We are very proud to announce our Amazon Guide with helpful information and curiosities for a truly unique immersion.
Downloading our guide you’ll capture the insider knowledge on how to plan such a complex trip, where to go, what time of year to visit and the most exclusive destinations and activities.
It also has full resources you’ll also find intel on climate, cuisine, health & safety, travelling with kids and much more.
Chartering a private yacht is certainly the best way to escape the areas that are visited all too frequently by hotel guests and fixed departure cruises.
Contact us to check our renewed yachts portfolio that can be chartered exclusively for your party, which means we can tailor the itinerary and staff on board according to your interests, style and the composition of your group.
Imagine being able to combine culture and history, with a beautiful bay filled with island and virgin beaches?
This is what Paraty can offer, and chartering a sail boat is the perfect way to enjoy this to the fullest.
Set in one of the most stunning stretches of the Brazilian coastline, backed by rainforest clad mountains on one side and locked-in by the sea on another.
Paraty’s colourful colonial architecture references back to its important role as a main port for gold export from Brazil to Europe. It has a vibrant culture and nightlife, great local shopping, waterfalls and a bay filled with islands and virgin beaches which are best explored by chartering a sailing boat.
Can you imagine gather some of your best friends or family and sail around pristine beaches with all comfort and the liberty to do the trip as you please?
One of our favorites is a Lipari 41, a modern catamaran, with wide open decks, excellent panoramic visibility and a cockpit with seating for eight at the table.
Contact us to know more about our sailing charter suggestions.
Today we have a special guest appearance in our social medias.
Elder Key Tateishi is part of our Operations team and a real expert when it comes to exploring Chapada dos Veadeiros, one of our country’s most amazing landscapes!
Thanks Key, we loved your destination tips. 🙂
“It’s not a secret that Brazil has rich biodiversity, unexplored caves, surreal waterfalls… but can you imagine reaching them all in the same place?
Trust us: at Chapada dos Veadeiros everything is possible!
Very close to the Brazilian capital (Brasília), the picturesque village of São Jorge is the gateway to the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park.
The natural beauty of the place is already worth the visit in itsel, but combined with the instantaneous sense of well being, lots of inspiration and a twist of mysticism, makes the atmosphere even more interesting.
The scenery is so breathtaking that you’ll find yourself in the middle of a savannah or even stepping into a rocky formation that looks exactly like the ground of the Moon.
With over 80 catalogued waterfalls in the region, there are many trail options, allowing people of all ages and physical conditions to enjoy it.
And the best part is that Matueté offers an unique experience over there: the possibility of staying in a beautiful Villla with all the perks and privacy, as well as full activities program, such as yoga classes, massage, meditation and many more adventures.”
To have all the details and access to Key’s coolest tips in Chapada dos Veadeiros, just contact us.
Hidden in a peninsula in southern Bahia, Caraiva is the perfect destination for those seeking peace, quiet and a visual paradise. And we have a fantastic Villa over there! By the sea, very exclusive and combines the simplicity of Bahia lifestyle with charm and comfort.
Villa 1 has 7 bright and spacious rooms, with fantastic views; ideal for a family or a group of friends.
Are you in the mood? So follow the link to our website for more details on the amazing Villas available for rent. 🙂
Are you in the mood to reactivate your explorer side and spend more time in contact with nature? We bet so!
Since last week, when we received Cristalino’s Lodge staff in our office, to recycle what we already know about this natural sanctuary in the south of Brazilian Amazon, we cannot think of anything else… The result of this Amazon with a little taste of Pantanal? You got all the exuberance of the jungle, with a much better chance for sighting animals! More than 11,000 hectares of ecological reserve in a rich and balanced ecosystem throughout the year.
Access may sound complicated, but it is not! Just fly to Alta Floresta (MT) and upon arrival, a short car shuttle followed by 30 minute boat ride across the river, will take you there.
Worth to mention: the Lodge was named one of the top 25 Eco Lodges in the world, by National Geographic Traveler. We know why: expert guides that give more sense to interaction with nature, a modern sophisticated (yet very cozy) architecture, and impeccable service.
The highlight? Charming accommodations, full of perks and possibilities, like relaxing in a bathtub having the Amazon rainforest and a huge starry sky as a backdrop
There is so much to do there, so it’s worth to stay as many nights as possible! Several types and levels of trails, canoeing and bird watching, monkeys, plants and even large mammals.
How about enjoying sunrise at a high 50 meters tower? Explore biodiversity, embrace an ancient chestnut and end the day chatting around the campfire?
If you need more inspiration, contact us and be sure to take a look through our website!
Hidden in the West side of the Marvelous City, a few desert beaches are worth the hike
If being original is the rule nowadays, these beaches are the hipsters of Rio de Janeiro. Not too far from crowded neighborhoods such as Jacarépaguá and Recreio, lies a hidden treasure, even for many locals; more precisely at Barra de Guaratiba, there are five beaches off Rio de Janeiro’s coast which are considered desert: Buzios, Perigoso, do Meio, Funda and Inferno are only accessible by treks or boats.
Being a desert beach means nothing was modified on the coast lining, that there are no signs of urban life whatsoever, no kiosks, or anything. It´s you, and nature, and hopefully the best company you can think of to help you carry food, water and maybe a beach umbrella.
All treks have the same starting point, at Guaratiba beach. After a 40min mild hike, you´ll reach a fork, one way leading to Perigoso and Búzios, while the other way will take you to Funda, Inferno and do Meio beaches. How long you will take from the fork to each destination depends on the individual’s physical conditions as well as how much weight is being carried. The easiest to get to, and first beach you will cross is Perigoso. Another 45min-walk will lead to Praia do Meio. The furthest is Inferno beach (in English, this would be the Hell beach, but the only Hell here is not bringing sunscreen), and it has an alternative trek back to Guaratiba village, about 2h walk.
For the not-so-active crowd, the boats leave from Guaratiba port, and prices may vary according to number of passengers, luggage and the route desired. But the views you will find during the treks, can’t compare. As they say, best things in life are free – and very well kept.
If you’re planning a escape to Brazil in our summer and want to run away from the big crowds, here are some of our favorite runaway destinations that will make you forget about all that crazy life at home…
Amazon Cruises
The Amazon is so big that no matter the season, you will always find a quiet spot – especially if you are travelling on a private yacht or regional boat with a great staff at disposal. You can choose to navigate the Negro River or the Tapajós – both great trips, with amazing landscapes and pristine river beaches.
Simbauma Beach
Sibaúma beach, in Rio Grande do Norte (northeast of Brazil), has no civilization. A 25m high red sand dune is its landmark and the 7km stretch of beach is perfect for walking. You can stay at Kilombo Villas, a hotel that is closer to a serviced community of private beach homes. Their 5 houses are very comfortable and perfectly decorated. There’s nothing around but nature and the beach, but in case you wish to see people, Pipa, a hype beach destination is only 8km away.
Picinguaba
Picinguaba is a preserved beach at Ubatuba, a 30 min drive from the colonial town of Paraty, in between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. There’s a small pousada named after the beach, which has only 10 rooms, with no TV, Internet or telephone, so you can definitely escape from real life. All food served at the pousada is organic, produced on the Fazenda they have nearby. If staying there you can go for some great activities around the region, to visit the fishermen communities and the beautiful bay surrounding the area.
Barra de São Miguel
Of course the beach is beautiful, but it’s thanks to Kenoa Resort that it is on this list. Embraced on the north by the resplendent panorama of miles of virgin Atlantic outback and on the east by the turquoise enchantment of the open sea, Kenoa Resort is as wondrous as it is very private, a place where luxury is defined by its earth-given beauty. Its service is as great as its setting – it will be hard to remember any kind of problems while staying here… It’s located at Alagoas (northeast of Brazil), 30km away from Maceió, the state’s capital.
Corumbau
Pristine beaches and crystal clear waters – that’s what you will find at this historically important stretch of the Bahian coast. This stunning setting was the gateway for the first Portuguese landings on Brazilian soil in the 1500s. Thanks to the difficulty of access (4 hrs drive form Porto Seguro, the nearest airport, or 20min on chartered airplane), this paradise keeps untouched. Here we recommend staying at Fazenda São Francisco, exclusive 10 bungalows hotel with great service and local food.
One of the most desired destinations in Brazil, the Amazon, is entering its prime season as of August until the beginning of January. It is unveiling its white sandy beaches that were submerged by the large amount of rain that caused some trouble in the region this year during the months of May and June with records of high water level and flooded lands.
Of course there are many ways to discover the jungle, but one of our favourites is navigating through the blue waters of the Tapajós River that was once described by the French explorer Jaques Cousteau as the Caribbean of the Amazon, due to its amazing beaches and rare crystal clear waters.
We love this destination not only for its natural beauty, but also because it is still undiscovered by mass tourism and we have a very charming regional boat that gives the travelers the opportunity to reach distant and secluded places. The boat is equipped with a professional crew, cooking and cleaning staff, a local guide and a host that will be at your disposal to guarantee the perfect travel experience. A private chef that knows all about the Amazon cuisine can also be included to complete your cultural experience.
The Amazon is not known to be a new year’s destination, what makes it an excellent cost-benefit at that time of the year, since prices are not inflated as in other Brazilian destinations.
It is now exactly two years since I first accompanied guests to the Xingu Indian lands – an oasis of natural and cultural preservation of the Amazon – fulfilling a personal objective and dream. See some of the pictures in the gallery to try to get a glimpse of what I was privileged to see!
The Xingu National Park, created 50 years ago by the pioneering efforts of the Villas Boas Brothers, is the home of around six thousand Indians of over thirty different tribes, who in varyingdegrees, still lead a culturally preserved way of life. Matueté has formed a relationship with one of the most interesting of these tribes – the Kamayurá – and are now experimentally taking guests for a night or two with the Indians.
When I first visited, I was incredibly lucky to be there for one of the most beautiful of all their Ceremonies – the Jawari – or War Games. In this incredible twelve hour party – two tribes ‘play-fight’ each other in various different games. At the end of the Ceremony the men of one tribe dance with the women of the other tribe and then switch around, to make sure there are no hard feelings between them. I can safely say that it was one of the most beautiful and moving rituals I have ever seen.
Taking people to visit culturally preserved tribes is a controversial topic in tourism. Many argue that they should be left intact. And we believe that those that still have not been contacted (and there are around 50 or so tribes like this in Brazil) should remain like this – and thankfully this the official government policy too. But the Xingu peoples, have had regular contact with the white man for over 50 years. And the temptations to abandon tribal life and move to the cities are almost irresistible, especially for the younger people. How to prevent this is a foremost thought on any Xinguan Chief’s mind. There are many demands from the members of the tribe for the Chief to provide them with some measure of modern comforts such as diesel for their motor-boats, radios, etc.
Our partnership with the Kamayurá tribe, aims to provide an important source of income (their other sources are selling jewellery or relying on donations) to the Indians to buy whatever cannot beproduced locally and they see as important for the tribe. We are especially hopeful that this partnership will be successful and provide an interesting model for others, since the Chief of the Kamayurás understands well that Cultural preservation is possibly their most valuable asset. Providing a revenue stream to reward this seems a good idea from everyone’s perspective.
Visitation fees are kept high, and go straight to the Indians, so as to bring a reasonable income from a very limited number of visitors.
If you would like to know more about the Xingu, don’t hesitate to contact me.
The São José Mountain, around the historical site of Tiradentes, in Minas Gerais is a great place for those who love escaping the big city and immerse on nature. Pedro Treacher, one of our team members recently discovered this paradise full of history on his last travel around Minas Gerais. He walked up hill on stone paths from the 18th century, when the region was one of the most important of the country due to the gold rush. Take a look at some of the great pictures he took from the beautiful preserved nature around him!
