Explore The Wonders Of Latin America’s East Coast

Green Toad’s Into Brazil Hop takes you from the Argentina’s cosmopolitan centre Buenos Aires, up to the border Iguazu Falls, before exploring the jewels of South Brazil and finishing off at the verdant jungle island – Ilha Grande.

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and a hub of Latin American urban culture. The city is brimming with life and the evenings see the streets come alive with people taking advantage of the live music, and its bustling restaurant and bar scene. The city is the birthplace of the tango dance and a Mecca for carnivores seeking the city’s world-renowned culinary talent for steaks.

After exploring all the rich metropolis has to offer, hop back on the Green Toad and cross the border into Brazil. This particular frontier crossing is made all the more monumental as a spectacular series of waterfalls physically carve up the border between the two countries. Enjoy a full day exploring the waterfalls and bask in the baking heat. The experience is made all the more enchanting by the stunning forestry setting that is teeming with unique and rare wildlife, not to mention the thousands of colourful butterflies. The mist created by the crashing water reflects the hot sun and creates rainbow spectrums that make this destination a paradise.

The bus route then ventures further north to the Southern Brazilian island of Florianopolis that boasts a staggering 42 beaches.  The city has a relaxed beach-side vibe, and islanders are friendly and accommodating – owing to the stunning surrounds that they are lucky enough to call home. The island’s multitude of beaches, waterfalls and lagoons make it a haven for lovers of water sports.

The next stop north of Florianopolis that the Green Toad journeys to is Sao Paolo. Sao Paulo is a sprawling urban jungle that is home to an astonishing 20 million citizens. Its sheer size and monstrous concrete architecture is an intimidating sight at first, but the city is a fascinating hub of culture and art with a dizzying array of museums and galleries. By night, the city comes alive with its notorious 24 hour night-life scene.

After exploring Sao Paulo, the Green Toad bus takes you to Paraty – a charming coastal town in the South of Brazil. The main tourist draws to Paraty are its plethora of colourful, colonial buildings, enchantingly irregular cobbled streets and of course the surrounding serene beaches that you can explore on board a day boat cruise. The town is relatively untouched by the tourist trail and maintains its rustic appeal, adding to Paraty’s time-capsule feel.

After Paraty, the next stop on the Green Toad Bus takes you to Ilha Grande, a tropical island just south of Rio de Janeiro. The island is a paradise jungle retreat that is inhabited by unique plants and rare wildlife. The landscape is rugged and hilly and makes for some fantastic hikes that take trekkers up through the shrubbery to incredible vistas of the island’s hidden coves and bays.

The island is blessed with pristine, still waters on its western coast that are sheltered from the might of the Atlantic Ocean. Coupled with its rocky reef that fringes the island, the West of the island is the perfect spot for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Discover more about these locations explored by the Green Toad Bus at www.greentoadbus.com and book your seat on the Into Brazil bus for just US$525.

By Oonagh Turner