Partners and Friends
The perfect combination of a voyage to Brazil links the exuberant nature of the tropics and sub tropics with cultural aspects from the past and the present.
Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions directly supports Nhandeva and the handcrafted production of award-winning basketry by the members of the Guaraní Mbya tribe in the village of Araponga, near Paraty.
Ecotrópica – the Foundation Aid for Life in the Tropics – is a non-governmental organization without financial interests for the protection of the environment in the Tropics and was established in Cuiabá (Mato Grosso) in 1989. Our mission is to give a contribution to the conservation of the natural resources and to maintain the quality of life in the tropical ecosystems. In the last years, we concentrated on the protection of the Pantanal wetlands in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, motivated by our understanding of the vulnerability of this extraordinary ecosystem with it's fantastic biodiversity, being the habitat of the biggest wildlife concentration in the neo-tropics. In the mid-nineties we started one of our most important actions: the protection of the biodiversity in the National Park Pantanal Mato-Grossense.
We purchased the farms of Acurizal, Penha and Estância Dorochê – an area about 60,000 ha – and transformed them in RPPNs (Particular Nature Protection Areas). These areas are now associated with the National Park and happens to be one of the most important wetland protection zones of the planet and give living space, shelter and alimentation to many animal species, some of them elsewhere threatened by extinction.
Camelô – Street hawkers in Rio de Janeiro is a social film project and a co-production of the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Universidade Federal Fluminense), one of the most prestigious institutes in this particular field in Latin America, and the German University of Applied Sciences and Design of Mannheim.
The film of Benjamin Hemer shows the work, the everyday life and fight for survival of the ten thousands of street hawkers of Rio de Janeiro. Economic restructuring and privatization measures after the end of the military dictatorship, especially in the 90s, caused a significant shrinking of the labor market with many workers being laid off. As a consequence the only alternative for them was informal employment.
Three large macaws from the Psitacidae family live in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The largest of all parrots are the arara-azul-grande (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) measuring up to 105 cm and weighing 1.5 kg. It is also easily recognizable because of its beauty. The whole body is covered with cobalt blue feathers and the distinctive yellow markings around the eyes and the beak. The arara-vermelha-grande (Ara chloroptera) shows light green at the upper part of the wings between its predominant red feathers and some light blue at the wings and tail tip. It measures some 90 cm. Third biggest is the arara-canindé or arara-de-barriga-amarela (Ara ararauna) with up to 80 cm. It might be mistaken for the arara-azul, but features a light blue at back, wings and tail, and yellow feathers at the belly and the lower parts of wings and tail.
William L. Fleming commonly called Safari Bill, dedicates his time, energy and resources to wildlife photography. He is an enthusiast and idealist, with a view to use the Internet as a vehicle to bring the fascination of extraordinary wildlife of all corners of this planet to as many people as possible.
The Canadian Rocky Mountains, for Spectacular Wilderness Riding.
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The Mamanguá refuge is a property which contains three houses of the local style (caiçara style) adjusted for the contemplation of the beautiful view, with wide windows and wooden decks, all located just a few steps from the sea. Sleep and wake up in absolute contact with the nature, observe the canoes and the boats passing by, talk to the kind local people, swim, row, dive, take a walk and sail are some of the options of leisure to whom houses this refuge.
In the Mamanguá Bay there is no power (electrical energy), what increases the feeling of being totally integrated with the effusive nature. Although houses are rustic, they offer lots of comfort due to its equipment: gas fridge, water heaters (showers) and gas lamps. The houses can be rented separately or the whole property.
Dr. med. dent. Christian Hieronymus Fried publishes his photos of a 10 day Pantanal trip with Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions on his website.
We are specialized in arranging and coordinating environmental surveys for regular schools and sports, health and adventure programs at the Mamanguá Bay and Paraty city as well. We invite you to go for a ride, in which you get to know our proposal and demonstrate our experience and background.
"We put into practice the pattern of the sustaintable tourism including the local people during the activities, creating gains and increasing the local culture."
Travel Brazil with Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions
When Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions took off 20 years ago, the idea was to offer tours and expeditions to the active and demanding traveler by penetrating regions in Brazil little known or unknown at all. We called these regions the hidden treasures of nature and culture in Brazil. The task was to discover such regions, making contacts with reliable locals, and then to develop some structures that would enable us to take travelers there and bringing them back safely.
To develop a series of new activities in a country of continental dimensions and in regions off the beaten track required experience, knowledge, perseverance and the will to invest in something new and challenging. Whether in small groups of 2 to 8 or as an individual traveler, our customers have the opportunity to reach out to the farthest und deepest spot in the Amazonian rainforest where the significance of the great German Naturalist Baron Alexander von Humboldt's “Hylaea “ becomes still evident. Detached from comfort and amenities of our modern life the focus there is exclusively on the essentials of the Tropical Rain Forest, its rivers and the natives living in it and from it.
We have also pioneered wildlife photo safaris in the Pantanal, among them our Jaguar Photo Safari. Our “Big 5” Safari, brings the 5 biggest land and sea mammals of South America before the camera of the happy photographers. On the savanna of the Nhecolândia region an extraordinary variety of wildlife can be observed and photographed on board our 4 wheel drive vehicles like on a silver plate.
One of our specials is the Ocean kayak island to island hike combined with rainforest trekking in the Atlantic Costal Rain Forest. Dream beaches, picturesque landscapes and settlements, natives of the Guarani Mbya tribes living amidst, lush rainforest, colonial sea-side architecture in Paraty are some of the highlights of that tour.
When Riding Brazil was created as a branch of Southern Cross Tours&Expeditions it was designed to cater exclusively to riders wanting to roam the savannas of the Pantanal and subtropical mountains of Southern Brazil. Those rides offer extraordinary experiences with fine horses, great landscapes and contact with locals from the countryside, their traditions and culture. Finally we don’t miss out on world-renowned highlights like Rio de Janeiros Sugar Loaf and Christ Redeemer Statue on Corcovado Mountain. We also walk on cobble stoned alleys downtown Rio de Janeiro to marvel at the contrast of ultra-modern architecture and colonial reminiscences. One of the most spectacular natural highlights in Brazil is the Iguaçu Falls. When looking from the boardwalks down into the thunderous water crushing down the rocks it just takes your breath away.
Southern Cross Tours&Expeditions offers breath taking experiences and adventures in Brazil. After you have arrived safely home you will be able to tell stories from the inside, exceeding and creating new expectations.
Peter Rohmer