Thirteen Years of providing people all the happiness they need when they travel, many years going to so many different places in Brazil, starting from Rio to the most hidden corners of Maranhão. Showing all faces of Brazil; taking care of every detail, lots of planning, lots of writing; all this has on prize: WONDERFUL FRIENDS EVERYWHERE!!! When your work is simply joy and pleasure you realize that it is not work. So when you choose myself to be your tour guide in Rio you can be sure that I will not be " a regular tour guide"; you will meet a very old friend only.
No, no, no....You are really reading about your potential trip to Rio...It is not a theater play which you are going to watch, but be sure that in some point you will be a character; you will be part of so many and diverse brazilian stories. When you come under my hands you will have to leave your shyness behind. I use a lot of improvisation in the tours, so everything is possible, be prepared!
Beautiful sceneries, different locations when you simply choose Rio to visit; you will realize that Rio is not only Copacabana or Ipanema, Rio is much more...so be prepared to the surprises, open your heart to experience and you will be convinced that YOU REALLY HAVE BEEN TO RIO, you had a real Brazilian Experience. From Ilha Grande with Nancy and Phil (you are always in my heart, folks!) and showing my hometown in Niteroi which is the highlight of so many tours, you will find RAFA, your friend, your very distant relative; so all my guests are my cousins!
This is it...This wonderful work produces FRIENDS...this lovely mission allows me to create wonderful memories in your life. Each person I welcome gives me a personal story and I learn a lot and you will have the best of me every time you come to Rio. Thanks also to the people that work with me, all of them...a tour in Rio is not only a tour...it is a dream in Rio.
Okay....nice to meet you, my name is Rafael, but everyone calls me RAFA, the tour guide who will tell you a lot about Brazil, a lot about Rio; the tour guide who will be always wishing to be your best friend in South America. I am proud and honored of my work here and the only thing that I can give to you when you come to visit us, is my total passion for life and for my land! Happy travels, Rafael Torres Lopes Tour Guide and Travel Planner
My thanks go to Nancy, my dear friend in California (who is now wondering around WITH STYLE somewhere in Europe) who suggested my super new friend Nina who trusted her clan in their first adventure in Brazil. I got the challenge and now I am a member of a very funny family in Baltimore...Once in my land, you are always part of it so let's explore all the place...And I simply decided that they would see everything...And we closed our BRAZILIAN BOOK OF ADVENTURES in a wonderful destination: THE MAGNIFICENT ILHA GRANDE.... And there we went...Always with the shining company of MRS. COLORADO, Nina and her brothers John and Charlie. and the great friends of mine Mama Tracy and PAPA ADVENTURE, Peter...Simply wonderful folks.
It is possible to spend just one day in the island...and we did the best way...we rent a speed boat, prices varies between 300 USD and 400 USD, it takes a lot of negotiation, but the result is always amazing. We could explore unique points of the island, and I choose the main points of Ilha Grande to provide a super local experience in this Paradise. We did some snorkel in the Blue Lagoon, Green Lagoon, we saw the beach of Arepeba and we had a perfect lunch in a authentic restaurant in the village of Saco do Céu. The day was so complete and so unique, lots of laughs, lots of joy and we simply had a fantastic time!!!
We had a glorious lunch...I was thinking about a very special place that much more than eating, it could be a life experience. I have been to this restaurant four times and I love the village where it is located...it is a place where time has no rush. The name has everything to do with the calm and quietness of the village...It is called REFUGIO (literally SHELTER). We saw the houses, we had fun with the farm animals...such as geese (which is also a very naughty "brazilian expression" - let me know if you want me to tell you the meaning...but in portuguese it is AFOGAR O GANSO....John and the folks know the meaning.... Anyway...Peter, Tracy, John, Charlie and Nina...the first one who contacted me...thank you Nina. The menu was diverse, I had to order the best of the Caiçara Food...shrimps from the lagoons; and local fish...in our case we had SHARKS FILLET; and the famous BOBÓ DE CAMARÃO...a cream made with Yuca, brazilian seasonings and generous piece of shrimps; and I also ordered a homemade risotto and some exquisite brazilian sodas like Guaraná. After our super big lunch we had a well deserved lunch and we appreciated the environment which is super lush and full of birds.
Nothing would be possible without Peter's support!!! Great friend, all fed with World Culture and great sense of humor...When you come to the island, I highly suggest you to rent a boat, I can take care of all the details. Thanks to the boat and our Captain Aluizio. Mama Tracy was the face of happiness during our day!!! Thank you, my dear Family for all the friendship and all the friendship!
Ilha Grande can be visited in one day, it will give you an idea of one of the most beautiful places in Brazil; but two days would be incredible and I would spend the whole week there. You should always add Ilha Grande in your itinerary. I will be more than happier to assist you. Rafael Torres Lopes Tour Guide and Travel Planner
Dear Reader, this is how I feel and this is how I am, sometimes a mix of vietnamese and senegalese...one time thoughtful in Santa Tereza, another time smiley just to be in Niteroi and always in love with life and with Rio. Rio is a source of energy; Rio is in many times the explanation of my own existance. Rio is home and office. Thanks Rio, you are part of my life!
Happy to take my guests to places that they would never imagine; glad to make my visitors feeling part of our daily life, experiencing the place not only sightseeing obvious places; it is wonderful when you are part of people's life. This is what I do here.
Places where Rio is slightly simple and magical, places that will remain in the best stories of your life, some spots where just a real friend would take you. Hours that will seem like second to pass because you are simply having fun.
If you are thinking about coming to Brazil, Rio is a fantastic start...and in Rio you will have someone to show you all the secrets, I am super in the mood to do it...I know you are looking for a tour guide, well, I am a tour guide, but you know, I prefer being your friend or distant cousin here. Rio opens the door and I open my arms.... And this is the result: I thank Rio for all my inspiration in life, I thank Rio to give me so many wonderful moments. It is ground, it is my hood. I am also very grateful to all my guests and future visitors. Rafael Torres Lopes Tour Guide and Travel Planner
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