The Route of Emotions, Pantanal and Fernando de Noronha
We interviewed Louise about her holiday in Brazil. The family of 5 traveled to Brazil in June 2022 to discover three different regions: The Route of Emotions, the Pantanal, and the island of Fernando de Noronha.
What type of Traveler are you?
Louise: We are a family with three teenagers (10, 12 and 15 years old) and are used to travelling together. We like being in nature and doing active things, we like to try local cuisine and discover new things. Traveled extensively in Europe and Africa and this year we decided to discover Brazil with the children. After the pandemic we have been craving for new explorations and travelling.
Why did you choose Brazil as a destination?
Louise: We have been seeing the landscapes of the Lençois Maranhenses in the Nordeste and we thought it might be cool to do it with the boys. Our friends who had gone to Brazil told us about this place and we wanted to do it as well. But since Brazil is very far away for us, as we live in Paris, we wanted to see a few different regions. Usually, we loved discovering animals in Africa and decided to renew the experience in Brazil. We were very happy to learn that this is possible in the Pantanal, although initially we were thinking to do the Amazon. And, of course we wanted to see the famous Brazilian beaches.
Why did you choose booking your trip with Boutique Travel Experts?
Louise: We usually organize our trips ourselves, but the tailor-made travel agency Boutique Travel Experts was highly recommended to us by our friends who traveled with this travel company before the pandemic. The fact that they know Brazil extensively, appealed to us enormously. We even had a zoom call with them, together with the boys and my husband. They have been very helpful and always available.
Tell us more about your itinerary? Was it tailor-made?
Louise: We absolutely did not want to find ourselves in a group on an organized trip, where you run around to tick every box, so we asked for a tailored trip with private tours and transfers, so we can enjoy ourselves at our own pace. So, we landed in Fortaleza with a direct flight from Paris, then did the entire Route of Emotions itinerary, then headed to the Pantanal for the wildlife. The animals in the Pantanal are very unique, we loved it there. We then flew to the island of Fernando de Noronha for the beaches. We were hesitating between spending the end in Rio or Bahia. But in the end we chose Noronha and it was totally worth it.
Did you have any particular expectations or fears before going to Brazil?
Louise: They say Brazil is a dangerous country and we were concerned about insecurity. But once there, we did not have a single moment of stress. We had super professional guides on the tours, the transfers run smoothly and everyone was very helpful and friendly.
What place did you like the most in Brazil?
Louise: Without doubt, the Lençois Maranhenses, the dunes formed by the wind and the clear pools. We lived an unforgettable moment there with incredible sunsets. The boys tried surfing on the lagoons. It was fantastic, a unique landscape in the world. Also, the flight over the Lençois Maranhenses in a small aircraft was simply incredible.
Which hotels did you like the most in Brazil?
Louise: We loved Vila Kalango in Jericoacoara, for the festive side and its great location close to the beach. It’s always a pleasure to share a cocktail while watching the sun go down. The lodge in the Pantanal was also incredible, located in the very heart of the reserve. We felt really privileged to be able to get so close to wild animals. All the pousadas we stayed on the Route of Emotions were fantastic. It is important for us to stay in nice places when we travel as a family.
How were the guides on your trip?
Louise: We loved our guide on the Route of Emotions, Clayton. He spoke fluent English and French, to our surprise, since we knew that it is hard to find people speaking foreign languages in this part of Brazil. He adapted the program to our pace and offered us activities that were not initially planned to please our three boys. We have stayed in contact with him and we write to each other regularly. The guides in the Pantanal were very knowledgeable and welcoming too.
What advice would you give to someone planning a trip to Brazil?
Louise: Brazil is a surprising and beautiful country. We absolutely loved to have our trip tailored by Boutique Travel Experts, they did a great planning our holiday. We highly recommend anyone who is planning a trip to Brazil to contact them. In particular we liked the quality of chosen pousadas and hotels, but above all for the exceptional and very professional guides that we certainly could not have met while organizing our trip to Brazil by ourselves.
Where will you travel next?
Louise: This summer we will stay in Europe. But next year we are planning to go to Madagascar together, if the world won’t go into lockdown again. The boys like water sports and we loved the idea of another itinerary from Boutique Travel Experts, the one focused on the north-east of the island. We would love to see the whale-shark and are planning to go to Nosy Be around October, as this giant of the sea is not around all the year.
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