Brazil: Cabo Frio

 Sunday, March 5 2023 Cabo Frio, Brazil

Cabo Frio is a peninsula with about 230,000 people. A small town compared to many places we’ve visited. The ship arrived at 8 am and anchored in the bay. We took our time having breakfast and getting to shore. Once we arrived, there were women handing out maps. We walked around the unattractive town for a bit, thought about taking a taxi around but couldn’t find an English-speaking taxi driver. We decided to find Praia do Forte (Fort Beach) and go swimming. The interior of town was cut off from the cool ocean breeze so we started walking toward the beach near the tender pier.

Charlie on shore in Cabo Frio with the tender pier in the background 

The interior streets were stifling hot

Things were better on the beach. It was cooler and lined with a path. We strolled by several small hotels popular with Brazilians. There was every kind  of water conveyance—boats, jet skis, etc. It was a pleasant walk, but it ended at a wall that extended into the sea. We had to take a right and continue on a stifling street that did not have a breeze.

The walk along the beach was wonderful on this path

We were not certain exactly where the beach was but knew the general direction. We climbed a hill and started to wonder if we were close when suddenly there it was, fort and all, laid out in all its white sand glory. There were hundreds of people, almost all locals. The only reason I know they weren’t all locals is because I talked to some people from the ship who were there also. However, we didn’t see them in the mass of humanity.

Fort Beach suddenly appeared below us.

It was rockier toward the fort.

I went for a swim while Charlie guarded our backpacks. By Brazilian standards, the water might have been cold (Cabo Frio means cold cape in Portuguese). By Washington State standards, it was warm. 

We climbed the rocky steps up to the 17th century fort to look around. It had ancient cannons rusting away, and a wonderful view. Binoculars gave us a great view of birds hunting for fish in a tidal pool. Many ibises, gulls, and a tree full of vultures. Every time a gull would catch a fish, a loud cacophony would ensue as it ate the fish. 

We started walking toward town to find lunch. On the side of the beach there were fishermen selling the day’s catch at a small market, and an enterprising ibis was ready in case a fish came its way, seemingly unafraid of people. It had gotten lucky before. 

Enterprising ibis near makeshift fish market

Ice chest full of fish and interested ibis.

Back to the stifling interior streets, we looked for our restaurant. We passed the Carla de Sao Benedito, a church built in 1701. We also passed a bar with musicians playing rhythm instruments. And found our restaurant. Lunch was delicious, and included freshly made juice. We ate outside.

The restaurant

From the restaurant, we walked back to the tender pier and caught the lifeboat which took us on a rough ride back to the ship.