Brazil Ecojourneys stands out in the Brazilian ecotourism and adventure travel market, thanks to the owners' deep knowledge of South Brazil, a gay-friendly and fully bilingual profile, and tours for small groups which explore some of the South's less-known wonders, besides classics such as Iguazu Falls.

Owned by Brazilian Marta Dalla Chiesa and Lesley Cushing, an Englishwoman who lived in Australia and Israel before moving to Brazil, the company also has tours of the Pantanal and Bonito, MS - two other top ecotravel destinations in Brazil.

Currently, Brazil Ecojourneys tours are not inclusive for travelers with disabilities, but the company is consulting with a specialist in accessible travel with a view to offering inclusive options in the near future.

Interview with Marta Della Chiesa

South Brazil is a region of great natural beauty, and even the independent traveler can use some pro help in discovering it all. I recently chatted with Marta, co-owner of Brazil Ecojourneys, about some of the exciting tours available and the travel scene in the area.

Do you have many American clients?

Yes, we do. Europeans used to make up about 70% of our clientele. But we’re working with a growing number of American and Canadian travelers, mostly people who find us on the internet. We still don’t have many partnerships with North American travel agencies, so our North American customers are usually the independent type of traveler who enjoys more adventurous tours, with rafting, surfing lessons and so on. Our new website provides a good deal of information about the tours, which helps.

So travelers don’t need an agency to book a tour with you.

No, they don’t. Some travelers prefer to book tours through agencies in their countries of origin because of the warranties agencies provide. But people who research about us can tell we’re a serious business, and that often gives them the confidence to book their trip independently.

What do you offer travelers who are looking for adventure but don't want to leave their comfort zone when it comes to language, organization, and things like that?

From the moment we pick our clients up at the airport to the moment we take them back, they never have to fend for themselves. They have bilingual guides with them all the way, and everything is taken care of for them.

Which of your tours would you recommend for a first-time visitor?

The South Brazil Journey, which offers visitors a good overview of South Brazil highlights. You get to visit Iguazu Falls, Curitiba, the Atlantic Forest, Florianópolis and other Santa Catarina beaches, and take the Curitiba-Paranaguá train ride. It’s a really nice tour that doesn’t require a lot of flying. Right now, we’re offering it to small groups with the next departure in April 2009.
We’re planning a more comfortable version of the same tour, with stays in small resorts, for August next year.

Both tours are planned for the drier season in Santa Catarina.

Yes, fall and winter are a great time to travel here, with beautiful sunny days, cooler weather, and, in the case of the rainforest, fewer mosquitoes.

Do you have a personal favorite among your tours?

Yes, I do. It’s the Rainforest Expedition. To me, it’s an unbelievable journey. It starts with the Curitiba-Paranaguá train ride. Then, after a car trip, a boat picks you up and takes you to the Lagamar Estuary RPPN (a Private Natural Heritage Reservation).
This is serious adventure – don’t expect city comforts. You can go hiking on the trails, bathe in waterfalls, and go canoeing in mangroves in this amazing preserved rainforest where it’s just you and the locals – all that at a four-hour drive from Curitiba. The tour requires a minimum of two people and though it isn’t cheap, with the entire infrastructure – vehicles, guides – it affords an exclusive experience that people find incredible.

You’re a gay-friendly company. Have you received any requests for gay-only trips?

Usually, our gay-only tours are the ones booked by couples. We haven’t received requests for gay-only group tours.

Would you say South Brazil is gay-friendly as a whole?

Gay and lesbian travel is growing in South Brazil – people are getting used to it. Last year, a partnership between the Brazil Ministry of Tourism and Abrat GLS (the Brazilian Association for Gay, Lesbian and Sympathizer Tourism) launched a project in Florianópolis (and in other Brazil cities, like Rio and Salvador ) to help travel industry professionals meet the customer needs of gay and lesbian travelers.
Florianópolis is a top gay-friendly summer destination. For example, we recently tried to book Carnival at Praia Mole Eco Village, where The Week International has their summer club, and everything was already full.
Most importantly, our company has been gay-friendly from the start, so our customers can rest assured that all the hotels and services we have chosen to work with are gay-friendly and ready to welcome them.

Photos courtesy of Brazil Ecojourneys. Photo of the Curitiba-Paranaguá train ride ©Serra Verde Express.