The Trip of a Lifetime!

Imagine traveling on ten tumbling Amazon Rivers so remote that you never meet other travelers. Instead, you chance upon enchanted waterfalls. Lagoons, hidden deep in the emerald rainforests. Feel the eyes of the forest animals watching you.

The Big 5 Photo Safari of Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions

No elephants, no lions, but where else can you photograph jaguar, giant otter, tapir, great anteater, and… southern right whales, all of them, on one trip?

Brazil Highlights for Newcomers

A tour that takes you not only to the most famous highlights but also to some of the lesser known and hidden treasures of Brazil.

Social Film Project: Camelô – Street Hawker in Rio de Janeiro

Camelô – Street Hawker in Rio de Janeiro

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.

Street hawker selling at traffic lights Sweets sellers in buses Law enforcement forces fighting against street hawking

“Camelô – Street Hawkers in Rio de Janeiro” is based on empiric scientific results of studies conducted by the renowned Brazilian economy professor Hildete Pereira de Melo and tries to visualize the results and thesis of her research work. The idea behind the film is to transmit to the public in general an insight view of the life of these street hawkers and of the complex economic and social implications that are involved. It is estimated that the informal business today counts for more than 6% of the gross national product of the 11th biggest economic power of the world.

As a travel operator Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions offers specialized tours of interesting natural and cultural content. Their programs give the experienced traveller the chance to have a glimps behind the curtain, helping thus to provide a realistic image of Brazil. The financial support makes the realization of this project possible and helps to promote young German and Brazilian filmmaking talents.

Click here to visit the movie's website.

Economy professor at Rio de Janeiro Federal University Vinyl records seller Breakfast seller at fairs

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