaches around. A great option is to anchor in Palmas and take and an easy hike over to the world famous beach Lopes Mendes, recently voted one of the top 5 beaches in Brazil. The north side of the island on the other hand is well protected from the ocean and offers countless calm anchorages for us to relax and enjoy a snorkel or afternoon barbecue. If you feel like hiking, Ilha Grande has many trails through its dense forest to impressive peaks and waterfalls. If you just feel like relaxing, there also tons of great places to eat, grab a beer or just lay in the sun.
A little bit further down the coast is the historical city of Paraty. This town used to be a significant port for the Portuguese to ship precious metals back to Europe. It enjoyed an economic boom hundreds of years ago but then was almost completely forgotten after the Portuguese moved their hub of operations to Rio. What is left today is maybe the most charming colonial towns in the entire state, so much so that UNESCO recently declared it a global heritage site. The town is covered in old colonial architecture, including many churches, plazas and cobblestone roads. It now survives on a booming tourism trade and offers great options for shopping, dinning and cultural festivities.
The surrounding area of Paraty is just as astonishing. Sailing just an hour outside of its main port you find yourself immersed in some of the most impressive natural beauty the Green Coast has to offer. There are dozens of great places to throw anchor and swim as well as many options for hiking and diving. The Enseada de Cajaíba hides several fantastic waterfalls only a 15-minute hike from the beach. Close by is Mamanguá, Brazil’s only fiord, which has calm blue waters, enchanting mangrove forests and a 347 meter mountain cleverly named Sugarloaf. And then there is Ilha da Cotia, one of our favorite places to spend the night. It is the calmest anchorage in the region and on a dark night the water glows with plankton when you go for a swim. If you have some time to spend on the Ancorauê this area is truly magical and will your complete your experience in Brazil.
Logistics
You can sail with us (or motor depending on wind) from Rio to the islands. It takes about 10-12 hours to get to Ilha Grande and about 14-16 hours to get to Paraty. We generally leave from 6 to 8 at night and travel along the coast seeing the beautiful night-lights of Rio along the way. If you like to sail and don’t have trouble sleeping on a moving boat, this is a nice trip. If you prefer, you can meet us down there, either in Angra do Reis or Paraty; you can go by bus or we can arrange a van. Or you can sail one way and take the bus back…whatever you prefer.
It is good to reserve a few days to completely enjoy the island region. Three days is good, but five would be better in order to see all of the beautiful sights in the area. Additionally, we need a day for going and coming from Rio, which as mentioned above can be done with or without you (although delivery fees maybe included if you chose to come on board outside of Rio).
We will stock basic needs such as sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, soap, mineral water, and ice. Depending on what you want to do, we can stock the boat with food for eating on board, for breakfast, lunch and a snack if you want to enjoy the fine restaurants for dinner. Generally, for longer extended trips down the coast it is better to have provisions to be self sufficient for several days. All food and drinks are charged at cost; send us a list of what you like to eat and we’ll try to have it ready. If you have specific and hard to get dietary needs or desires it might be a good idea to bring it with you. If you bring along a spicy pepper sauce, some peanut butter, or some good rum you may get special treatment.
Pack lightly and don’t bring stuff you won’t need for the trip. Generally a small soft-sided bag will be sufficient. Shorts, t-shirts, bathing suits, walking shoes and flip-flops are usually all you will wear. A small knapsack comes in handy for trekking. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat; the sun is very strong during the summer months and it is easy to burn quickly. Of course, if there is any specific medicine that you need, bring it along. If you have additional bags we can store them at our apartment in Rio.
