The wild storm from last night cooled up the air and I could tell it was not a “beach day”, the weather was inviting my adventurous spirit to get lost in the wilderness inside the jungle. I was curious what could be hiding there …
I arrived in the entrance gate of Lagoa do Peri after 4 different car rides. I changed my mind about the destination several times and somehow the luck brought me here. I set on a path to get far away from screaming crowds of people who were enjoying Saturday afternoon at the lakeside.
Soon their humming silenced and I could enjoy the lush green forest surrounding the lake with occasional view of the lake and a boat swinging on the water.
Only a few houses stand in this remote place and I managed to ask for directions to a waterfall in my portuñol. It didn’t take too long to arrive to the start of the trek, a place where I got swallowed by the jungle at least for a couple of hours.
I started walking down a tiny path that led me over tree roots, stones and boulders …
… and mud that stuck on my feet and made it slippery, impossible to walk in my flip-flops. But then I came across a natural water creek running down the hill that helped me wash myself and refresh at the same time. Those creaks all found its way to the calm welcoming water of Lagoa do Peri lake. Its shore was lined by huge trees covered with moss and tropical plants, completely untouched by the human hand.
I continued walking that tiny path, completely disconnected from the outside world …
… and the jungle sounds of the jungle promised an upcoming rain and I was happy to walk hidden under the canopy of its huge leaves.
After about an hour and a half I reached the waterfall and also the end of the trail. If I were to listen to these signs, I would have never discovered the real jewel, hidden above the cascading falls. So I listened to my calling that led me over the boulders and water running in different directions …
… and there it was, behind that rock, a beautiful waterfall, just strong enough to give a pleasant, natural massage, with a pool, just big enough to refresh myself in it after a long walk.
Practical info:
Difficulty level: Easy/medium, but get prepared for a 3 – 4 hour walk.
To take with: Good hiking shoes make walking easier but the hike can be done in flip-flops. Swim suit, repellent perhaps. No white clothes, get ready to face some mud. 🙂
How to get there: Any bus or a car lift (in Portuguese called “carona”) heading towards south-eastern part of the Santa Catarina island, the entrance to the park is near Praia Armação.
Other treks in the area: Barra da Lagoa – Praia da Galheta, Stormy night at Lagoinha do Leste, Praia da Lagoinha do Leste, Trilha para Costa da Lagoa, From Santinho to Moçambique beach, The Trail of Three Secret Beaches, Barefoot walk to Naufragados.