From the city to dusty roads

Hey RoadStars, this time we're in a city that seems to have sprung up out of nowhere: Brasília. On 21 April 1960 it was inaugurated by President Juscelino Kubitschek with the aim of promoting the development of the country's interior. Since then it has been the capital of Brazil.

The planned city on the central plateau, the Planalto Central, is considered a milestone of modern architecture. Designed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, its layout resembles an airplane. 

The city is laid out so generously that we can move around easily with the Axor. We make the most of our time in Brasília: we organise our visa, have the truck serviced, get a new child seat and service and repair the air conditioning in the superstructure.

We want to head further inland, into one of the hottest regions, where it can reach up to 35 °C even in 'winter'. 

In the end it takes a whole month before we move on. That makes us enjoy our first overnight spot on the road all the more. With its fantastic view over an endlessly green valley, it is a real contrast to the city. The next morning an encounter gives us a brief scare: a large snake slithers very close past us. Luckily it turns out to be a false alarm. It’s only a large slow worm, about 70 cm long. 

We continue over dusty tracks through the Cerrado. After a few days we reach our first destination: the Terra Ronca cave, which is part of one of the largest cave systems in South America. Again and again we see bright blue hyacinth macaws. Usually we hear them before we see them, and each time it's a special moment.

At a picture-perfect river in the middle of nowhere we take a break. We enjoy the chance to cool off – and of course there's some grilling, too.