A Cruise of Brazil

After experiencing the new Brazil—the city of Santiago—Colin and Lou head out to find the old Brazil—up the slower, quieter Rio Paraguacu.

The Baia de Camamu still offers quiet anchorages in beautiful surroundings. But the number of pleasure boats has increased incrementally in recent years. Will Brazil find a way to ensure all can enjoy and benefit from the popularity of the Baia without losing its essential magic?

Pelerin’s shoal draft comes in very handy when Colin and Lou visit the National Park of the Arqipélago dos Abrolhos—a remote island archipelago and one of those places where you feel about as safe as the mouse that dwelt in the cat’s ear (Bill Tilman).

Sometimes cruising in foreign lands in a foreign language can be exhausting and overwhelming. That’s when the kindness of strangers can make all the difference. Colin describes just such an experience during their approach to Rio de Janeiro.

After a few days in Rio, Colin and Lou are ready for peace and quiet, which they seek in Mata Atlantica, a little known natural area of rainforests and savannahs that runs from Brazil down to Argentina, followed by a visit to the charming old city of Paraty.

Colin provides a clear-eyed analysis of the benefits and challenges of cruising Brazil. Not only is this chapter of use to those with that country in their cruising plans, Colin does a masterful job of discussing the issues that a voyager visiting any country with a very different language and culture from their own should consider.