Praia Sao Tiago

Nestled in the heart of Santa Catarina, amid scenery that feels like a postcard designed by time itself, awaits a curious collection of African ancient rock drawings. Forget stuffy museums-this is art history with dust on your boots and sun in your eyes, a spectacular gallery carved by prehistoric humans who cunningly chose remote stone canvases instead of Instagram walls. Early morning or late afternoon visits make the carvings leap dramatically from the rock faces, their shapes illuminated in golden half-light like some timeless graffiti tagging by our ancestors. Pack sturdy walking shoes, sunscreen, water, and leave your expectations of perfectly manicured pathways behind-this experience involves scrambling over boulders and channeling your inner Indiana Jones, minus the whip. Plan at least a few days ahead, budget roughly $15-$25 for a local guide who knows the stories behind those etched elephants and enigmatic stick figures better than Google ever could. Sure, they're just carvings-quiet scratches of prehistoric dreams lingering in volcanic stone-but standing before them feels oddly profound, a reminder that no matter how modern we think we are, humans have always felt compelled to declare, "I was here." And trust me, it's worth it: not just for the history, not just for the scenery, but for the smug satisfaction of casually telling friends about the afternoon you spent deciphering thousand-year-old emojis carved by Santa Catarina's first influencers.

Hiking Pico de Antonia, the highest point on Santiago Island, is less your standard leisurely stroll and more of an enthusiastic negotiation with the forces of gravity, heat, and your questionable cardio routine. Rising abruptly from the rolling hills of Sao Domingos, this peak is named after the formidable Dona Antonia, a local landowner rumored to have carried on business dealings with the blunt force charm of a mob boss-giving new appreciation to your increasingly strained ascent. Start your climb early-ideally at sunrise-to dodge the midday microwaving that turns hikers into crispy human bacon. Budget about four leisurely yet sweaty hours round-trip, pack plenty of water, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and a snack robust enough to soothe your inevitable mid-hike existential crisis. Aim to plan at least a day ahead, securing a guide if you're fond of not wandering aimlessly into goat paths and prickly shrubs. Expect to spend around $30-$50 if you hire a local guide (which, trust me, you'll want when bargaining with the elements). Ultimately, tackling Pico de Antonia is worth every blister and curse-filled breath, if only for the smug satisfaction and the bragging rights-it's the kind of hike you suffer through proudly today to exaggerate shamelessly tomorrow.