Ilha do Mel, Brazil

Ilha do Mel is a short boat ride from Paranagua, a few hours up the coast from Florianopolis and about 6 hours south of Sao Paulo.

No cars are allowed on the island, so transport is by walking, (no harm after all the lazing around!).

Men with little carts meet the boats at the dock to help with luggage, but our hotel was conveniently located just a few hundred yards along the beach.

The weather was atrocious though, thunder storms and torrential rain and the whole island seemed to be about to sink!

With Carnival celebrations only a few days away the locals were starting to panic. Thankfully it took a turn for the better after a few days so we were able to see what the place is really like.

Absolutely beautiful! Carnival celebrations are still in full swing, beach parties, samba, and pathways through forests lead to cute little bars with reggae bands playing til the wee hours but the great thing is that the island only allow 5,000 visitors maximum so it doesn´t get too packed.

A fabulous place to just chill out and watch the boats go by..oh and Conor made his first attempts at surfing, I watched from the shore!