Cable camp

Adventure tour: kayak, stand up, trail and bike

Arraial do Cabo is no longer “ONLY” a beach tourism hub, where tourists seek the place to enjoy sun and sea throughout their stay, this city is transforming itself every day into an adventure tourism center. With so many attractions, it couldn’t be different!

In addition to its vocation for diving, known internationally, Arraial has trails, routes for practicing bikes and excellent conditions for the use of water sports equipment, such as standup paddle, kayak, among others.

The city is swarming and seeking fans every day who want to actively participate in its paradisiacal setting and very conducive to adventure tourism and outdoor sports.

And it was in this privileged scenario that SOUL Viajero entered into a partnership with the company Trilhas Arraial for a day of adventure.

We will tell you about these almost 11 hours of action, which started very early and ended with a beautiful autumn sunset in Arraial do Cabo.

Note: This tour company, specialized in trails, put together a complete 1-day itinerary so that we could get to know the package of attractions they have, but it was the first time that they joined so many sports in a single day. The normal are separate packages for all these activities (trails, biking, kayaking and standup paddle). Remembering that their specialty is the trail tour.

Let’s go to programming and fun!

The scheduled meeting point was Praça do Cova / Praia dos Anjos. At approximately 7 am we arrived at the place, had a quick coffee at a nearby bakery and patiently waited for the other members of the tour to arrive.

Around 7:50 am we left towards Praia do Forno. Thirteen people made up the adventure group. We took the small trail that leads to this beach and in 15 minutes we were already walking on the sands and choosing our kayak.

A few more hits here and others there, at 8:30 am we were already inside a red kayak with a “panoramic bottom” (those kayaks with a “floor” in glass that you can see the bottom of the sea). In fact, this panoramic kayak was very suitable for the day and for this tour, as the sea was crystal clear.

Wow, lots of fish and the bottom of the sea to contemplate!

Our entire route to the Farms Marine and the Floating Restaurant, which is on the left corner of Forno beach, was guided and accompanied by our guides Maycon and Daiana and our friend Lucas ( @pianolucas ) who filmed everything with a drone.

I will present the full profile of our guides later on!

At 8:30 am we had our kayaks properly parked at the Marine Farms and we were taking advantage of the location for photos and snorkeling.

Photos, dives and a lot of talk we stayed at the site until approximately 10:10 am. At this moment, we took the kayak back to Praia do Forno.

Another 30 minutes of paddling back, and by 11am all participants were already drying themselves and wearing the appropriate clothes to follow our trail.

All properly dressed, with backpacks on their backs and fed, as we also used this break for a small snack and plenty of water, we headed towards the Praia do Forno – Prainha trail.

The trail entrance is in the left corner of Praia do Forno, and before entering the forest, our guides gave us some important instructions and explanations of animals that inhabit that place. We started the trails at 11:20 am.

Tip for this stretch: if you do not like to hike in closed woods, do not go, as the first stretch is very wild and the contact with nature is impressive.

We were informed that there were venomous animals on the way and all instructions on how to deal were also given. Among these animals are: true coral snake, jararaca snake, armadeira spider and hunting wasp.

But calm down!

We didn’t see any of them mentioned above. In fact, we only passed through a beautiful and huge hornet “nest”, but that was it!

The worst stretch is the initial climb, which lasts around 20 minutes. Then, when you reach the “top” the forest becomes less dense and the trail is more open where you can find viewpoints and a wonderful view. Everything pays off a lot!

The main viewpoint was approximately 2 km walk and 150 meters high.

Half a day we were already taking lots and lots of pictures at the lookout with a STUNNING view! Yes, I fell in love with Praia do Forno with that view from the top of the mountain!

The group gathered, chat goes and chat comes, some more pictures, and after about 20 minutes there, we continue towards Prainha, our final destination.

Before starting the descent, we stopped at two other viewpoints, and the second was with the beautiful view of Prainha and Praia Grande in the background. Another jaw-dropping point!

When it was close to 1 pm, we arrived in Prainha and went for lunch. We ate in a simple place close to the beach and stayed there for 1h30 until the bikes arrived and we left for the next stage.

Snacked on the trail and fed, at about 2:50 pm we left with our bikes towards Lagoa Azul.

It was 6 km on the way and 6 for the return. The day passed and we were on top of the skinny women walking through a camp that I didn’t know.

We took trails and different natures until we reached the final destination.

The return was marked by a lot of tiredness, but with the mission of accomplishment.

The end of this story was closed with a sunset at Praia Grande with the members who remained on the path and on this adventure tour until the last drop of sweat falls!

Full itinerary of the day

1st stage: Praia dos Anjos trail -> Praia do Forno

2nd stage: Kayaking and standup from Praia do Forno to the Marine Farms and Restaurante Fluruante

3rd stage: Praia do Forno Trail -> Prainha

4th stage: Bike Prainha to Lagoa Azul

5th stage: Bike Lagoa Azul to Praia Grande

Some important information from the Arraial Trails tour

The Trails Arraialis a brand new company, but with a lot of luggage of their creators experience. It has existed for 1 year, but Maycon and Daiana are already “old men of war” in this role with nature and its nuances.

The two already worked with activities related to adventure tourism and ecological movements, and at a certain moment they got together to organize trail and adventure events.

Values

Trails:

• Prainha x Oven or Oven x Short beach of 4km – R $ 25.00
• Prainha x Oven with Ponta da Prainha of 7km – R $ 30,00
• Prainha x Pontal Beach, Morro do Miranda, 4km – R $ 25.00
• Shipwreck Circuit at Pontal do Atalaia 9km of trail for R $ 30.00 or 7km of trail plus 3km of Jeep for R $ 40.00

Adventure day:

On this adventure day that Trilhas Arraial brought all activities together, the collection was made as follows:

• R $ 30.00 for driving (trail, rowing, bike)
• R $ 20.00 kayak and standup rental (the kayaks are double, therefore R $ 10.00 / per person)
• R $ 20.00 bike rental

Note: If the interested party has his own equipment (kayak, standup and / or bike) and wants to participate, he can make contact to check values.

Reservations:  https://www.facebook.com/trilhas.arraial  or   22 99786 5130 (WhatsApp)

Departure:  Praça do Cova
R. Dom Pedro II, 15-23 – Centro, Arraial do Cabo – RJ
Find out how to get there by accessing the google maps link .

Social networks:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/trilhas.arraial

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/trilhasarraial/ 

Arraial Trails Guides:

 , 29 years old, born and raised in Arraial do Cabo, with initial training in Geoprocessing, now an Environmental Engineer, has 12 years of work in adventure tourism and ecological movement, focusing on Protected Areas and Nature Conservation Units, Public Use, Planning and Management of Trails. He worked with diving as Dive Master and Rescue Diver, with experience also in Rescue in Wild Environments.

Daiana Cabral , 23, who has lived in Arraial do Cabo for 10 years, immediately identified with the city and its sporting potential. Environmental Engineer, has worked in the area for 5 years and has experience as a Park Ranger in Rio de Janeiro and training in driving trails, fighting forest fires, environmental education, rescue in wild environments and first aid. Member of the National Association for Research and Conservation of Strigiformes – Pró Corujas.

Important tips for a day of adventure:

• The ideal body temperature is 36.5º C, and when our body is exposed to excessive heat this same temperature can reach 40º C. This causes side effects such as: weakness, tiredness, headaches, dizziness and cramps.
• Hydration is key!
• In the heat the body sweats more, and consequently loses more water, so it is NOT recommended to wait for thirst to drink. The ideal is to hydrate yourself by drinking liquid or eating fruits such as watermelon and melon, which have a high water content.
  It is also important to use isotonics (Gatorade), as these products contribute to the hydration and replacement of mineral salts, lost in sweat.
• Another important tip is the use of light clothes, which absorb sweat more quickly. Avoid synthetic fabrics and use caps, visors, sneakers or boots appropriate for the style of solo and adventure. And never forget the sunscreen!
• Avoid excessive weight in the backpack, take only what is necessary. Anyone who is allergic takes their specific medicine with them.
• Never go for fasting trails and adventures, as it causes hypoglycemia and other factors relevant to a decrease in physical and mental performance.
• Prior to the trail / adventure, prioritize carbohydrates, the main sources of energy, in your diet. Among the sources of carbohydrates are: bananas, sweet potatoes, bread, cheese and açaí.
• Remember to bring a light backpack, avoid excessive weight!
• For greater care in adventures involving water (kayaking, standup, etc.), if the person does not have a waterproof bag, it is recommended to bring pots of mayonnaise or supplements to place belongings that do NOTcan get wet.
• It is also recommended to take one or two large, reinforced bags to put your backpacks and sneakers on.
• Always take with you: sunscreen, cap / visor, towel and sunglasses.
• The ideal for these adventures is the use of long sleeve shirts with UVA / UVB protection.

And how to get to this paradise?

By car: the journey to the Lakes Region begins after crossing the Rio Niterói Bridge, with access to BR 101 and then to Via Lagos (RJ-124), this is privatized and there is a toll charge (check prices at: rates ). It is worth remembering that on weekends the traffic to the Region is very heavy and major congestion is common.

By bus: the company that operates this route is 1001, check values ​​and see information on the link .

By plane: the small Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) is an alternative that is not yet viable for those who want to arrive by plane to the Lagos Region. Commercial flights are very limited and still costly, not a good option for most tourists looking for the region. The only airline operating to Cabo Frio is Azul Linhas Aéreas .

But, when is the best time to visit Arraial do Cabo?

In the high season months, December to February, the weather is hot and the city and its beaches are always crowded. It is not a very pleasant time due to “overcrowding”. After that period, from March to May, the climate is still warm, the waters are still pleasant (although they are always cold throughout the year) and the beaches and main attractions are much more empty, which allows a period of tranquility to visit the city. region.

In the winter period there is still a pleasant climate, but with a lot of wind and very cold water (characteristic of the region, but in summer it is possible to circumvent this aspect).

But overall, the weather is always warm and pleasant. What should be taken into account is the number of tourists. If you don’t mind full beaches, visit in high summer, but if you enjoy something more “private” choose the “low” seasons (March to May or August to November).

For those who are backpackers, like us, I recommend the following route to arrive by public transport to the departure point of the boat tour:

If you are staying in Cabo Frio, just as we were, go to Rua Cajueiro, towards São Cristóvão / Arraial and take the B150 bus (Cabo Frio – Arraial do Cabo). The journey takes around 30 to 40 minutes, with no traffic. Inquire with the changer where Praia dos Anjos is and ask him to show you when you arrive. Ready! You descend on this beach and soon see the meeting point and payment of the boarding fee for the Fishermen’s Association, a simple window near some almond trees and chairs.

For more information on the lines and timetables visit the link .