From Iguazu to Santos

8 March to 25 March 2010

Leaving Iguazu, we drive through the agricultural lands of southern Brazil to Curitiba, a city of two million. Curitiba is considered a model city in terms of urban planning and transport. It is safe and clean, has a pretty pedestrianised center, many parks and a botanical garden. We spend a week in Curitiba, to get to know the city, shop, and plan our next destinations.

Curitiba Fotos

A gorgeous train ride takes us through the protected Atlantic rainforest, to the small colonial town of Morretes, where we spend two nights in a resort in the middle of the green vegetation.

Trem Fotos

From the historic city of Paranagua, on the coast, we take a small ferryboat to the Ilha do Mel - a little paradise. Most of the island is a nature reserve, only a small part is occupied by small wooden houses, tucked away in the forest. There are no cars or other vehicles on this island - the only traffic is on foot, and by bicycle. Most of the beautiful beaches are without buildings, completely natural. We take long walks along the beaches, especially in the mornings, when they are deserted and we can observe the many birds. We only venture once and for a short while into the dense forest - the mosquitos prove to us that their reputation for being especialy agressive is fully deserved.

Ilha do Mel Fotos

Santos: a busy harbour town, with seven kilometres of sandy beach. The biggest attractions of its historic centre are electric trams and the old coffee exchange - the source of the past riches of the town.

Santos Fotos