Pantanal, Iguazu Falls & beach vacation, Brazil

Pantanal, Iguazu Falls & beach vacation, Brazil

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How this vacation makes a difference

Owned by a renowned conservation NGO, your stay in the historic Fazenda is helping to fund many conservation projects in the Pantanal. In fact, so well preserved is the surrounding area that the lodge is home to a number of researchers who find this location ideal for researching and promoting the understanding of the diverse flora and fauna in the delicate Pantanal habitat.

Your pousada on the ‘Costa Verde’ provides a vital revenue stream for the people of this small fishing village, where all staff and their family members live. The pousada is perfectly integrated into its surroundings and due to its size, does not upset the balance of this small community, where life goes on as it has done for generations.

All food and materials are sourced from the village where possible; the fish for dinner will have been caught by fishermen earlier that day and vegetables come from local gardens.

All of our guides and drivers are locally sourced, this allows you to step out of the tourist bracket, and discover much more of this city than usually possible. Equally important to us, because of how much the business and the clients gain from them is giving these staff the opportunity to improve their English, earn money and show off their home to you. They are immensely proud people, making them extremely good at their job, energetic and fun.

Part of the cost of your vacation goes towards the planting of 20 hard wood trees in the Mata Atlantica, under the guidance of R.E.G.U.A. (Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Assu) who protect one of the last stands of primary tropical rainforest left in the severely depleted Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. This gesture is greatly appreciated by locals and campaigners alike, but most of all by the wildlife.

Pantanal, Iguazu Falls & beach vacation, Brazil

Reviewed 16 Nov 2008 by Robert Ross Russell

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?

Probably Iguacu. Absolutely amazing falls and the hotel was lovely. However all the venues were excellent.

2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?

Discuss the exact details of your requirements carefully. For example, we were booked into the most expensive rooms in the hotel for at least 2 of the hotels. If on honeymoon that may be great but an option of slightly cheaper rooms (at the same smart hotel) may reduce cost a little.

3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Hmm… to some extent (eg the estancia was great and we will certainly spread the word about the work they are doing|) and our impact was reasonable, (barring 2 long haul flights from Europe!!) but ultimately it was a top quality luxury vacation.

4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?

Very good indeed. We were wonderfully looked after, and all the hotels were superb (possibly excepting the Rio hotel which was a little unusual... I feel a little more could have bee done to reduce the cost without lessening the extraordinary quality of the places we stayed - see above.