Alto de Chao, Day 12

We were introduced to a wholly different style of travelling today. A style based around spending as little as possible, as well as travelling in a much bigger group. Essentially we have tagged onto Renaud's group (the French guy we became good friends with on the boat). As I write we are starting our attempt to hitch-hike acorss Northern Brazil to Sao Luis - a fair long journey of around 1500 miles.

We started the day with a long walk through Santarem in the stifling morning sun. After a couple of visits to Tourist Informations and a travel agency it became clear that a comfortable passage to Belem or Sao Luis was way out of everybody's price range. Renaud suggested hitch-hiking with trucks but only after visiting the highly reputed beached of Alto de Chao.

Even in the high river season, when a lot of the glorious white sand beaches are submerged, Alto de Chao is a stunning place. Elegant beaches almost purposefully placed to exploit the various alcoves and backdrops that the Amazon jungle offers are dotted around. The water is warm and everywhere you look the view becalms, soaking the sun's constant rays and basking in the luxury of the place. We had planned to stay a few days here but leaving early was no great hardship; companionship is the most crucial thing on this trip.

On the bus home we bade farewell to the five Spanish people who had chosen to fly on. Hopefully we'll see them again. Now we are settling into the slow-moving groove of hitching. I figured it might get tough so bought a cheap bottle of rum, for three reals (just over a pound). First place we went to was wrong, had to get another bus to a sort of depot. Looks like we're going to stay the night here, lucky I bought that rum before.