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Rio Grande Do Sul

Porto Alegre lies in the southernmost state of Brazil, named Rio Grande Do Sul, which means ``the big river of the south''. In the whole state, however, there is no river with the name Rio Grande. In Porto Alegre 5 rivers come together, which then form one big river, transforming itself into the largest lagoon in the world, or around 300x80 Km, named Lagoa dos Patos (Lagoon of the Ducks).

It is easy to travel around through the state by bus. The following web-site can help to figure out which bus company goes to your destination. Also information about destinations in other states, as well as international destinations, can be found here: http://www.rodoviaria-poa.com.br/df_hora.htm. On this site, you can fill in the name of a location within Rio Grande do Sul, or click on ``linhas internacionais e interestaduais'' to get all the bus companies that go out of the state (to other states within Brazil as well as other countries).

Rio Grande has many interesting things to see, you can check out the site http://www.turismo.rs.gov.br/, for information about events happening in the state around the time you will be there. Unfortunately it is in Portuguese only. Possible interesting things are for example:

The following German site gives lots of more information about the State: Landschaften in Rio Grande do Sul.

Aparados da Serra

In the northern part of the state, extending to the ocean, there are fabulous mountains and cliffs (as can also be seen on the invitation). This is a very beautiful place to visit.

Image ../aparadosdaserra.gif

This cute little city is indicated on the above map with the number 9. It is at the beginning of the Planalto (upland plain), at the border with the Serra (lowlands). Below are some options for some places to stay in this region ($$$$ means expensive, $ means cheap; R$ means Brazilian Real, click here for conversion rates).

  1. Pousada do Engenho. $$$$ Great food, and cute cottages in the middle of native forest. Offers trips as well. http://www.pousadadoengenho.com.br/
  2. Parque das Cascatas. $ Camping area with OK cabins. For campers, the price is R$ 12,00 for adults and R$ 6,00 for children between 5 and 11. Below 5, children are not charged extra fees for camping, nor for renting the cabins. www.parquedascascatas.com.br
Here we are already on the top of the planalto (indicated with 13 on the above map), from where it is possible to get close to the canyons.

  1. Estalagem da Colina. $$$ Very close to the canyon. They offer a cabin for four people at a price of R$ 260 (R$ 65 per person including big breakfast). http://www.estalagemdacolina.com.br/
  2. Recanto dos amigos. $$ A bed and breakfast at a fazenda (farm), which seems to be nice. You have to give them a call to figure our the exact price, though. http://www.guiatelnet.com.br/recantodosamigos/
  3. Fazenda do Pindorama. $$ Believe it or not, this fazenda is very close to the center of the ``city'' Cambará-do-Sul. It is a nice place to stay, but the main attraction, the national Park, is 23 km away. http://www.guiatelnet.com.br/pindorama/
  4. Pousada por do sol. $ Simple bed-and-breakfast in the city Cambará-do-Sul, again meaning that you will need transportation to get into the national park (maybe rent a car?). R$ 70 for a couple (R$ 35 per person). http://www.pousadapordosol.tur.br/
  5. Recanto das gralhas. $. Very simple bed and breakfast in the center of the city. They also offer guides to take you to the National Park if you don't have a car (you have to reserve this with them beforehand). R$ 70,00 per couple. http://www.recantodasgralhas.com.br/
This town is actually on the other side of the border, in the following state, Santa Catarina. It is close to the sea, but not a beach city (as its name suggests, since Praia means beach), and it is extremely small, also defying its name, Grande. When we were there, the locals therefore told us that it is the village of the double lie. It is, however, an extremely lovely place to go due to the geographic circumstances - it is completely surrounded by canyons, mountains etc. The link of Praia Grande also refers to a number of possible routes for (multi-day) hikes (called trilhas). http://www.praiagrande-sc.com.br/

Some places where you can stay:

  1. Pedra Afiada. $$$$ This is a great place! It is located in an amazing scenario. The place organizes a series of fantastic hikes. If you call them, they might also be able to pick you up from the bus station of Praia Grande. http://www.pedraafiada.com.br/. The owners of this Ecological Inn also have a group that organizes multi-day hiking events. They are called Caa-etê, and their link is http://www.caa-ete.com.br/.
  2. Morada dos Canyons. $$$ It´s really at the edge of the canyons! You get a whole cabin for yourself. A couple with one child in a cottage is R$ 200. They also help you with planning your hikes, and breakfast and dinner are included. http://www.moradadoscanyons.com.br
  3. Cabans Colina da Serra. $$ Very beautiful view. They are more simple than the former option, but maybe better fitted for larger families. http://www.cabanascolinadaserra.com.br/
  4. Hotel e Restaurante do Sérgio. $ The places that do not have homepages (like this one), are normally very cheap and can be very cute as well. This hotel is in the Center of the city, and the price is around R$ 60 for a couple. Location: Rua Irineu Bornhausen 449, tel: +55-48-35320191 (with Sérgio of course Image ../smiley.jpg).
  5. Albergue Nativos dos Canyons $ It lies 400 m from the center of the city, and has place for up to 20 people. Communitarian kitchen, living room and rooms for couples or families up to 4. Location: Rua Olívio Margutt 146, close to the Supermarket ``Pereira''. Tel: +55-48-35320078; email: rodrigocanions@yahoo.com.br.
  6. Camping Balneário do Rio Mampituba $ Nice place, with tables, benches, barbecue areas and a bar. Close to the center of Praia Grande.


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