Weeks 114 & 115 - Santa Catarina Adventures Part 2
- Suzie Prevett
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Our adventures in Santa Catarina continued. It's such a wonderful region of Brazil! We left Bombinhas the long way around, chasing views that promised more than the straight road could offer. The quest for cash became its own adventure with petrol stations demanding £10 for a debit withdrawal and £20 for credit. We laughed it off and kept going, because sometimes the road teaches you that freedom isn’t about convenience.
The main road peeled away, and we followed the coastline toward Governador Celso Ramos. At Mirante, the bay stretched out like a painting; quiet, serene, timeless. Down by the water, fishing boats rested in silence, and for a moment, the world felt still. Yet, not every stretch was perfect; in places, the sea hid behind walls of houses, a reminder that beauty often requires effort to find.
The heat pressed down as we rode toward Florianópolis. The island surprised us. It was a huge city, with wide roads, but that meant reaching 'Ingleses' quickly. A biker warned us about speed cameras with a friendly wave, and I thanked him. Our hotel apartment was a bargain at £13 a night, close to the beach, breakfast included. Life felt good, even as Kelvin’s bike roared louder with an exhaust gasket gone. We walked to the beach, busy under the Sunday sun, and booked three extra nights to sort things out.
Morning brought breakfast at a restaurant on the sand, waves shimmering under the rising sun. People strolled along the shore, and for a moment, it felt like we belonged to this rhythm. Moving to a third-floor apartment gave us a view of the bikes so we could keep a watchful eye. Later, we wrestled with Kelvin’s exhaust, bent racks, cracked brackets...problems that tested patience but reminded us why resilience matters. Mosquitos drove us inside at dusk, and pizza became our reward.
The next day was all about the bikes: oil checks, chain adjustments, brake pads (mine worn down to metal, a first!). Plans formed for Thursday: a bank holiday ride before the weather turned.
Sergio’s recommendation led us to Urubici, and a biker hostel called Motogaragem. The vibe was electric with bikers swapping stories, sticker exchanges, and lots of coffee. Luciano and Nathalia, a Brazilian couple on a GS two-up, became our companions for the next day’s ride.
The ride was magic. Corvo Branco greeted us with sharp corners and a bike in every nook and cranny available. Posto Serra Azul, the retro gas station, buzzed with Harley riders, and we went for a quick mooch around before heading off.
São Joaquim National Park offered muddy trails and solitude, where I almost dropped the bike, but grinned through it. It was such a beautiful dirt road ride, and we hadn't expected to get to venture in this area, or go off-road again, but it was fantastic. Cascata da Barrinha’s waterfall roared nearby, and Serra do Rio do Rastro unfolded like a ribbon of dreams.
This is an area VERY popular with bikers, and we could quickly see why. The views were incredible and there was also a huge biker cafe next to the river just up the road to chill out after a ride of switchback after switchback.
It had been a great mini adventure, and despite the 'off-road' Luciano had taken us on (he does the GS Trophy so knows the off-road area well) Kelvin's shock had survived! We bid farewell to Luciano and Nathalia and by evening, we reached the coast and a humble hostel near the sea, Pousada Itapeva. Two nights of peace, beach walks, fishermen at dusk, and the simple joy of cheap comfort.
From there, Canela called. Itaimbezinho Canyon tested us with heat but rewarded us with views that stole breath. Canela itself felt like a fairytale; touristy, almost Disneylandesque, but charming in its own way. Then came Rio Grande, where the temperature dropped and the ride stretched long. Two nights at Pousada del Mar, cooking our own meals, and then, freedom on the sand, riding along the longest beach in the world, bikes carving lines into eternity, before heading toward the border.
What the Road Has Taught Us So Far...
Our Brazil journey, and the whole of our South American travels thus far, wasn’t just about places, it was about persistence, connection, and the quiet triumphs that come when you keep moving forward. From cracked brackets to canyon views, from strangers’ kindness to shared laughter, every mile reminded us: adventure isn’t perfect, but it’s always worth it!
As our plans for the 'Overland Event' loomed, where we'd have our bikes on display, and our story shared (gulp...not fans of public speaking), the road whispered its continuing lesson: Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s riding on despite it.
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