A weekend adventure between Morungaba and Amparo

This weekend I didn’t go on a big trip, but I definitely lived a big adventure. It all happened in a rural area between Morungaba and Amparo, two towns in the region where I live. And once again, it was all thanks to something that biking has brought back into my life, the feeling of freedom and the reconnection with my teenage self who used to love doing exactly this.

Today I want to tell you about a route that’s pretty well known around here. Actually, this whole region is full of trails that are perfect for cycling. And this past weekend I decided to take on one of the most famous, the K2 trail. It’s known for its steep inclines, high elevation, and countless, endless, infinite climbs.

Our adventure started with a car ride out to the rural area of Morungaba, where we parked and hopped on our bikes.

Despite studying the trail on Wikiloc for days, we ended up starting the circular route from the wrong side. Instead of beginning at the “start,” we began at the “finish,” which was very close by. So instead of descending K2, we ended up climbing it by bike.

Let me tell you, it took me a full hour to climb that hill, probably because of my not-so-stellar pace. But once we reached the top and saw the view, I knew it was worth it. Not just for the scenery, but for the feeling of overcoming a personal and physical challenge. That part was priceless.

We continued toward the Areia Branca trail, riding past farms, private estates, and rural properties. This stretch was totally new to me, which made me extra excited, discovering new places on a bike is one of my favorite things. At that point, I was convinced this was one of the most beautiful trails I had ever done.

Eventually we took a wrong turn again. I was so thrilled by everything around me that I lost track of the map and missed the entrance to the next trail. In reality, the mistake traced back to the very beginning when we started the loop in reverse, but I didn’t realize that until much later.

From the Areia Branca trail we picked up the Globo Rural trail and stopped for lunch. After our break it was supposed to be mostly downhill from there. And it was, aside from a few small climbs, nothing compared to the K2 monster from earlier.

That chapel is located in the Areia Branca district, and I was enchanted to see the year “1925” engraved on its façade. It's been standing there for exactly one hundred years, and there’s something truly moving about its quiet presence over a century of history.

The descent was magical. We were still full of energy and the landscapes were jaw-dropping. One that really caught my eye was a forest with rows of identical trees and a lovely farmhouse by a lake with a little chapel. But we missed the trail that led directly to our parked car, ironically it was right in front of that lake.

We ended up riding all the way to a road that connects Amparo and Morungaba and had to cycle back through the city center to get to the car. I’ll admit I was a bit frustrated at the time for having gone so off-course, but now I can laugh about it. It made for a great story, a solid workout, and the joy of discovering new places.