Without further ado, where i´ll be spending my first month of summer vacation...

During the day, our staff will be ready to receive the students from other cities at the Belo Horizonte bus station and take them to the hotel (EXTRA COST). (Check General Condition 3). 18:00 – Dinner (extra cost) and overnight stay.


Nov/22 – Thursday Belo Horizonte/Brasília

Before 7:00am, our staff will be ready to receive the students from other cities at the Belo Horizonte bus station/airport and take them to the boarding place. 07:30 – Boarding at Terra Brasil Headquarters: Afonso Pena Avenue, 4321 – Mangabeiras. 08:00 – Departure to the National Capital of our country: Brasília, inaugurated in 1960, by the former president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek. It is a very modern and beautiful city, planned by the famous architect Oscar Niemeyer. Brasília will make you breathless with its modern architecture and wide green areas. The city plan has an airplane shape with its “wings” a little curved, surrounded by a huge artificial lake. Between the “wings” and the lakes, there are the embassies, the Ministeries Buildings, the “Praça dos Três Poderes” (the National Congress), the Palácio dos Arcos (Arches´ Palace), designated to Foreign Affairs Events, the Metropolitan Church… And you will have the chance to visit all those places! 18:00 – Arrival in Brasília from Belo Horizonte, check in and dinner (included).


Nov/23 – Friday Brasília

For the exchange students who will start the trip in Brasília, during the morning, our staff will be ready to receive the students at the airport/bus station in this city. (Check General Condition 3). 12:00 – Lunch (not included). 13:00 – Trip’s General Orientation. * All the participants must attend. *During the orientation, you will meet our coordination team, which will be with you during the whole trip. There will be monitors/coordinators, Rotary chaperones and a doctor. At this time, you will be given important information about the trip, and tips to enjoy the best from these days. We will approach the most important subjects, such as health, safety procedures, behaviour, food and expenses. Beginning of our official visit to the National Congress (headquarters of the legislative power, composed by Câmara dos Deputados and Senado Federal) and to Palácio do Itamaraty. At Praça dos Três Poderes, you will also see Palácio do Planalto (executive power) and Supremo Tribunal Federal (judiciary power). You will be visiting Brazil’s political and administrative center, therefore, you must wear the trip’s t-shirt and long pants. 19:30 – Dinner (included). 21:00 – Forró Class. In order for you to prepare and take advantage of the inumerous opportunities that we will have to dance during the trip.


Nov/24 – Saturday Brasília

07:00 – Breakfast 08:00 – Beginning of our visit to Esplanada dos Ministérios, Palácio da Alvorada (official residence of our president). In the Praça dos Três Poderes, we will also see the Palácio do Planalto (executive branch) and the Supremo Tribunal Federal (headquarters of the judiciary branch). Then our official visit to the National Congress (legislative branch, composed by the Câmara dos Deputados and Senado Federal) and to the Palácio do Itamaraty. You will be visiting Brazil’s political and administrative center, therefore, you must wear the trip’s t-shirt and long pants. 12:30 - Lunch (included). 14:00 - Visit to Catedral de Brasília, Museu Juscelino Kubitscheck and a little of Brasília’s mysticism: LBV ecumenical temple and D. Bosco church. 19:00 – We will spend the rest of our day at Brasília’s shopping mall. Dinner (not included). 22:00 – Return to the hotel, meeting* and time to rest. *Today, we will have our first meeting, which will become a constant habit on our tours. In these meetings, we will talk about the program, do Lost and Founds, Jegue Porreta Election** and to evaluate how the trip is going. **Jegue Porreta is a very funny joke, one of the trip’s greatest hits, which will be taught to you.


Nov/25– Sunday Brasília/Ibotirama

05:30 – Breakfast and check out. 06:30 – Departure to Chapada Diamantina National Park and the beginning of our great adventure. We will cross Goiás state and get into the heart of Bahia, where there are incredible geological formations and an unbelievable chain of mountains, canyons and hills. Among those formations, there are clear water rivers, waterfalls and caves, surrounded by Cerrado and Caatinga vegetation, decorated with orchids and other typical flowers. You will never forget this place! 20:30 – Arrival in Ibotirama, where we will stop to rest. Check in, dinner (included) and overnight stay.


Nov/26 – Monday Ibotirama/Lençóis (Chapada Diamantina)

06:00 – Breakfast, check out and departure to Lençóis, Chapada Diamantina’s most important town, where we will stay. 10:00 – Before we get to Lençóis, we will visit Gruta da Pratinha, located in the Pratinha Farm, where you will have a lot of fun swimming in Santo Antônio River, which comes from inside the cave and has the region’s most clear waters. 12:30 – Lunch (not included) at the Fazenda Pratinha. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to know one of the most beautiful Brazilian caves, Lapa Doce. With speleotems of rare beauty, this cave has been theme for Brazilian soap operas and documentaries. 16:00 – Departure to Lençóis. 17:00 – Arrival, check in and free time to rest. 19:00 – Meeting*, Dinner (included) and SURPRISE!!!


Nov/27 – Tuesday Lençóis (Chapada Diamantina)

07:00 – Breakfast and departure to the tours. Nice walk along Serrano River, passing through Salão de Areias (Sand Saloon), a rocky grotto with several colours of sand. In the end, we will swim by a nice waterfall. 12:00 – Return and lunch (not included). 15:00 – We will get to know Mucugezinho River’s beautiful waterfalls and Poço do Diabo (Devil’s Well). And after, get ready to have your breath taken away by the beauty of Pai Inácio Hill (from where you can have the best panoramic view of Chapada Diamantina), and also hear the legend that gave name to the mountain. 19:00 – Return to the hotel, dinner (included), meeting and free time to take a walk around Lençóis town.


Nov/28 – Wednesday: Lençóis (Chapada Diamantina)/Aracajú

07:00 – Breakfast and departure to Ribeirão do Meio. After a nice walk, we will reach an amazing attraction: A 60m natural water slide. Bring an old short with you, because you might have it damaged. 11:30 - Check out, lunch (included) and incredible visit to Poço Encantado, one of the most visited places by those who go to Chapada Diamantina even so it is not within the limits of the National Park. It has a great hall and a huge lake with incredible blue water. The ancient inhabitants of the region say that they are able to hear inexplicable noises coming from inside the cave, such as roosters cackling, children crying and metal chains being dragged. For those reasons, Poço Encantado is not only a beautiful, but also a mysterious cave… 16:00 - Departure to Maceió, one of the most beautiful capitals of the Northeast coast, also known as the Water Paradise, Maceió is the capital of Alagoas state. Those who arrive in the city are usually enchanted by the colour of the sea, which goes from green to blue; and with the temperature of the water, always warm due to the constant presence of the sun. Arrival in Aracajú, where we will stop to rest. Check in and overnight stay. (Time to be confirmed).


Nov/29 - Thursday Aracajú/Maceió

05:00 - Check out and departure to Maceió. Arrival, Check in and visit to Pajuçara´s natural pools*. We will sain in Jangadas (typical boats)towards incredible reefs, two kilometres offshore. There we´ll swim in calm and shallow waters with coloured fishes. *The time is subjected to changes according to the tide schedule. Lunch (not included) and following, a visit to Pajuçara’s handicraft fair. 19:30 – Meeting with all the exchange students. 20:00 – Dinner (included) and leave to enjoy Maceió’s nightlife. Tonight we will go to a Forró*, a typical Brazilian dance. *FORRÓ comes from the mixture of African and European influences. The couples usually dance really close to each other, but there are also steps apart, always with a lot of body movement. FORRÓ was born in the Northeast region and introduced to the South of Brazil in the 40’s. Some people say that the word Forró comes from English “For All”. The phrase was written on the doors of the balls promoted by the English in the state of Pernambuco, in the beginning of the century. If the sign was there, everyone could join the party. A second version says that the word Forró comes from the African term Forrobodó, which means “party”. It was only in the late 90’s that forró began to be appreciated by the young Brazilians, who have rediscovered a romantic and harmonious way to dance, with the forró universitário. New bands have been formed during the last few years, some of which are nationally known today, such as Falamansa and Rastapé.


Nov/30 – Friday Maceió

08:00 – Breakfast. After, we will visit Barra de São Miguel, a small village surrounded by reefs forming natural pools, sand benches and waterways in order to board on a boat to the beautiful Gunga beach, a place with good entertainment infrastructure, where we will have a lot of fun. On the way back, we will visit Marechal Deodoro, a historical town where Brazil’s first president was born; and Feira do Pontal, a good place to shop for items designed by local artisans. Following, we will experience an unforgettable sunset. 19:30 – Meeting with all the exchange students. 20:00 – Dinner (included) and leave to enjoy the nightlife at a dance club in Maceió’s historical center (extra cost).


Dez/01 – Saturday Maceió/Natal

Breakfast and free time to say good-bye to Maceió. 14:00h. – Check out. Lunch (included) and departure to Fortaleza, one of the greatest and lively Nordeste cities. Fortaleza, unlike Maceió, is a large metropolis, with over two million residents. Located in Ceará’s north coast, Fortaleza’s main attractions are also its beautiful beaches and the kindness of the local inhabitants. Before, we will stopover in Natal to rest. 22:30 – Arrival, check in and overnight stay.


Dez/02 – Sunday Natal/Fortaleza

05:30 – Check out and departure to Fortaleza. Arrival and check in. 15:00 - City tour, when you will have the opportunity to buy hammocks with the best price and highest quality of the entire northeast region, visit Ponte Metálica (Metallic Bridge) and enjoy the end of the afternoon at the coast line. Following, we will visit to Dragão do Mar Cultural Center, a space reserved for regional, national and international culture. The center has several different sections, such as museums and theaters. 20:30 – Dinner (included), meeting with all the exchange students and Talent Show.


Dez/03 – Monday Fortaleza

07:00 – Breakfast. 08:00 – Departure to Cumbuco Beach, where you will be able to ride horses and take buggy rides through the sand dunes that surround the small village (both additional cost). The biggest attractions of the region, besides the sand dunes, are the lagoons. The Parnamirim Lagoon, for example, is a mandatory stop during the buggy rides, where the tourists slide down a sand dune practicing esquibunda, and for the experts, sand boarding. Return and free time to rest or visit the handicraft fair, excellent to buy souvenirs. At night, after dinner (included), we will have a lot of fun at the most crazy party on Monday’s night. The Festa do Pirata (Pirate’s Party). * It happens at Bar do Pirata, inaugurated in 1986. It is a thematic bar that reminds a Pirate Ship. The party is a kind of "movement" against sadness and daylife frustrations. It starts at 8 p.m. sharp, every Monday. It begins with the traditional forró music, but, at midnight, the party becomes even more exciting. That’s when the band begins to play electric forró music and everyone dances all kinds of rhythms. Bar do Pirata transformed Monday nights into the official day of happiness in Ceará State. For that reason, The New York Times considered it the best option in the world for Monday nights.


Dez/04 – Tuesday Fortaleza

10:00 - Departure to Beach Park, the best water park in Brazil, located in one of the most beautiful beaches of Ceará: Porto das Dunas. There we will have a lot of fun in many attractions such as INSANO (Insane), the biggest water slide in the world, as high as a 14 floor building, where you go from zero to 101 kilometres/hour (around 63 miles/hour) in just four seconds. 20:00 – Dinner (included) and meeting with all the exchange students.


Dez/05 – Wednesday Fortaleza/Morro Branco/Canoa Quebrada

07:00 - Breakfast and check out. Departure through the coast to Morro Branco Beach, where we will be able to see different sand colours used for the famous local handicrafts. 12:00 – Lunch (included) and a visit to Canoa Quebrada Beach (which means “broken canoe”, in English), an old charming hippie village. Its symbol is a new moon beside a star. The place is really beautiful and warm. Nowadays, native people still preserve the tradition of fishing using jangadas (typical boats) in the sea, although the village has been transformed in a touristic place. The most beautiful aspects are sand dunes and low cliffs, from where we can watch one of the most beautiful and unforgettable sunsets of Brazil’s coast. It is pure magic. Free time to Know the Canoa Quebrada Village. Check in and time to rest.


Dez/06 – Thursday Canoa Quebrada/Natal

07:00 – Breakfast and check out. 08:00 – Departure to Natal. 13:00 – Arrival in Natal, lunch (included), check in and free time to rest or enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool. 19:00 – At night, Luau (beach party). We will have the opportunity to enjoy one of our most special nights by the ocean under the stars.


Dez/07 – Friday Natal

08:00 – Breakfast and visit to the beautiful Genipabu Beach, located a little more than 20km from downtown Natal. This beach is famous for its huge sand dunes, some of them up to 30 meters high. There, you can repeat the buggy ride from Fortaleza or make an exotic tour on a dromedary (both additional cost). 14:30 - City tour, when we will visit the biggest cashew tree in the world and Reis Magos Fort. 19:00 – Dinner (included).


Dez/08 – Saturday Natal/Recife

07:00 - Breakfast and departure to Recife, one of the biggest capitals of Nordeste. 12:00 – Check in. 14:00 – City tour to the most interesting places the city has to offer. We will visit the atelier of the exotic artist Francisco Brennand and following, Casa da Cultura, an old prison transformed into a handicraft market. You will find out why Recife is known as Brazil’s Venice. 20:00 – Dinner (included) and a visit to the Old part of Recife, bustling historical area with a lively nightlife. Night program. (Additional cost).


Dez/09 – Sunday Recife

09:30 – Breakfast and leave to visit Brasília Teimosa.* 12:30 – Lunch (included). 15:00 - Visit to the historical town of Olinda, Frevo’s (typical dance) world capital and World Cultural Heritage Site. 19:30 – Return. Free time to go shop in the Recife shopping (optional). * BRASÍLIA TEIMOSA, one of Brazil’s most destituted slums (favelas) made with palafita’s houses (archaic habitations with small pillars, on the surface of the water). This community has been chosen by President Lula to receive resources from the government program Fome Zero (Zero Hunger). This neighbourhood is a symbol of the struggle and resistance of the Brazilian people, mainly the Nordestinos. In 1934, the state of Pernambuco bought a large empty area called Areal Novo. Some years later, during Brasilia´s construction in 1957 and 1958 and the extensive dry period experienced in the interior of the Northeast, Areal Novo was invaded and renamed Brasília Teimosa, which means ”Disobedient Brasília”, due to the people’s resistance to the threats of evacuation and destruction of the poor huts. The population now is around 36 thousand inhabitants. The neighbourhood has a privileged location on the coast of the south part of Recife, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Capibaribe River and the sophisticated Pina Neighbourhood. It will be a great opportunity to experience the life of the local residents.


Dez/10 – Monday Recife/Porto de Galinhas/Aracaju

06:00 – Breakfast and check out. Leave for a very special day: we will go to Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco´s most famous beach. There we will find a marvelous landscape formed by natural pools, perfect for snorkelling. Free time to enjoy the beach, take walks and swim. Lunch (included) and departure to Aracaju, Sergipe’s capital, where we will rest. 23:30 – Arrival, check in and overnight stay.


Dez/11 – Tuesday Aracaju/Praia do Forte/Salvador

06:30 – Breakfast, check out and departure to Forte Beach, where we will visit Projeto Tamar (Sea Turtles Protection Project). 13:00 – Lunch (not included) and free time to shop in the village’s fair and/or stores. 15:30 – Departure to Salvador. Arrival, check in and rest. Salvador, capital of Bahia state, is one of Brazil’s most exotic cities. It has a rich cultural diversity and is considered by the United Nations as a World Historical and Artistic Cultural Heritage Site. 19:00 – We will go to the rehearsal of the samba reggae band Olodum, where you will learn more about this group, famous throughout the world for the high quality of their enigmatic rhythms. Olodum has played with Paul Simon and Michael Jackson, a real “dream factory”. On the way back, we will stop by a fast food restaurant (included). Discover more about Olodum before the trip at www.olodum.com.br


Dez/12 – Wednesday Salvador

10:00 – Breakfast followed by a visit to Salvador’s coast line, Farol da Barra, Nosso Senhor do Bonfim Church, Cidade Baixa, Modelo Market, Lacerda Elevator. 14:00 – Lunch (included). Continuous our tour to São Francisco Church, considered to be the richest “gold church” in Brazil, Pelourinho Historical Center and Cidade Alta. 19:30 – Dinner (not included). We will go out to watch the spectacle Balé Folclórico da Bahia, considered by many exchange students the best cultural program of the whole trip.


Dez/13 – Thursday Salvador/Porto Seguro

07:00 – Check out and departure to Porto Seguro. This is not a large city. It has around 100.000 inhabitants. However, it is the most visited touristic place by Brazilians, where the choreographies of Axé (typical dance of Bahia) are created and spread throughout the whole country. In the evening, arrival, check in and free time to rest or enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool. Dinner (included).


Dec/14 – Friday Porto Seguro

08:00 – Breakfast and visit Axé Moi beach tent, one of the most famous in Porto Seguro. Axé Moi is a mixture of a beach kiosk, restaurant, snack bar, store, club, stage for shows and an open area. You will be in ecstasy with the sound of Axé, learning how to dance the music that will play in Brazil during all the summer, Carnival and throughout the entire year. 14:00 – Visit to Cidade Alta, first Brazilian city, and Santa Cruz de Cabrália, where the first mass was held in Brazil. 18:00 – Dinner (included). 21:00 – Go out to enjoy Porto Seguro’s nightlife* (included). *In Porto Seguro, in each day there is a different party, in a different place. The best parties happen from the thursday and in the weekends; and it is exactly for this reason that we opt to being here in these days**. **The night program in Porto Seguro is subjected to changes according to the city’s event promoting company.


Dec/15 – Saturday Porto Seguro/Vitória

08:00 - Breakfast and check out. 09:00 – Departure to Vitória, capital of Espírito Santo State. 19:00 – Arrival in Vitória, dinner (included), check in and rest.


Dec/16 – Sunday Vitória/Rio de Janeiro

08:00 – Breakfast and check out. 09:00 – Departure to Rio de Janeiro, the “Wonderful City” (Cidade Maravilhosa). Harmoniously spread out among the mountains and the sea, Rio de Janeiro is the main tourist destiny in Brazil and is responsible for our country’s projection in the world. According to EMBRATUR, our most important tourism institution, Rio receives every year around one million tourists from other countries. There are innumerous attractions they dream about visiting: Cristo Redentor (Corcovado Hill), Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf), Guanabara Bay, Maracanã Stadium, Carnival Avenue and beaches… 90 km of beaches. 17:00 – Arrival in Rio de Janeiro and check in. Dinner (included).


Dec/17 – Monday Rio de Janeiro

Breakfast and free time to rest and visit the famous Copacabana beach, take a tour through Rio de Janeiro’s historical centre (extra cost) or take a favela tour around Rocinha, the biggest favela in the world (additional cost). City tour in the afternoon: we will visit Maracanã (the largest soccer stadium in the world), Sambódromo (where carnival happens), the Botanical Garden and other touristic attractions of Rio de Janeiro. 19:00 – Dinner (included) in one of Rio’s best barbecue restaurants. Right after, visit to Hard Rock Café Rio de Janeiro.


Dez/18 – Tuesday Rio de Janeiro

Breakfast. 08:00 - Tour to Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf), a symbol of Rio de Janeiro. We will go up in cable cars (bondinhos), inaugurated in 1912 and renovated in 1972, appreciating a spectacular panoramic view of the “Wonderful City”. Lunch (extra cost). 14:00 - Tour to Cristo Redentor (Corcovado Hill), which has the most beautiful view of the world. We will go up on a train, through a trail in Tijuca National Park, part of the Atlantic Forest, an example of nature preservation. This is Brazil’s oldest tour. Return to the hotel and dinner (included).


Dez/19 – Wednesday Rio de Janeiro/Paraty

08:00 - Breakfast and departure to Paraty, where we will tour its fantastic islands on a boat. 20:00 – Dinner (included) and farewell LUAU in an island (subjected to confirmation)!!


Dez/20 – Thursday Disembark

Paraty/Belo Horizonte Paraty/São Paulo 08:00 – Breakfast, check out and departure to Belo Horizonte and São Paulo. 13:00 - Arrival in São Paulo*. 17:00 – Arrival in Belo Horizonte* and end of our services. *The arrival time may change according to the traffic conditions. If there is any unexpected problem on the road, the bus may arrive late. Therefore, we suggest your host parents contact Terra Brasil by calling the General Coordinator of the Trip, 2 to 4 hours in advance, and confirm the arrival time.



a holla of thanks (and the biggest thanks, at that) to my aunt lauren and uncle dave, who made this possible for me to do. you two are generous like no other, and i love you lots!


also, HAHAHA, it´s going to be the best month of december ever, far superior to your time up in glll-waukee