Brasil Round 2?

Yesterday I realized that my visa for Brasil expires next year and I started kicking myself for not taking more advantage of this 5 year visa. I went to Brasil in July of 2007 and backpacked around Rio by myself for a month. I was barely 21 and it was the first big trip that I had done by myself. It was AMAZING. I seriously fell in love with Brasil; all of the beautiful people and the gorgeous mountains that line the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Brasil has awesome food, great flea markets, spectacular live music, and so so much more. I had some incredible experiences that I will seriously never forget and I am dying to go back!

I did some pretty amazing things when I was in Brasil. I met some local Brasilans on my flight and they said I should go hang-gliding so the second day I was there I met up with them and jumped of a cliff. WOW! Hands down one of the coolest things I have ever done I my entire life. We drove up to one of the highest points in Rio and within what felt like seconds I was done with a 10 minute training. Next thing ya know I was strapped to this massive dude yelling at me, "Are you ready??" We ran off this ramp and then I was flying ! It was incredible. If you ever have the opportunity to do something like this, DO IT!

I stayed a several really cool places but I'm just going to tell you guys about my two favorites. Stone of a Beach is in the center of Rio de Janeiro and it is a great place to chill and meet other backpackers your age. It's in a perfect location, only about a 5-10 minute walk to Copacabana Beach. The building is super cool with a lot of character and it has an awesome roof top bar complete with a hot tub. The rooms are dorm style and include personal lockers. Stone of a Beach is definitely a party location for people in their twenties; you will for sure find some cute foreigners to flirt with!

I think that my favorite part about my time in Brasil was going to the island Ilha Gande. Ilha Grande is an island that used to be used as a prison before it was converted into a wildlife preserve. It is about 113 miles from Rio and although it takes about three to four hours (depending on your bus driver, conditions, etc) to get there, it's totally worth it. From Rio you want to go to the Rodoviária bus station and take a bus to Angra dos Reis, and from there you take a ferry to Ilha Grande.

Ilha Grande is an absolutely stunning island with a lot to see and do. Plenty of snorkeling, surfing, boating, and a great place to just chill out after being in all the craziness of Rio.

Nestled away from the town center is Aquario Pousada Hostel, the most amazing hostel I have ever stayed at. The hostel is directly on the beach and its only about a 10 minute walk to the town center. It has a great bar with bbqs and live music almost every night. 

Gosh after looking at all of thses pics from my trip I want to go back to Brasil now more than ever. I'm already craving a caipirinha! I seriously need to start saving some dolla bills so I can continue to fund all my crazy adventures. 

Brasil is a huge country and although I was there for a month I still feel like I barely touched it. I have to go back and hopefully I can make it happen before my visa expires. 

Have any of you guys been to Brasil? If so, tell me about it!