Off the beaten track Brazil tailor made tour

Planet

We realise that travel and tourism can benefit as well as harm the environment, the economy and the social and cultural structures of communities. The concept of sustainable tourism - the travel trade’s principles of using tourism to benefit local communities, conserve natural resources, and bolster the survival of cultural heritage – lies close to our heart. Our love and passion for Latin America encourages us to do everything in our power to protect the destinations we take you to. As members of AITO, we are committed to AITO’s Sustainable Tourism Guidelines, which means that we ensure that environmental and cultural demands are kept as low as possible.

Furthermore, we’ve developed strong relationships with local suppliers who all share our vision and agree to uphold a commitment to the safekeeping of the environment and local communities. We will always encourage you to keep a few basic things in mind, including refilling your water bottle, disposing of rubbish in a responsible way and switching off the lights and air-conditioning in your hotel room when you’re leaving your room. Furthermore, we’ve partnered up with Water to Go in hope to reduce plastic waste by offering clients 50% discount on filtered water bottles.

When selecting accommodation, our preference goes out to hotels and lodges which have a verifiable commitment to eco-friendly practices. In Jericoacoara for example you will stay at Vila Kalango where the focus on sustainability is paramount. Their buildings are constructed with locally sourced materials. In addition, they only use natural light and wind in order to reduce the use of energy. They also act together with the Eu Amo Jeri Association with regards to recycling, preservation and the cleaning of beaches. Finally, they have an organic vegetable garden at a neighbouring pousada of the same group. The garden uses the compost generated in the pousada itself and meets the needs of their restaurants.

On this journey you will visit not one, but two colonial UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Both the historic center of colonial Olinda, as well as the historic center of São Luís are UNESCO protected. Also Lençóis Maranhenses’– another place you will visit – National Park status means that this is a protected area. Here, you will stay in Atins, a rustic fisherman’s village where there is no shop and no electricity overnight – a unique and authentic experience.

People

For this vacation we have chosen certain properties that focus on bringing positive outcomes to local communities and cultures. At Vila Kalango for example they prioritise hiring and training people from the local community, the properties are designed and built together with local craftsmen, and dishes in the restaurants are created in partnership with the wisdom of local cooks. Moreover, at Pousada Quatro Cantos in Olinda, the distinctive cultural blend has been captured – from the colonial architecture and antique furniture to the tropical breakfast buffer and the abundance of local Pernambucano art on the walls. It even has its own handicrafts shop.

During guided tours in for example Olinda and São Luis, local guides will be on hand to provide advice on the best way to communicate with the local community, what and what not to buy, as well as explaining the importance of giving gifts responsibly, and acting in a respectful way while taking photographs.