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Imagine yourself in a distant
retreat, in Brazil’s south lands, a special place
where our Expedition will travel the scarps of the
Serra Geral between Rio Grande do Sul and Santa
Catarina. We follow the trails that border the
Aparados da Serra, which houses one of the most
fascinating and mysterious Brazilian landscapes; a
result from the encounter of the Serras Geral e do
Mar (General Mountains and Sea Mountain). This area
is renown for the gigantic canyons, sheltering a
type of geological step dug into the mountain by the
tectonic movement and by the work of rivers
throughout the eras. Different from most canyons in
the world, this one is not settled in an arid area,
but in an area with exuberant fields and forests. It
is amid this climate that we have the most famous of
the canyons in the Aparados da Serra National Park,
the Itaimbézinho — 5.8 km long, 720 m deep and 200 m
wide — is the largest canyon in South America. From
its top, one can contemplate an immensity that seems
to be endless and is surrounded by gold fields.
Itaimbé in Tupi-Guarani (the language of the Guarani
Indians), means “cut stone”, a word which describes
its landscape very well. All along the journey the
landscape reveals beautiful wavy fields, extending
hundreds of meters in height, suddenly interrupted
by impressive rocky cliffs, up to 900 meters deep,
and forming a corridor of crags ranging from the
gaucho Northeast up to Santa Catarina. The
Expedition follows these roads until reaching the
Serra do Rio do Rastro in Santa Catarina, a place of
a rare beauty, displaying sceneries that are typical
to the fields from the top of the mountain,
emphasizing the greatness of forests and fields
spreading about the plateau. Even before arriving at
the top the views of the mountains are a beautiful
vision of enormous cliff and dark green, spanning
the horizon. From these vistas where we can
appreciate gorges, nature and the Sierra and
Plateau’s relief; which will remind us of the
movement of a serpent. Aparados da Serra – a
surprising Brazil with a cold weather accent and the
legitimate gauchos’ traditions; an expedition for
peaceful adventurers and an opportunity to live a
unique experience.
 IT-BRRT10
Rates include
accommodations, all meals, 5 riding days, 1 day
of sightseeing by 4x4,
English speaking guide.
8 days/ 7 nights $
1,750 Single
room: +25%
Dates 2008:
any time between April and mid December with min of
2+ riders
Meeting: Porto
Alegre
Drop Off: Florianopolis
Airport: Porto Alegre /
Florianopolis
Transfer: Included
Tack:
Criollos
Horses:
South American and Australian
Pace:
Moderate, trots and canters
Min/Max: 2 to 12 riders
Level:
Intermediate
Itinerary
Day 1 Imagine yourself arriving in a remote
place in lands south of Brazil, and finding a
charming hotel ready to offer the best in comfort
and gastronomy. Yes, it is from a special place like
this that our expedition begins. We will be
traveling the mountain range between Rio Grande do
Sul and Santa Catarina. Situated between Cambará do
Sul and the Itaimbezinho Canyon within the Aparados
da Serra National Park, the Hotel Parador Casa da
Montanha is hotel unique to Brazil (similar hotels
found only in Africa and Australia). The specially
designed “thermal huts” installed at the banks of
the Rio Camarinhas come fully equipped and combine
the charm of rural country houses with the best of
the hotel industry.
Day 2 A Land Rover 4x4 will take us to
the Aparados da Serra National Park (where horses
are not allowed). The Park is considered one of
Brazil’s wonders, with extraordinary walks. During
the entire day we will be traveling its trails,
which will takes us to vista points, allowing a good
view of the Cascata da Andorinha (Swallow’s
Waterfall) and Véu de Noiva (Bridal Veil Waterfall),
and a nice sight of the Itaimbezinho Pass; the most
famous pass of the Park and also the largest in
South America, being 5.8 km long, 720 m deep and 200
m wide. (3.6 miles long, 2,362’ deep / 656’ wide).
Day 3 We start the day at dawn, proceeding on
horseback to the Serra do Rio do Rastro in Sta
Catarina, traveling through an area of unique
beauty, with typical sceneries that match those of
the Fields from the Mountain top, displaying the
greatness of the Atlantic Forest found in the low
lands of the passes; fields that spread throughout
the plateau, where you also see ferns, lilies and
bromeliads that sprout in the rich hillsides. During
the itinerary, the diverse fauna shows its wealth
through the blue-crow, parrot-of-the-purple-chest,
skunks, cutias and monkeys, all animals that can be
seen with relative ease, adding a certain charm to
the cavalcade.
Day 4 A special moment in the fourth
day is the crossing of the Pico do Monte Negro
(Black Mountain Peak), at 1.403 meters high it is
the highest point of the Rio Grande do Sul. At this
height, with majestic landscapes spreading through
its skyline, one cannot avoid being overwhelmed by a
unique feeling of freedom.
Day 5 We continue our journey trailing the
scarps of the Aparados da Serra where the
monumentality of nature provides us with an
experience that goes beyond the cavalcade itself by
adding all these moments of wonderment.
Day 6 after horseback riding for four days,
at the end of the sixth day of Expedition, we will
have crossed the border of the state of Rio Grande
do Sul, entered in the lands belonging to the state
of Sta Catarina and arrived at the Rio Rastro
Resort, located at the top of the Serra do Rio do
Rastro, at an altitude of 1500m. However, until we
get to the final point of the experience which we
call, “expedition for adventurers with class and
style”, all of the “lodging” and meals will take
place in the outdoors. Lodging and feeding services
are provided by the Overland team, our partner in
outdoors logistics who developed a special project
for Brazil Cavalcades with our technical camps using
state of the art imported equipment (huts of the
bungalow type) which will provide comfort and
safety.
Day 7 A beautiful day ride to explore the
beautiful countryside. If you prefer you opt for trout
fishing (right in front of one’s hut), some time in
the spa, heated swimming pool, etc. In the afternoon
we say good bye to the horses and certificates will
be awarded. Dinner and overnight,
Day 8 Departure after breakfast
to the airport in Florianopolis..
The climate in the area is
moderate and always humid. The annual average
temperature ranges around 21ºC — with maximum
temperature ranging between 24ºC and 27ºC and lows
between 9ºC and 15ºC. The fog, present basically all
year long, also known by the name of “Nothing”
suddenly appears and, very quickly, makes everything
disappear. So thick and shifting deep valleys
disappear and then magically reappear. |
see
... Photos by
Paula da Silva
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