Nature hiking during winter has advantages compared to summer time. The most obvious one is the low temperature that makes easy long and steep walks. The downside is that you might not be able to enter the cold sea, unless you are a surfer wearing a thick wetsuit.

I took this beautiful Sunday to go walking with my wife and her family in one of the nicest trails, Matadeiro beach to Lagoinha do leste and then crossing the hill to Pântano do Sul, a hike of aproximately 7 km long.

Today was quite warm and there was a moderate northern wind. The first part from Matadeiro to Lagoinha do Leste beach took 2 hours. On the beach there were very few people and after a short rest we went for the second part to Pântano do Sul, a steep climb followed by a sheer descent which took about 1 hour. At the end I was a bit tired but with a feeling of accomplishment.

Very close to the trail entrance, in a large area in Pântano do Sul, I saw a large condominium being built. Few years ago and I feared that it would be occupied by real state speculators. It is happening not only here but all over flat land that is possible to build. Condominiums take citizens space creating islands of isolation. If we consider the pace of real state, soon the protected areas on the hills will be ocuppied just like favelas in Rio. Money rule their lifes, nothing else.

Lagoinha do Leste beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the island. Certainly it is the most preserved one due to the difficult access, only by trail or by boat, making it a very special place.
I have writen about it before on a previous post and since then I haven’t been back there. The perfect weather on this Sunday provided a good oportunity to visit it again.

I have considered going by boat for a change but it it was impossible today because of rough sea conditions. Boats normally depart from Pântano do Sul Beach and cost 10 R$ per person/one way, but you need calm sea conditions for safe beach landing.

No other choice left, I started hiking the Pântano do Sul - Lagoinha do Leste beach trail, a shorter but steeper path. The trail was very wet and slippery but I managed to keep myself standing most of the time. The climb is quite hard but at the top of you have a rewarding view of Pântano do Sul beach from an outlook set in a wooden deck.

The way down is very rocky and all attention is needed to avoid fall injuries. Finally after approximately 1,15 hour I arrived at the beach.

The sea was very cold so I spent most of the time playing beach ball and drinking beer. There isn’t a bar but during summer wekends you might find someone selling beer and small snacks. I prefer to bring my own and of course take the garbage back. There were very few people on the beach as normally it is. Around 15pm it was time to go and around 16pm I made it back. Mission acomplished I went to Bar do Arante to relax and have some food and drink.

Lagoinha do Leste is definitely the place to go if you want to escape from city life to a remote beach with a magic scenery. My hope is that still remains always the same.