Boat to Costa da Lagoa

No road reaches Costa da Lagoa. This fishing settlement strung along the western shore of the Lagoa da Conceição is served by boats from the pier near the bridge at Lagoa, which work like a bus: they follow the shore, stop at numbered landings, and you hop off wherever you like. The ride takes 40 to 50 minutes each way, and boats also run from Rio Vermelho on the north shore.

The point of going is lunch. Restaurants line the shore, cooking fish and seafood caught nearby, and there is a waterfall a short walk up from the water (better after rain) and a few small beaches. Old two-storey houses, flour mills and ruins from the colonial era turn up in the forest along the way. The energetic alternative is to walk in on the 5 km footpath from Canto dos Araçás, about two hours through Atlantic forest with bridges and stone steps built by the old residents, then ride the boat back, having checked the time of the last one.