2025 Cabo Frio Brazil

Our first port of call on our Atlantic Crossing was Cabo Frio.

Cabo Frio was a very short overnight transit from Rio de Janeiro. It gets its name from the fact that the water in Cabo Frio is cooler than in Rio, Frio means cold in Portuguese.

As Cabo Frio is a small town so there isn’t a wharf big enough for us to dock, which meant we had to transfer via ships tenders. This would be our only tender port of the cruise.

There were not too many options tour wise so the best option was to wander around the town.

A nice place to wander around.

Bikes

Sculpture of Otólia Fernandes da Silva

Otólia Fernandes da Silva, from Arraial do Cabo, was known for her craftsmanship. Every day she walked the beach to Cabo Frio to sell her lacework and welcomed everyone who sought her out. Otólia worked tirelessly, often at night and in the afternoon whilst singing old songs and smoking a pipe.

Her dedication to the art of bobbin lace and embroidery is celebrated as one of the richest manifestations of local culture. In her honor, the Municipal Council of Arraial do Cabo established September 2 as “Women’s Day of Cabista Rendeira”. She is also remembered as a warrior woman.

Arcos do Canal

Whilst we were wandering around Cabo Frio I spied this place, Arcos do Canal, and thought it would be a good spot for lunch. Check out the menu.

And I was right. They even opened early for us and served us drinks whilst we waited for the kitchen to open. We had hoped to eat up on the balcony with the fish tank, but unfortunately the balcony is a bit too narrow for a group. Though great for couples.

Lunch

For lunch I chose the prawn banana curry with gnocchi. Banana Gnocchi of the Earth, with shrimps, coconut milk and curry. It was excellent, one the best dishes I had on this trip.

As it was a very hot day thought I would try something refreshing a Soda de Cranberry, monin de cranberry, orange juice and soda water.

Arcos do Canal is definitely a place I would recommend in Cabo Frio, worth the drive from Rio!

Cabo Frio Canal

Cabo Frio Return Transfer

Unique Cabo Frio

A bit of Oz’s Useless Trivia.

When this part of the world was being explored in the early 1500’s they found that the waters around Cabo Frio (Cape Cold) we unusually cold. This caused by what is called upwelling, where the cold water comes from depths of the Atlantic and can be around 8C (46F) cooler. This is one of the reasons why people from Rio visit Cabo Frio, they enjoy the colder water.

I tried to get a photo of the two different temperature effects on the water, but being on a tender blocked the view.

The darker water is the cooler water.

The warmer water is usually brighter in colour. On the day we were there the most beach activity was one where the warmer water was.

RSS Splendor