The bright morning sun just peaking up over the tall mountain peaks surrounding our beachside pousada, 11 travelers trek along a deserted beach with backpacks full of food and water and surfboards under their arms. Our destination is Lopez Mendes beach on the other side of Ihla Grande, literally The Big Island, a beautiful island nature reserve located a few hours south of Rio de Janeiro.

The beach is a 2 hour hike through the lush mountains and valleys of the island, but our group makes it in a clean hour and a half. We're the first to arrive to kilometers of white sand and palm trees, with head high surf firing clean lefts and rights as far down the beach as we can see. Jeff and I can't stop grinning as we quickly wax our boards and race each other out into the water, while the rest of the group lay out to catch some rays with smiles rivaling our own.

After hours of surf and sun, we make our way back to a small beach a 20 minute hike away and board a small boat to take us home. The sun is setting lazily on the horizon as we make our way through the turquoise waters. My eyes squinting towards the sunset, my body tired and sun kissed, I can't help but smile and think; this is just a normal day of Brazil adventure travel with the BT crew.

Tomorrow when we board our private 60 foot schooner for a day of snorkeling reefs and diving on old wrecks, we'll be living it up all over again.

Much love from Brazil,

Taylor Aikins, Beach Travellers Brazil Guide