Niterói ᛫ April 13 – 20, 2018
The drive to Niterói was great. This small city is separated from Rio by the Guanabara Bay and connected by a 9 km/5.9 mi long bridge. I took an Uber taxi from my Couchsurfing host’s place in Rio and went over the bridge, which had a stunning outlook. The sun was shining, the water and sky had a clear blue, and the view of Rio and its surrounding mountains was breathtaking.
The balcony of our Airbnb apartment had a hammock, sun during most of the day and a green nature view.
A Very Nice Airbnb Place
When we entered Niterói, the street led past palm trees lining up along the sidewalk, next to the beach and beautiful ocean. My appreciation for these moments was definitely intensified by my good mood. I was so happy and excited because I knew I would finally see my boyfriend Tarik at night. While I was in the car to our Airbnb apartment, he sat on the plane from Casablanca, Morocco, to Rio.
I was welcomed warmly by the owner and he showed me around his property. It was a beautiful place built on a mountainside, with a couple of apartments, a pool, and a view all the way to Rio. Our apartment had two rooms and a balcony with hammock. After I got settled in, I went to the next supermarket. As a result, our fridge was filled with delicious food and drinks, which made the place perfect.
Our Eagerly Awaited Reunion ❤️
At night, I took an Uber taxi to the airport to pick up Tarik and waited anxiously at the arrivals exit. It had been almost one year since we last saw each other. The original plan was to meet in Recife, but that didn’t work out, unfortunately. So while I awaited him, I kept wondering, what if something went wrong again?
We spent the first week of our travel in Niterói. It’s a charming city with many lovely people.
But then I saw him at last, wearing his favorite Asian hat and pushing a luggage cart with many bags. I felt the tension leaving my body and a big smile spreading across my face. Before he even spotted me, I rushed to kiss and hug him. The universe around me seemed to explode with happiness when I could finally touch him and smell his scent again. I had tears in my eyes and at the same time, couldn’t stop smiling. It was a magical feeling. Our positive energy seemed to spread. While we hugged, all the people around us started to clap and cheer. 😀
Exploring Niterói
Most of all, we enjoyed each others company during our week in Niterói. Everything from cooking food and eating together to hiking and working out or just watching a movie felt special and exciting because we could finally do it together again. We had a lot of catching up to do and often just chilled in our hammock. Sometimes we even saw cute monkeys in the trees around the balcony. The shared pool was also great and refreshing. From up there, you could see amazing sunsets with Rio in the background.
To bodyboard, or not to bodyboard, that is the question. This sport depends entirely on the conditions of the ocean. So Tarik has to evaluate the waves first.
And of course, we went to the beach as often as possible. The closest one was called Praia da Piratininga and only a five minute walk away. It was a beautiful beach with a wide sandy area that stretched 3km/1.8mi, small restaurants and a view of Rio and its mountains. The ocean had good waves, but also strong currents. Hence, I only went into the shallow water. Tarik on the other hand really enjoyed bodyboarding and meeting Brazilian surfers.
On the eastern part of the beach, there were some cliffs and rocks. On top of them, many fishermen worked and cast their fishing lines. We had fun climbing around the site and also got to experience a couple of beautiful sunsets from up there.
Itacoatiara
Since Itacoatiara is a famous surf and bodyboard spot, we knew we had to check it out. It is a part of Niterói and was only a 15-minute drive from our place. When we got to the beach, there were some surfers in the water, but the waves weren’t great. So we decided to check out another spot first that one surfer from Piratininga had recommended to us. From the beach, we could already see it: a big mountain with some trees on top. That’s where we wanted to hike.
Some parts of the mountain were so steep that they could only be climbed with some aid.
Therefore, we left the beach again and found the entrance after a short walk. Luckily, Tarik could leave his bodyboard there and didn’t have to carry it all the way up. At first, there were some steps, then stones and a trail that led through the Serra da Tiririca State Park. Everything around us was green and we could feel that we were breathing very healthy air. After a while, we reached a crossroad and immediately saw which way would lead up the mountain. There was a stone wall with a metal handrail to help with the climb. Even though we only wore flip-flops, it was no problem to hike up that part.
An Adventurous Climb
But afterward we didn’t get much further. The rock was still very steep, but there was no aid anymore. After looking around and trying out some parts, a guy who worked for the park came to help us. But we had to climb barefoot and on all fours. At some parts, I got a little scared if I could really do it without slipping. Thankfully, everything went fine and we arrived at the top with a lot of adrenaline in our bodies.
What a cutie: This young black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) examined us carefully.
The view from there was stunning. We could see the beach, the town of Itacoatiara, the rest of Niterói and even all the way to Rio! There were many plants and a small forest. We chilled on the rock after that nerve-racking climb, enjoying the sun and outlook. Then we explored the top even more and walked through the forest. We even saw the cutest monkeys! Needless to say, the views were amazing from all sides of the mountain top.
There Is Another Way
When we decided to go back down, I was a little worried. The park ranger had told us to not only use both hands and feet but also our butts to climb down. We walked behind some other people who were also on their way back. And it turned out there was another, easier way! It was not that steep and we only needed one hand for support sometimes. 😉 We wondered why the guy had shown the difficult way to us. But then we figured, maybe he wanted us to have a bigger adventure. 😀
If you should ever go to Itacoatiara, make sure to visit the Serra da Tiririca State Park including the top of that mountain. We also recommend bringing better shoes than us. After ascending the mountain with the help of the handrail, go up on the right for the easier way or on the left for the more challenging climb. 😉
The perfect ending to a bodyboard session in Itacoatiara.
Bodyboarding
When we came back to the beach, the waves were much better and more surfers were in the water. Tarik was really happy to get to know Itacoatiara’s world-famous waves, which are some of the most powerful waves out there. Although he knew that before, he was still surprised at how massive they were. Even relatively small waves were strong because they contained a lot of water.
After the bodyboard session, we got to see a colorful sunset. Next, to the beach, we found some nice small restaurants. And enjoyed the colorful sky, eating delicious food.
It was a perfect first week together. Niterói was a cute, small city, much safer than Rio and had amazing nature. Apart from several different beaches, there were also big lakes and green mountains everywhere. We met many friendly people even though we barely spoke any Portuguese. So of course, we were a little sad to leave. But we also wanted to start traveling and were excited to explore Rio de Janeiro.
The drive to Niterói was great. This small city is separated from Rio by the Guanabara Bay and connected by a 9 km/5.9 mi long bridge. I took an Uber taxi from my Couchsurfing host’s place in Rio and went over the bridge, which had a stunning outlook. The sun was shining, the water and sky had a clear blue, and the view of Rio and its surrounding mountains was breathtaking.
The balcony of our Airbnb apartment had a hammock, sun during most of the day and a green nature view.
A Very Nice Airbnb Place
When we entered Niterói, the street led past palm trees lining up along the sidewalk, next to the beach and beautiful ocean. My appreciation for these moments was definitely intensified by my good mood. I was so happy and excited because I knew I would finally see my boyfriend Tarik at night. While I was in the car to our Airbnb apartment, he sat on the plane from Casablanca, Morocco, to Rio.
I was welcomed warmly by the owner and he showed me around his property. It was a beautiful place built on a mountainside, with a couple of apartments, a pool, and a view all the way to Rio. Our apartment had two rooms and a balcony with hammock. After I got settled in, I went to the next supermarket. As a result, our fridge was filled with delicious food and drinks, which made the place perfect.
Our Eagerly Awaited Reunion ❤️
We spent the first week of our travel in Niterói. It’s a charming city with many lovely people.
At night, I took an Uber taxi to the airport to pick up Tarik and waited anxiously at the arrivals exit. It had been almost one year since we last saw each other. The original plan was to meet in Recife, but that didn’t work out, unfortunately. So while I awaited him, I kept wondering, what if something went wrong again?
But then I saw him at last, wearing his favorite Asian hat and pushing a luggage cart with many bags. I felt the tension leaving my body and a big smile spreading across my face. Before he even spotted me, I rushed to kiss and hug him. The universe around me seemed to explode with happiness when I could finally touch him and smell his scent again. I had tears in my eyes and at the same time, couldn’t stop smiling. It was a magical feeling. Our positive energy seemed to spread. While we hugged, all the people around us started to clap and cheer. 😀
Exploring Niterói
To bodyboard, or not to bodyboard, that is the question. This sport depends entirely on the conditions of the ocean. So Tarik has to evaluate the waves first.
Most of all, we enjoyed each others company during our week in Niterói. Everything from cooking food and eating together to hiking and working out or just watching a movie felt special and exciting because we could finally do it together again. We had a lot of catching up to do and often just chilled in our hammock. Sometimes we even saw cute monkeys in the trees around the balcony. The shared pool was also great and refreshing. From up there, you could see amazing sunsets with Rio in the background.
And of course, we went to the beach as often as possible. The closest one was called Praia da Piratininga and only a five minute walk away. It was a beautiful beach with a wide sandy area that stretched 3km/1.8mi, small restaurants and a view of Rio and its mountains. The ocean had good waves, but also strong currents. Hence, I only went into the shallow water. Tarik on the other hand really enjoyed bodyboarding and meeting Brazilian surfers.
On the eastern part of the beach, there were some cliffs and rocks. On top of them, many fishermen worked and cast their fishing lines. We had fun climbing around the site and also got to experience a couple of beautiful sunsets from up there.
From the rocks at Piratininga beach, we enjoyed the sky turning from blue to different colors when the sun set behind Rio’s mountains.
Itacoatiara
Since Itacoatiara is a famous surf and bodyboard spot, we knew we had to check it out. It is a part of Niterói and was only a 15-minute drive from our place. When we got to the beach, there were some surfers in the water, but the waves weren’t great. So we decided to check out another spot first that one surfer from Piratininga had recommended to us. From the beach, we could already see it: a big mountain with some trees on top. That’s where we wanted to hike.
Therefore, we left the beach again and found the entrance after a short walk. Luckily, Tarik could leave his bodyboard there and didn’t have to carry it all the way up. At first, there were some steps, then stones and a trail that led through the Serra da Tiririca State Park. Everything around us was green and we could feel that we were breathing very healthy air. After a while, we reached a crossroad and immediately saw which way would lead up the mountain. There was a stone wall with a metal handrail to help with the climb. Even though we only wore flip-flops, it was no problem to hike up that part.
Some parts of the mountain were so steep that they could only be climbed with some aid.
An Adventurous Climb
But afterward we didn’t get much further. The rock was still very steep, but there was no aid anymore. After looking around and trying out some parts, a guy who worked for the park came to help us. But we had to climb barefoot and on all fours. At some parts, I got a little scared if I could really do it without slipping. Thankfully, everything went fine and we arrived at the top with a lot of adrenaline in our bodies.
The view from there was stunning. We could see the beach, the town of Itacoatiara, the rest of Niterói and even all the way to Rio! There were many plants and a small forest. We chilled on the rock after that nerve-racking climb, enjoying the sun and outlook. Then we explored the top even more and walked through the forest. We even saw the cutest monkeys! Needless to say, the views were amazing from all sides of the mountain top.
What a cutie: This young black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicillata) examined us carefully.
There Is Another Way
When we decided to go back down, I was a little worried. The park ranger had told us to not only use both hands and feet but also our butts to climb down. We walked behind some other people who were also on their way back. And it turned out there was another, easier way! It was not that steep and we only needed one hand for support sometimes. 😉 We wondered why the guy had shown the difficult way to us. But then we figured, maybe he wanted us to have a bigger adventure. 😀
If you should ever go to Itacoatiara, make sure to visit the Serra da Tiririca State Park including the top of that mountain. We also recommend bringing better shoes than us. After ascending the mountain with the help of the handrail, go up on the right for the easier way or on the left for the more challenging climb. 😉
Bodyboarding
Tarik really enjoyed Itacoatiara’s powerful waves. It’s a famous spot because one event of the APB, World Bodyboard Tour, takes place in this location.
When we came back to the beach, the waves were much better and more surfers were in the water. Tarik was really happy to get to know Itacoatiara’s world-famous waves, which are some of the most powerful waves out there. Although he knew that before, he was still surprised at how massive they were. Even relatively small waves were strong because they contained a lot of water.
After the bodyboard session, we got to see a colorful sunset. Next, to the beach, we found some nice small restaurants. And enjoyed the colorful sky, eating delicious food.
The perfect ending to a bodyboard session in Itacoatiara.
It was a perfect first week together. Niterói was a cute, small city, much safer than Rio and had amazing nature. Apart from several different beaches, there were also big lakes and green mountains everywhere. We met many friendly people even though we barely spoke any Portuguese. So of course, we were a little sad to leave. But we also wanted to start traveling and were excited to explore Rio de Janeiro.
See More Pictures of Our Time in Niterói
Itacoatiara – Great Views & Great Company
I’m just so happy to finally be able to travel and enjoy nice moments like this together with my boyfriend.
Niterói – Pool with a View
From the pool of our Airbnb place, we had a great view over Niterói. In the background, we could even see the mountains of Rio de Janeiro.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Sunset
From the rocks at Piratininga beach, we enjoyed the sky turning from blue to different colors when the sun set behind Rio’s mountains.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Sunset
During our week in Niterói, we got to see some fantastic sunsets. The sky turned into many different colors while the sun disappeared behind Rio’s mountains.
Niterói – Pigeons at Piratininga Beach
Some pigeons also enjoyed the Piratininga Beach. 😉 In the background, you can see Rio and even spot its famous Christ statue.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach, on the Rocks
We climbed on some rocks next to the beach to see Niterói in a different and nice perspective.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Sunset
The view you had at Piratininga beach was breathtaking. Sunset time was one of the most beautiful part of the day.
Niterói – Bodyboarding
Not only the waves at Piratininga beach were nice, but also the view and people there.
Niterói – A Happy Bodyboarder
A very happy Tarik after his bodyboard session at Piratininga Beach. 🙂
Niterói – Sunset from the Airbnb Place
From our Airbnb place we could see all the way to Rio. On the left mountain, you can even spot the famous Christ statue.
Itacoatiara – Beach & Mountain
Itacoatiara’s mountain is part of the Serra da Tiririca State Park. It was not an easy climb to the top, but absolutely worth it.
Itacoatiara – Almost on Top
At some point we had to continue climbing barefoot because flip-flops were not the right shoes for this mountain. 😉
Itacoatiara – Serra da Tiririca State Park
The climb was hot and steep, but the amazing views of the Serra da Tiririca State Park made up for it.
Itacoatiara – Mountain Outlook
After we succeeded climbing up the mountain, we were presented with a spectacular view over Niterói. From the top you could see all the way to Rio de Janeiro.
Itacoatiara – Peaceful Moments
The atmosphere on top of the mountain was beautiful and peaceful. A perfect place for some yoga. 🙂
Itacoatiara – Monkey in the Serra da Tiririca State Park
Apart from a stunning view, we also found some cute monkeys on top of the mountain.
Itacoatiara – Finally on Top of the Mountain
After reaching the top of the mountain, we relaxed in the sunshine for a while. I was very grateful that Tarik had brought his Asian hat because the sun was very hot.
Itacoatiara – Windy Wave
Wind blowing over the waves in Itacoatiara gave them a different and cool look.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach
The beach called Piratininga was only a five minute walk from our place. Besides nice waves, it also had a great view of Rio and its mountains.
Itacoatiara – Bodyboarding
Tarik really enjoyed Itacoatiara’s powerful waves. It’s a famous spot because one event of the APB, World Bodyboard Tour, takes place in this location.
Itacoatiara – Enjoying the Sunset at the Beach
Before we left Itacoatiara, we got to see a beautiful sunset.
Niterói – Hammock Chillin’
We enjoyed and chilled in the hammock on our balcony as much as possible.
Niterói – Açaí Bowl
We really love Açaí, a berry with superfood qualities. Mixed with other fruits, sweets and granola, it’s delicious and healthy. So we ate it every day. 😀
Niterói – Breakfast on Our Balcony
We enjoyed many good and healthy meals on our balcony. This was a typical breakfast in the sun: bread, a moroccan way to prepare fried eggs, guacamole, green tea and smoothies with milk, açaí, vanilla ice cream, avocado, mango, banana and lime juice.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Friends
We met and shared a good time with these two friendly Brazilians at the Piratininga beach near our place.
Niterói – Bodyboarding
Bodyboarding is Tarik’s biggest hobby. So he was very happy to catch some Brazilian waves in Piratininga.
Guanabara Bay – On the Bridge to Niterói
Niterói is separated from Rio by the Guanabara Bay and connected by a 9km/5.9mi long bridge. When driving to Niterói, you get an amazing view of the bay and city.
Itacoatiara – Great Views & Great Company
I’m just so happy to finally be able to travel and enjoy nice moments like this together with my boyfriend.
Niterói – Pool with a View
From the pool of our Airbnb place, we had a great view over Niterói. In the background, we could even see the mountains of Rio de Janeiro.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Sunset
From the rocks at Piratininga beach, we enjoyed the sky turning from blue to different colors when the sun set behind Rio’s mountains.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Sunset
During our week in Niterói, we got to see some fantastic sunsets. The sky turned into many different colors while the sun disappeared behind Rio’s mountains.
Niterói – Pigeons at Piratininga Beach
Some pigeons also enjoyed the Piratininga Beach. 😉 In the background, you can see Rio and even spot its famous Christ statue.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach, on the Rocks
We climbed on some rocks next to the beach to see Niterói in a different and nice perspective.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Sunset
The view you had at Piratininga beach was breathtaking. Sunset time was one of the most beautiful part of the day.
Niterói – Bodyboarding
Not only the waves at Piratininga beach were nice, but also the view and people there.
Niterói – A Happy Bodyboarder
A very happy Tarik after his bodyboard session at Piratininga Beach. 🙂
Niterói – Sunset from the Airbnb Place
From our Airbnb place we could see all the way to Rio. On the left mountain, you can even spot the famous Christ statue.
Itacoatiara – Beach & Mountain
Itacoatiara’s mountain is part of the Serra da Tiririca State Park. It was not an easy climb to the top, but absolutely worth it.
Itacoatiara – Almost on Top
At some point we had to continue climbing barefoot because flip-flops were not the right shoes for this mountain. 😉
Itacoatiara – Serra da Tiririca State Park
The climb was hot and steep, but the amazing views of the Serra da Tiririca State Park made up for it.
Itacoatiara – Mountain Outlook
After we succeeded climbing up the mountain, we were presented with a spectacular view over Niterói. From the top you could see all the way to Rio de Janeiro.
Itacoatiara – Peaceful Moments
The atmosphere on top of the mountain was beautiful and peaceful. A perfect place for some yoga. 🙂
Itacoatiara – Monkey in the Serra da Tiririca State Park
Apart from a stunning view, we also found some cute monkeys on top of the mountain.
Itacoatiara – Finally on Top of the Mountain
After reaching the top of the mountain, we relaxed in the sunshine for a while. I was very grateful that Tarik had brought his Asian hat because the sun was very hot.
Itacoatiara – Windy Wave
Wind blowing over the waves in Itacoatiara gave them a different and cool look.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach
The beach called Piratininga was only a five minute walk from our place. Besides nice waves, it also had a great view of Rio and its mountains.
Itacoatiara – Bodyboarding
Tarik really enjoyed Itacoatiara’s powerful waves. It’s a famous spot because one event of the APB, World Bodyboard Tour, takes place in this location.
Itacoatiara – Enjoying the Sunset at the Beach
Before we left Itacoatiara, we got to see a beautiful sunset.
Niterói – Hammock Chillin’
We enjoyed and chilled in the hammock on our balcony as much as possible.
Niterói – Açaí Bowl
We really love Açaí, a berry with superfood qualities. Mixed with other fruits, sweets and granola, it’s delicious and healthy. So we ate it every day. 😀
Niterói – Breakfast on Our Balcony
We enjoyed many good and healthy meals on our balcony. This was a typical breakfast in the sun: bread, a moroccan way to prepare fried eggs, guacamole, green tea and smoothies with milk, açaí, vanilla ice cream, avocado, mango, banana and lime juice.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Friends
We met and shared a good time with these two friendly Brazilians at the Piratininga beach near our place.
Niterói – Bodyboarding
Bodyboarding is Tarik’s biggest hobby. So he was very happy to catch some Brazilian waves in Piratininga.
Guanabara Bay – On the Bridge to Niterói
Niterói is separated from Rio by the Guanabara Bay and connected by a 9km/5.9mi long bridge. When driving to Niterói, you get an amazing view of the bay and city.
Itacoatiara – Great Views & Great Company
I’m just so happy to finally be able to travel and enjoy nice moments like this together with my boyfriend.
Niterói – Pool with a View
From the pool of our Airbnb place, we had a great view over Niterói. In the background, we could even see the mountains of Rio de Janeiro.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Sunset
During our week in Niterói, we got to see some fantastic sunsets. The sky turned into many different colors while the sun disappeared behind Rio’s mountains.
Niterói – Pigeons at Piratininga Beach
Some pigeons also enjoyed the Piratininga Beach. 😉 In the background, you can see Rio and even spot its famous Christ statue.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach, on the Rocks
We climbed on some rocks next to the beach to see Niterói in a different and nice perspective.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Sunset
The view you had at Piratininga beach was breathtaking. Sunset time was one of the most beautiful part of the day.
Niterói – Bodyboarding
Not only the waves at Piratininga beach were nice, but also the view and people there.
Niterói – A Happy Bodyboarder
A very happy Tarik after his bodyboard session at Piratininga Beach. 🙂
Niterói – Sunset from the Airbnb Place
From our Airbnb place we could see all the way to Rio. On the left mountain, you can even spot the famous Christ statue.
Itacoatiara – Beach & Mountain
Itacoatiara’s mountain is part of the Serra da Tiririca State Park. It was not an easy climb to the top, but absolutely worth it.
Itacoatiara – Almost on Top
At some point we had to continue climbing barefoot because flip-flops were not the right shoes for this mountain. 😉
Itacoatiara – Serra da Tiririca State Park
The climb was hot and steep, but the amazing views of the Serra da Tiririca State Park made up for it.
Itacoatiara – Mountain Outlook
After we succeeded climbing up the mountain, we were presented with a spectacular view over Niterói. From the top you could see all the way to Rio de Janeiro.
Itacoatiara – Peaceful Moments
The atmosphere on top of the mountain was beautiful and peaceful. A perfect place for some yoga. 🙂
Itacoatiara – Monkey in the Serra da Tiririca State Park
Apart from a stunning view, we also found some cute monkeys on top of the mountain.
Itacoatiara – Finally on Top of the Mountain
After reaching the top of the mountain, we relaxed in the sunshine for a while. I was very grateful that Tarik had brought his Asian hat because the sun was very hot.
Itacoatiara – Windy Wave
Wind blowing over the waves in Itacoatiara gave them a different and cool look.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach
The beach called Piratininga was only a five minute walk from our place. Besides nice waves, it also had a great view of Rio and its mountains.
Itacoatiara – Enjoying the Sunset at the Beach
Before we left Itacoatiara, we got to see a beautiful sunset.
Niterói – Hammock Chillin’
We enjoyed and chilled in the hammock on our balcony as much as possible.
Niterói – Açaí Bowl
We really love Açaí, a berry with superfood qualities. Mixed with other fruits, sweets and granola, it’s delicious and healthy. So we ate it every day. 😀
Niterói – Breakfast on Our Balcony
We enjoyed many good and healthy meals on our balcony. This was a typical breakfast in the sun: bread, a moroccan way to prepare fried eggs, guacamole, green tea and smoothies with milk, açaí, vanilla ice cream, avocado, mango, banana and lime juice.
Niterói – Piratininga Beach Friends
We met and shared a good time with these two friendly Brazilians at the Piratininga beach near our place.
Niterói – Bodyboarding
Bodyboarding is Tarik’s biggest hobby. So he was very happy to catch some Brazilian waves in Piratininga.
Guanabara Bay – On the Bridge to Niterói
Niterói is separated from Rio by the Guanabara Bay and connected by a 9km/5.9mi long bridge. When driving to Niterói, you get an amazing view of the bay and city.
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