Espirito Santo, Brazil
Capital: Vitoria
Population: Approx. 1 Million (metropolitan area)
Language: Portuguese
Time: Brazilian Standard Time Zone, which is GMT-3, GMT-2 from Oct. to end of Feb.
International Dialling code: +55
Visas: Not required for UK passport holders for a stay up to 3 months. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond visit
Money: Real (R$), currently around R$3.30 to the UK£
Most accepted cards: Visa & Master card
Carry small denomination US$ bills to facilitate changing currency outside large towns.
When to go:
Summer December, January, February.
Dec. Jan. Feb. – Temp. 30. to 35 degrees C
GETTING THERE:
Journey Latin America arranged our flights London via New York to Rio de Janeiro for £490-00 return.
Deals change all the time but at this time.
Varig until 14th Dec. Direct return London to Rio – £625-00 (inc.taxes)
B.A. until 13th Dec. return London to Rio – £621-00 (inc.taxes)
Air Italia do an indirect flight for
£494-00 return and Air France for £499-00
Flights to Vitoria booked from London. Rio to Vitoria return £195-00. Best to buy locally as this is a busy route that has different offers all the time.
GETTING AROUND:
Air passes with Varig or B.A. cost $530-00 for five coupons. TAM also does airpasses for the same price but remember to check out which of the airlines will be flying to your destinations.
Buses in Brazil are excellent and well known for their good time keeping. The sleeper (overnight) buses have a nearly full length bed/seat.
What to do:
Schooner trips around the islands of Vitoria and the Mangroves last from a few hours to all day.
Cores do Mar
Reservations Tel:(027) 989-5107 / 235-7839 Fax (027) 225-4758
Sports: Beach sports – Soccer, beach volley, cycle track by the beaches. Scuba diving
Trek up the ‘Morro do Moreno’ and see all of Vitoria spread out before you.
Yacht Club Vitoria
Marlin Fishing, wind surfing, Kite surfing, Squash
Food & Drink
Excellent seafood from kiosks on the beach.
Two good traditional restaurants near each other: Partido Alto and Pirao
Both – Rua Joaquim Lirio, Praia do Canto
Caipirinha, Sugar cane alcoholic drink made with lime and beer are main local drinks.
Web sites
Vitoria State Webb site – www.vitoria.es.gov.br
The State newspaper ‘Gazeta’ has much tourist information on its Webb site – www.gazetaonline.com.br
Accommodation:
Vitoria Palace Hotel, Rua Jose Teixeira, Vitoria – ES – Middle price per person per night – R$70
Pousada Pria, Av. Saturnino de Brito, Ponta Formosa, Praia do Canto, Vitoria, ES – Middle price per person per night – R$50
Hotel Aruan, Av. Dante Michelini, Praia de Camburi, Vitoria – ES – Middle price per person per night R$80
Alegre
190 Km from Vitoria – Approx. 3 hours 15 min. by bus.
Population: 20000
Nine different waterfalls in the surrounding area
Pico da Bandeira: 2,890 m – third highest mountain in Brazil. Situated in the Caparao National Park (26,000 hectares).
Information about a two day climb / camp including a visit to ‘Cachoeira da Fumaca on the way. Webb site: www.picodabandeira.com.br
Festival of Popular Music: Each year at Corpus Christy (May or June)
Accommodation:
Many Pousadas and small Hotels – Can be as little as 15R$ a night per person (except during Pop festival).
Recommended Restaurant: ‘Casa Velha’ Tel: Alegre (27) 552 1251. Bar: ‘Pico da Bandeira’ on the town square. Many other small bars and restaurants with reasonable prices.
Bike Ecoclube: Tel: (27) 552 3125
Ubu
85 Km from Victoria – Just over an hour by car and a bit longer by bus.
Accommodation:
Pousada Aba Ubu Tel: (027) 536 5067 Fax: 027 536 5068
Pontal de Ubu Hotel Tel/Fax: (27) 536 5065 Tel: (27)983 1026
Food & Drink:
Beach Kiosks and Restaurant ‘Peixada do Garcia’ , Av. Beira Mar, Praia de Ubu. Tel(27) 536 5050
Associacao das Paneleiras de Goiabeiras
Rua das Paneleiras, 55 – Goiabeiras, in the City of Vitoria
Tel: (27) 327-0519