Brazil luxury nature holiday

Planet

As an in-depth specialist tour operator to Brazil, we take a considered approach to the social, environmental and economic aspects of the holidays we design. We aim to build long-term relationships with local guides, wildlife lodges and hotels, incorporating businesses and experiences that have established connections with their local communities and environments. In this itinerary we have selected several properties with documented environmental, conservation and community initiatives.

We have chosen Copacabana Palace in Rio and Hotel das Cataratas at Iguaçu, both part of the Belmond Hotel Group. Belmond works with EarthCheck, an international organisation providing certification, benchmarking and advisory services for sustainable tourism. Belmond's EarthCheck programme involves assessment and auditing of participating properties and measures areas including energy, water and waste. Belmond announced in 2024 that all of its eligible properties had achieved EarthCheck certification. Hotel das Cataratas also specifically highlights its EarthCheck recognition and environmental protection work within Iguaçu National Park.

Caiman, in the Pantanal, is the base for several established conservation projects, including Onçafari's work with jaguars. The project involves research, monitoring and habituation of jaguars to safari vehicles, allowing them to be observed and studied in their natural environment. Onçafari has also carried out successful jaguar reintroduction work at Caiman; the organisation describes the reintroduction of the sisters Isa and Fera as the first scientifically based successful reintroduction of jaguars into the wild. The two subsequently reproduced in the wild.

Caiman is also involved in conservation work with Hyacinth Macaws and blue-fronted parrots and contains a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN). The Long Run currently lists Caiman as a certified Global Ecosphere Retreat (GER), recognising its combination of ecotourism, conservation, research and community-related activities.

People

In Brazil we work with locally based ground handlers, helping to retain tourism expenditure within the Brazilian economy. By incorporating locally owned hotels, restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, we provide opportunities for tourism spending to reach locally based businesses and communities.

We use local guides in all of our destinations. Local guides bring detailed knowledge of the places, wildlife and communities we visit, and are well placed to share their knowledge of and connections with the local area. Employing local guides can also provide opportunities for people to build careers in their own communities rather than having to relocate for work.

At Caiman Lodge, employing local people is an important part of its approach, providing employment and income opportunities for people from the surrounding community. Native Pantanal experts work alongside English-speaking naturalist guides on activities, combining local knowledge with specialist wildlife interpretation and helping guests to understand the Pantanal from a local perspective.

At Hotel Palácio Tangará in São Paulo, the hotel supports local social-development initiatives, including a youth training programme that provides young people from the local community with practical experience and mentoring in hospitality. The hotel has also worked with the not-for-profit organisation Amigos do Bem, which supports social development and education initiatives in communities in northeastern Brazil.