Location
  • Brazil

Program Details

Language
Portuguese
Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse
Groups
Small Group (1-15)
Travel Type
Budget Family Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
740
Price Details
Includes
• Your financial contribution to the social activities of to be carried out in partnership with Projeto Saúde e Alegria;
• Accommodation in a screened dormitory for up to three people, sleeping in hammocks (provided by us), in the facilities of the Active Forest Experimental Center - CEFA, in the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve (7 nights);
• Daily meals included (breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner).
• All land and river transportation provided for in the itinerary from the meeting point in Santarém to the end of activities;
• All costs of cultural and touristic activities provided for in the itinerary;
• Full support of the Iris Social team during the expedition.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Equipment Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Apr 11, 2019
Mar 18, 2019
5 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Amazon Expedition is an experience in the heart of a Brazilian Reserve in the largest rainforest in the world. The program aims to improve the life of local people by using the logic of cooperativism, not assistentialism.
In order to empower and encourage local communities to grow on their own, we’ve been working together in touristic experiences focusing in the unique aspects of their way of life. Locals are the ones responsible to present their dances, rituals and guide you to the most beautiful places the reserve has to show. By doing that, they earn a living and preserve their local culture and you are able to experience tourism in a unique and special way.
Besides that, you'll volunteer under the supervision of our partner NGO, which has been working in the region for the past 30 years, engaging in activities to preserve the forest and to generate income to local families. Get in touch to learn about departure dates!

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • The perfect way to get to know the reality of people living in the largest rainforest in the world!
  • You will have an experience combining community based tourism and volunteering like nothing you've lived before!
  • An experience foccused on cooperativism, not assistentialism.
  • All our programs are co-created with the partner NGOs in order to be more meaningful and to produce higher impact!
  • We are a Brazilian enterprise seeking to keep tourism money within our borders and helping local people.

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 3 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.7
  • Support 4.7
  • Fun 5
  • Value 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Default avatar
Juliane
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience so far

This trip was the best inner experience for me so far.
I had great moments and experienced everything in the most intense and positive way.
Everything exceeded my expectations. It was marvelous to get to know people from the communities and their culture, habits, thoughts and work. They were very receptive, attentive, respectful and kind to our group. I tried to observe and learn everything I could from them. Whenever I could I asked about their living habits and their work, and they were always pronated to answer me.
Not to mention the volunteer work we did during the time we spent there.
It was really hard work, but very rewarding!!! I wish I could do more!

Also the organization Iris Social was the best we could get! Very kind and helpful!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Spend more days working in the boat! It was great and I wish we could have 1 or 2 more days helping the Projeto Saude e Alegria.
83 people found this review helpful.
Francimar
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Plenitude

Translated Review:

With the experience lived in Expedition 4, under the careful and careful look of the Social Iris I was able to add teachings, knowledge and people. The moment I held the first seedling of the native tree in my hands I was sure of how much we are part of a whole, much richer and wider than our passing existence.
Another important point is the respectful relationship that we establish with the local population, realizing the breadth of their knowledge and concern for the preservation of the Amazonian Biome. The Forest lives and pulsates within my heart and I think that all those who have this opportunity, especially the Brazilians, should experience this eye-to-eye experience.
From this I affirm that participating in other trips of Brazilian social tourism and volunteer tourism with Iris Social is one of the certainties of my life!

Original Review:

Com a experiência vivida na Expedição 4, sob olhar atento e cuidadoso da Iris Social pude agregar ensinamentos, conhecimento e pessoas. No momento que segurei a primeira muda de árvore nativa em minhas mãos tive a certeza do quanto somos parte de um todo, muito mais rico e amplo que nossa passageira existência.
Outro ponto de destaque é o convívio respeitoso que estabelecemos com a população local, percebendo a amplitude de seu conhecimento e preocupação com a preservação do Bioma Amazônico. A Floresta vive e pulsa dentro de meu coração e penso que todos aqueles que tenham essa oportunidade, em especial os brasileiros, deveriam vivenciar esta experiência olho no olho.
A partir disto afirmo que, participar de outras expedições de turismo social brasileiro e turismo de voluntariado com a Iris Social é uma das certezas de minha vida!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Eu sugiro que se apresentem com a mente e o coração abertos à recepção das experiências, culturas, alimentos, convívios e experiências que terão. Entreguem-se a experiência, ela é transformadora! :)
79 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Boris
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazon expedition

Going into the Amazon rain forest is nothing like anything I've seen/done before in my life. Combine that with going with a group of like minded people and an organization that knows the place, and you have an amazing experience.
These people have their own center in the rain forest. They help the local communities in lots of different ways. They know their way around the area and know some great places to visit in this already amazing environment.
Lots of different abilities, from planting seeds, planting and distributing seedlings, to working with bees and producing Tapioca flour. They love to share their knowledge and experience, and they let you participate in all these activities.
Well balanced between hard work, sight seeing, meeting the local community and free time.

What would you improve about this program?
It would be great to have more of a feeling that it really mattered that you have been there, that your help has made an impact, as much as the experience has made an impact on you. While there were a lot of interesting experiences and we helped out in different areas, it didn't feel like I was really needed. But hey, it was just a week and I hadn't been invited for a particular skill set, so I don't think I can blame anyone!
80 people found this review helpful.

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