Dear readers, happy new year! I must
confess I was a bit hesitant to write you about this jewel, introduced to me by
a dear friend. You know when you find out about something so marvelous that you
feel you must preserve?, but I trust you, let us together take care of this crown
jewel of this kingdom of natural beauties located in.. Rivera!. You must already have
heard about Valle del Lunarejo, the place turned into a national tourist
attraction attracting visitors from the most diverse nationalities, it obtained
infrastructure and is the perfect scenery for unforgettable moments.
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| Clear water, with a river bed made up by pebbles. |
Located 75km (46 miles) from downtown
Rivera, about an hour trip, with a perfect road up to the friendly town of
Tranqueras, where we toured before we continued to our destination. From Tranqueras
onward, the road is being paved, some segments are being paved whilst others
are still waiting for it to happen, but everything is flat, hole free, better
than Andradas (Santana do Livramento’s main street). Once inside the
environmental reserve area of the valley, there are segments with some loose
stones, just a bit, just so you can make sure you are in the countryside. The
road is very well signposted, the place is very clean, everyone looks after it,
it seems like a place for joyful people. Recently a visitor center has been
inaugurated, a beautiful and modern place. It`s a pleasure to see tourism made
with professionalism.
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There are many options to explore the
valley, you can go to the pioneer Posada del Lunarejo, with its emblematic
yellow building, it’ll make you feel as if you were in a farm with the amenities
of being in a hotel. Absolute comfort in every season, full board, delicious
meals, costing 2.000 Uruguayan pesos per day, nowadays, about R$220,00 (70USD) per
person. You
can find details here. It is also possible to
take advantage of Arroyo Lunarejo in the public area, going past the inn you
can see a bridge that gets filled with birds by sunset, a few meters ahead
there’s a bifurcation: the public area where you can bathe in the river, to the
left, and to the right, this hidden, up to now, and spectacular place.
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| El Caudillo establishment |
What a fantastic place, and think about
great hosts. Back in the day only those who had friends that owned a farm could
afford to visit the countryside, thanks to the rural tourism professionalization
in our border, now you can access these private paradises and become friends
with the owners, that in this case are deeply charismatic. Hardworking people, who
live their daily routine in the countryside and strive to receive people the
best they can. There are many attractions in El Caudillo, behind the
headquarters of the rural establishment there`s a more than 300 meters (984
feet) tall hill, much higher than the average ones you can find in Livramento, it
is possible to take a guided tour through the hill, for 250 Uruguayan pesos
(about 9 USD). The entrance to the clean and very private camping is
away from the farmhouse, very organized, structured, with running water and
electricity, bathroom with showers, a place to barbecue, tables and benches,
inside and enchanted forest and the best access to the river... 200 Uruguayan pesos
(about 7 USD)!
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| Two steps away from paradise! |
Whoever wishes to stay in the farmhouse
has full board, rooms with air conditioning and access to all the attractions
the place has for 1.800 Uruguayan pesos (about 64 USD) a day, and the cordial
treatment of the owners is really a differential, people who shake your hand vigorously
and warm your soul, hugs you tightly and is happy to have you over. The story
about how they “bought the hill” is great and they love to tell it. There it is
possible to sightsee many native animals, such as the puma, our Leão Baio, that
populate those blessed lands. You can find more information and get in touch
with the owners through their personal Facebook page, using this link.
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| Words aren`t enough, you have to live this experience |
I always say, what makes a moment
special is who you are accompanied by, and I can barely believe how lucky I am
to have fascinating people in my life that look after me with such fondness,
great care and loveliness. Our trip had a thousand songs and stories, we got
jammed in the mud when we miscalculated the route by 2 meters, we caught wind,
we felt the sun in our skin, rain water, the river, fresh air and the presence
of something greater that always puts things in the right places and makes them
happen when they have to, everything has a reason to be. I wish that you, dear
readers, live the Valle del Lunarejo experience, but I wish more than anything
that you live a true friendship. If you could join the two experiences together
you will feel that enormous gratitude that overflows and already makes 2017 a
very happy year!
Hugs,
Fernanda
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| Lunarejo wait for me, I'll be back! |
Traduzido por: Miguel Martinez
Matéria publicada originalmente em português, dia 02 de janeiro de 2017, neste blog.
