We set off from Sao Paulo on the 24th February and took the Rio-Santos highway up the coast and through the Serra da Mantiqueira (mountains) to Caraguatatuba, a medium-sized beach town on the northern Sao Paulo State coast. The journey took us about 3 hours and with Rosanas’s mum doing the driving, we could sit back and take in the view.
Rosana’s family have a small apartment just outside Caragua in a place called Massaguacu. They have been coming here (to escape the city for the beach) for the past 20 or so years. Massaguacu is a pretty low-key place with a few small supermarkets, apartment blocks and a surfboard shaping house, amongst other things. The apartment itself is situated on top of a hill (morro) with a view over the sea. Unfortunately there is no surfing here in Massaguacu, as the waves break directly on the shore, but you can get an idea if there is a wave to be had up the coast in neighbouring Lagoinha (small lake) if any swell lines are showing.
Our first evening was spent relaxing, having some food and playing cards.
