Brazil
Beautiful and Diverse
A 29-day adventure in this South American giant, a truly diverse country. Experience this beautiful melting pot; be swayed by the music in the air, the rhythm of the local dances and colourful festivals. Enjoy the diverse cuisine, which draws flavours from a myriad of ethnic groups, and come ready to make new friends, as the Brazilians’ gregarious nature is sure to leave a lasting impression. Travel through spectacular, varied scenery including the eco-friendly, island paradise of Fernando de Noronha; wildlife lover’s Pantanal; the marvellous city of Rio de Janeiro & its many attractions; immerse yourself in local culture in Recife and Olinda with its intense African influence, Paraty, the perfect combo of colonial architecture and beautiful beaches; Bonito, the beautiful outdoor haven in Matto Grosso do Sul;Canela and Gramado the heart of German culture in Southern Brazil and the awe-inspiring Iguassu Falls.
Brazil is one of the world's great cultural melting pots filled with warm, friendly people. They are proud of who they are and enjoy showing others the delights of their great country. Most people who travel to Brazil will fall in love with the laid-back friendly vibe and want to return again and again. In other words, travelling in Brazil is as addictive as their world famous cofee!
"Brazil is my second home, so it will be a great pleasure to help you discover the magic of this beautiful and diverse nation" - (Eileen Cameron)
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Brazil was ‘created’ in the 16 th Century when Pope Julius II made an arbitrary geographical division of South America and gave the land to the East of this line to the Portuguese and the Western ‘half’ to the Spanish in the Treaty of Tordesillas, that was signed after Pedro Cabral’s discovery in 1500.
Portugal, being a small nation that relied on commerce and good relations with others, rather than being on a ‘Conquest’ mission, started trade with this massive colony and Brazil became known for the mass production of raw materials, particularly wood (from where its name is derived i.e. pau Brasil) sugar and coffee. Slaves were brought from Africa to work on the sugar plantations and they have left an indelible mark on Brazilian culture, especially the language.
Over the last two centuries further waves of migration from Germany, Italy, Poland, Japan and numerous other nations have turned Brazil into a veritable ‘melting pot’ and this results in a fascinating ethnic mix, diverse and tasty cuisine and many assimilated customs. As you walk down the street there, you can see people with physical characteristics from all continents, and accordingly no matter which corner of the globe you hail from, you will blend right in, even if you haven’t mastered the lingo.
Some of the features planned
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Rio de Janeiro -the marvellous city, as it is known in Portuguese, is a pulsing, alluring city. Beautifully situated on the Bahia de Guanabara, the highlights include Sugar Loaf Mountain, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Corcovado (Statue of Christ), Maracana Soccer Stadium, the Sambadrome and Tijuca, a National Park, within Rio’s city limits and to top it off, a heart-stopping Samba show.
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Olinda – This UNESCO world heritage site is known as Brazil’s third gastronomic centre, with many tasty seafood and coconut-based dishes. Here, we will truly experience the great influence and presence of the African people reflected in the local cuisine and customs, which can be traced back to their African roots. We will also celebrate Brazil’s Independence Day here, bound to be one big Brazilian festa.
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Fernando de Noronha – The natural beauty of this island will leave you speechless. Known as a divers’ paradise, everybody who comes will enjoy the sea turtles, dolphins, white sands, turquoise water and green vegetation. With an area of just 17 square km the island is crisscrossed with nature trails and it is also world famous surfing location and there is a limit on the number of inhabitants and tourists allowed on the island to protect the environment.
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Paraty -was the most important shipping centre in Brazil during the gold rush period. The wealth from this period is reflected in the rich colonial architecture and quaint cobblestone streets. Paraty enjoys a prime coastal location, with crystal-clear water and a number of secluded beaches. Exciting day trips and you will love the local crafts plus street entertainment, which is the norm in the evenings.
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Pantanal -
4 days/3 nights, in the huge wildlife area, known as the Pantanal, that spans part of Bolivia and Brazil. The opportunities for seeing wildlife such as capybara, cayman, tapir, monkeys, toucans, macaws and numerous other species will make you feel like you’re part of an Animal Planet special. We stay in a jungle lodge with typical local food provided and daily excursions on foot, horseback, and in small boats which enable us to maximise our time in this nature lover’s paradise. There will also be an opportunity to do some fishing and try piranha soup.
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Bonito - This small town has a great vibe to it and is aptly named ‘beautiful’ in Portuguese. Various fun outdoor activities nearby such as snorkelling down a freshwater stream with huge fish from the Amazon, caving, hiking to a waterfall and visit a macaw nesting area.
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Canela & Gramado –come visit the little Germany of the South. Enjoy tasty wurst, fine chocolate and a stein of beer. The Serra Gaucha is as close to alpine scenery as you will find in Brazil and the scenery is beautiful, both on location and on the drive there. In nearby Caxias do Sul, we will be able to see the comparison with the predominant Italian culture, enjoy a factory visit, try some authentic pizza and visit the city’s main attractions including the Festa de Uva site and Brazil’s only castle.
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Iguassu Falls -
An absolute must see, and we’ll take you to both the Argentine and Brazilian side of the falls as well as visiting a tropical bird park, take in a cultural cabaret, visit the most important hydro dam in South America, Itaipu, and still have time to do some shopping in Ciudad del Este (Paraguay).
Trip Style
An adventure-styled holiday visiting four of Brazil’s five different regions to give you an appreciation of the country’s amazing diversity.
- Services and facilities: these differ greatly depending on whether we are in a city, at the beach, on an island or in a jungle lodge. Overall, 25 night’s be Star**+ to Star*** accommodation, with bed & breakfast and private facilities the norm. One night bus, one overnight flight. Brazilian cuisine is fantastic and diverse and our itinerary includes most breakfasts (24), 5 lunches and 5 dinners. Allow US$30 per day to cover other meals.
- Transport:
to maximize your time in Brazil we will cover the longer travel days using internal flights (7). This is essential given the size of Brazil, which is much larger than Australia. In fact it is possible to fly for 9 hours in one direction without crossing a border. There will be some public transportation by bus and boat as well as private van, bus and riverboat services. Day walking is not a major feature of this destination.
- Health And Fitness: Some of the days will involve extensive travel although a lot of this is minimized by internal flights. Day walking is not a big component of the trip but to fully enjoy the activities available a reasonable level of fitness is suggested to be able to cope, particularly with the tropical climate. As with all Grassroots trips a medical clearance for those over 60 is required but you should not find this itinerary too challenging.
- Weatherwise: Brazil essentially enjoys a warm tropical climate and we can expect temperatures in the 20s and 30s. The jungle region will be more humid than the coastal regions, although any tropical showers are likely to be short and sharp.
- Baggage and other Gear: A medium sized travel soft-sided pack/ roll bag/wheelie (50-60 litre). No suitcases. In addition you should also take a small daypack. The General Preparations Notice will contain detailed information.
- Criteria for Travel : As certain parts of the itinerary are inaugural, this will be less structured than with established trips as we will follow any serendipitous opportunities that we encounter making it more suited to those who enjoy exploration, surprises and flexibility! A journey through this huge country is a rewarding experience if you are willing to cope with the unusual, the unpredictable, cultural differences and some local inadequacies. Day walking is not a focus of this trip, however there will be some opportunities, and also to swim and snorkel; although experience is not essential for these activities, it is recommended. The trip is open to all ages and the most important thing you can pack is your sense of humour.
Group
Minimum of 11 + leader, maximum 15 + leader
This trip will be lead by Eileen Cameron. We are very sorry to advise that Eileen will be leaving Grassroots towards the end of 2010 as she is returning to South America to live. This means that this Brazil departure will be the last opportunity to enjoy this fascinating area of the World in her company. Eileen has lived in Brazil and travelled there extensively. She speaks Portuguese fluently and is passionate about the country and its people.
Trip Data
The price includes flights AKL/AKL (flight related taxes not included), hotels - most breakfasts (24), 5 lunches and 5 dinners. 7 domestic flights within Brazil, land transports/sights/activities as per the final itinerary.
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Keep Me Posted List available |
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