Tag: prices

The border town of Brasiléia is separated from Cobija, Bolivia, by the meandering Rio Acre and Igarapé Bahia. There’s precious little to do here, unless you’re in the market for a computer or DVD player – for that, you can join the crowds crossing into Cobija to take advantage of the lower prices and a duty-free border.

Nestled in the green peaks of Serra da Mantiqueira, 180km northeast of São Paulo, Campos do Jordão is at once a kitsch and rather plain confection. Still, it makes a comfortable base from which to explore the nearby peaks, which are home to some of the last remaining virgin araucária (Paraná pine) forests and proffer spectacular views of the Paraíba valley. There is also a renowned winter classical-music festival in July.

The capital of Bolivia’s Pando department is the wettest spot in Bolivia, with 1770mm of precipitation annually. It is a hilly town on the banks of the Rio Acre, with a pleasant enough plaza but a somewhat gritty atmosphere. Prices in this section are listed in bolivianos (B$), which at the time of research was trading at roughly R$1 to B$4, or US$1 to B$8. That doesn’t mean you’ll need Bolivian money right away, however. In Cobija you can use Brazilian reais to pay for just about everything.

It’s a strange feeling to cross a street and change countries, but you can do just that in Ponta Porã, a bustling little border town divided from the Paraguayan town of Pedro Juan Caballero by Av Internacional. The beer changes from Skol to Pilsen and prices on electronics are slashed – other than that, it’s hard to even notice there is a border here (Portunhol vernacular is rampant). It once prospered as a center for the yerba maté trade in the late 19th century; now it caters to Brazilians by the truckload, who flock to the Paraguayan shopping centers. It’s a get-in, get-out town – if you spend more than one night here, it had better be due to ­hospitalization.

One of the only towns on the Paulista coast that has preserved a portion of its colonial charms, São Sebastião sits on a dramatic channel dividing the mainland from Ilha de São Sebastião (popularly known as ‘Ilhabela’), a 15-minute ferry trip away. Prices are moderate by local standards, but for good reason. There are no beaches at hand, and the town is also a major oil depot, with huge tankers somewhat diminishing the natural beauty. Still, it makes a fine stopover if you’re traveling to Ilhabela or along the coast. And the windy channel is ideal for windsurfing. For information, check out the tourist office (3892 2620, ext 4; Av Doutor Altino Arantes 174; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat & Sun) on the waterfront in the small colonial center of town.