WAY COOL VIEWS FROM A HOT AIR BALLOON

According to Lupércio Lima, the best Brazilian ranked in the International Aviation Federation, placed third in the World Hot Air Balloon Championship, Boituva (SP) is the best destination for beginners.

Pirenópolis, in Goiás, suits better advanced balloonists.

BEGINNER

Boituva (Sao Paulo)

Brazilian ballooning HQ has a good number of instructors and balloons available, constant winds - despite being a flat ground - and many landing areas.

To help you engage in the sport, the town of Rio Claro (100 km away from Boituva) hosts several ballooning events and championships.

BEST TIME dry season (from April to October), but it can be practised all year-round

FROM US$ 120 per person

WHO TAKES YOU Chico do Balão: (+55 15) 98134-4365; Aeromagic: (+55 11) 2684-1206; Escola Brasileira de Balonismo: (+55 11) 2894-5380

PACKAGE two nights US$ 407; includes breakfast, ballooning and tandem skydiving. Meu Mundo Viagens: (+55 11) 5041-3962.

ADVANCED

Pirenópolis (Goiás)

The city's flat ground is surrounded by the Pirineus Hills that provides good wind conditions with large variations.

It increases steer ability and gives the pilot better conditions to manoeuvre. It also provides a good number of landing areas. The flights can go as far as Brasilia and Chapada dos Veadeiros

BEST TIME all year-round

FROM US$ 200 per person

WHO TAKES YOU BlueSky: (+55 62) 3142-9040

PACKAGE two nights in a double room during the weekend at Suprema B&B US$ 140. Breakfast included. Reservations: (+55 62) 3331-3360; POUSADA SUPREMA

Excerpts by GUSTAVO SIMON from FOLHA DE SAO PAULO

SOME INFO ON BALLOONING (in Portuguese)

Are you into esoteric subjects?

Central Brazil is said to have a very intense energy. UFOs sightings are repeatedly reported here. The location of the capital of the country, Brasilia, has allegedly been chosen by the site´s unique vibrations. I have personally been to the town of Alto Paraiso de Goiás, some 230 km off north Brasilia and can testify of its natural beauties - it is in the National Park of Chapada dos Veadeiros - lots of waterfalls, brooks, lunar landscape, crystals, anyway, a must see for both believers and non-believers.
The following blog is a very comprehensive and updated one of the place and its events - you may even be looking for a nice place to spend New Year´s Eve far from the cold: http://altoparaisodegoias.blogspot.com/
http://ficaflordeouro.blogspot.com/  and http://flordeourovidanatural.blogspot.com/

Surfkiting

If this makes your blood run faster, then you ought to try it!