In the morning we awoke to find our ship anchored off-shore at Ilhabela a beautiful island off the coast of Brazil, but storm clouds were gathering.

Like the other small ports we visited, the tenders were needed to get us ashore:

The island was originally developed as a plantation with sugar cane being grown on the steep hill slopes, an extremely difficult environment for the poor individuals who were forced to work there.

The hills have now reverted to rain forest with some desirable residences for the elite.

Some houses had helicopter landing platforms.

When we reached our destination, the schooner anchored off-shore and we were ferried to the beach in rubber dinghies:

A heron came up close, seemingly unbothered by our presence, more interested in its fresh water delights:

We had a good time on the beach and in the sea. It was sunny, hot and humid, but with some convenient trees providing welcome shade.

Soon after reboarding the schooner, and for most of the journey back to the port, we went through a fierce electrical storm with dazzling close proximity lightening strikes, loud accompaniment, and the evidence that we were well and truly in a “rain” forest area.

We departed Ilhabela that evening, due for a spectacular early-morning entry into “Guanabara Bay” as we approached our next destination: “Rio de Janeiro”.