Let’s start talking about Chapada?
I know many of you are expecting this and I, too, really wanna share it.
In fact, I have, for the first time, tried to record everything in video – God only knows what the result was, and soon we’ll have the images here.
I’ll split this subject into different posts, ok? ‘Cause there’s so much to talk about…
So this one, for starters, will be more about what to wear and pack, then we’ll have what to do and where to stay, then where to eat, and, finally, our video travel diary, which I hope goes well.
Are you ready?
Are you coming to Chapada with me?
Let’s go!
This is basically what I wore.
Maybe add a long-sleeved shirt for breakfast, since we woke up very, very early and it was chilly, or to have dinner in the end of the day, since we were there in the middle of winter, in the beginning of August, and the temperatures were lower by sunrise/sunset.
So I was super nice and prepared a first aid guide for those who are going there for the first time! Just thinking of you!
And training sneakers, not the casual, cute sneakers we love but aren’t that comfortable.
Find your best, most comfortable shoes since you’re going to walk like never before, go up and down slippery rocks, go through trails, woods, water, mud (especially if you go in the rainy season) and won’t want to spoil your day because your feet hurt. Or worse, because you cut or sprained your feet.
Not to mention the long trails, which, if you start off on the wrong shoe, you’ll have to finish on it. There’s no way to change it halfway. So believe me when I say it’s REALLY important to have a proper shoe and good socks (I, for example, wore socks that were too short and really regretted it due to the friction between the sneakers and the bare skin. So take all that into consideration!)
As important as choosing the right shoe is choosing the right clothes. As comfortable as possible, ok? Light clothes, that won’t be tight after a while wearing it.
Even some bikinis can be uncomfortable on the neck or the waist or whatever. I prefered to wear one-pieces since the waterfalls are pretty strong and I panicked just to think about lifting from the water without my bikini top (it actually happens. A lot.) I felt it was more comfortable to walk as well.
The days I chose the bikini, I went for a larger top, almost like a sports bra, so I felt more protected.
You just have to manage your priorities.
If you don’t like spending the day on a wet bikini (I don’t care), it’s a good idea to take a spare one to change. If you’re always cold, maybe take a long-sleeved shirt for the end of the day, a lightweight towel to dry your feet getting out of the waterfalls, and so it goes…
Clothes, food, sunscreen, bug repellent, phone charger, water…
Pack wisely!
Very important item! I had the privilege of going with my boyfriend and not having to carry it – he was in charge of walking with the bag on his back. Fair enough!
But, if I were to carry it, I’d rather carry a fanny pack. You know that huge ones? And try to pack as light as possible. Maybe a backpack with really comfortable straps. Because it’s really hot, you’ll be wearing sunscreen and/or bug repellent, sweating, with the sun on your back…
I’d rather have my back free. If there was no way, I’d look for a proper backpack.
The trails are hard, many of them are long for the unskilled like me. So you’ll never have enough water.
You get so thirsty you want to save the water throughout the day.
And in many trails you won’t be able to find anything (not even close) to buy.
Bottom line: always have water on your backpack.
That’s old news, right? We all very aware. I don’t even have to say much about it, right?
If there’s a tip I can share, just my thing, since I hate wearing sunscreen (I just feel so uncomfortable full of lotion, but I had to find the best way to do it since I can’t leave home without it), it’s this: before I put my bathing suit on, I put some 100 SPF, 24-hour, waterproof sunscreen on my entire body. Really entire, no spots uncovered. Then I put the swimsuit on. And go have breakfast. Until the time I leave the hotel it’s already dry. It’s already absorbed by the skin and I leave like nothing happened. Very different from when you put in on and go straight to the sun. If I had to put it on during the hiking, when I’m sweating, I’d be dead by then.
It worked well that way! It’s what I do, so I’m always protected, and never sticky!
We took a B complex pill (even mentioned it on snapchat!) two weeks prior to the trip. You can buy it on the drugstore and take once a day until the day of your trip. You just have to start at least 10 days before you leave (I’m not a doctor, but my dermatologist approved it!) and it really protects you from bug bites.
I’m always eaten by mosquitoes and since I started taking B complex this problem was reduced by 80%. Before going to Bahia, every year, I follow the same ritual. And I did the same with Chapada. It worked so well that we only wore the bug repellent a couple times, just at some specific areas. I was fine without it.
Always carry a strong bug repeller, nonetheless.
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That’s all!
A little bit of everything that’s important for you to make the most of your trip!
I mean, everything that’s mandatory, since, the lightest you pack, the best.
And remember that just the water bottle is pretty heavy!
So save some room and take only the essentials.
Enjoy paradise!
