Fishing is the Castelhanos caiçara community’s main economic activity, so they dedicate several hours each day to weaving and maintaining their nets that are spread on the beach sand, awaiting adequate treatment in order for them to be used again.
The fishnet workshops are run by artisan fishermen who make and prepare the fishnets to carry out their traditional fishing activities. They are conducted outdoors, amidst the canoes and trees that compose the scenery of Castelhanos Beach. On rainy days the workshop is carried out in a local boathouse. Visitors are invited to learn how to weave an authentic fishnet and understand the different types of fishnets, the art of fishing and its characteristics.
We shall discover the differences between Floating Fishnets, Bottom Fishnets and Floating Enclosure Fishnets, all commonly utilized by the local fishermen. At the end of the workshop, visitors may keep the fishnet they made, in addition to the feeling of having indulged in a unique experience.
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Duration - 3 hours
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Meeting Point – in front of Rancho da Lagoa
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Important Information – on rainy days the workshop shall be held in Rancho da
Lagoa; on sunny days outdoors.
FISHNET WORKSHOP
BASKET WEAVING WORKSHOP
The traditional fishing community “caiçara’s” craftsmanship is characterized by the use of available natural resources like bamboo, wood and local seeds for the production of artifacts utilized for fishing, decoration and utilitarian objects. In our
workshop we shall learn all about making baskets and hampers, where commonly ‘taquaruçu’, a kind of local bamboo, is used. The handicrafts are made starting from a base previously prepared by the fisherman. All the steps shall be explained and
followed through.
During the course of the workshop shall be explained the manner in which the natural resources are extracted for weaving a basket and to which use each object produced is destined. Each visitor may keep the basket made there in memory of
this rich experience.
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Duration - 2 hours
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Meeting Point - Canto do Ribeirão beach beside the kiosk
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Important information – the workshop shall be held on the veranda of the Mr. Bina who conducts the workshop, at Canto do Ribeirão.
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Duration – 40/50 minutes
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Meeting Point - On Canto do Ribeirão beach beside the kiosk
CONVERSATION GROUP
Celeste and Otávio are opening their home to receive people to tell them tales of ancient times. They shall take us on a veritable trip back in time, where we shall discover remarkable facts about the history of Castelhanos and of Ilhabela too that occurred there. It is almost incredible for us to try to imagine all the events that amidst these very same natural surroundings happened, which; preserved by the traditional community, continue being a truly live scenario where parts of the “caiçara” history unfolded.
Celeste and Otávio’s home is our time machine. There, inside, we are transported to the past, in one of the very first houses in the community, back then built by Otávio’s dad and that maintains its original structure; hard-packed earthen floor and the traditional wood fire stove.
The sand scoured shiny pots and pans show Celeste’s dedication. The smoke from the wood fire stove and smell of the coffee brewed there lull our conversation. The calm and serene voices, a registered brand mark of those who live in harmony and attuned to this paradise, conduct us through this history of the “caiçara” identity.
Otávio’s liveliness shows us the connection of the “caiçaras” with their territory, the transformations, adaptations and their resistance to maintain themselves over all these years.
A conversation where we embark into tantalizing history, which has no ending, and for which you are helping to write a new chapter!
Reservations - via Reservation Center
Cancellation conditions – in case meteorological conditions do not allow access to
Castelhanos Bay, the cancelation policy shall be applied.
Restriction – none
Minimum age indicated - 10 years of age
What to bring – sunscreen, bug repellant, water and hat
Number of people - 1 to 6
Breakfast and lunch may be offered on this itinerary upon request and subsequent confirmation. The menu shall be available upon request and the ingredients are subject to seasonality. Meals are not included in the price of the itinerary.