On September 29, we began a unique 11-day incentive trip through some of the most spectacular regions of Brazil.
After winning a worldwide competition, in which they had to create a project on sustainability, digital transformation and agile culture, we wanted to design for our group an unforgettable trip through Rio de Janeiro, Ilha Grande and the Brazilian Amazon, focused on sustainability and efficiency.
Spectacular sustainable accommodations and endless experiences with which to admire and discover Brazil’s vast biodiversity were NUBA’s value proposition for this team that has collaborated in the search for solutions to improve the health of people and our planet.
Rio de Janeiro – Cidade Maravilhosa (Wonderful City)
Diverse, colorful, multicultural and multifaceted, that’s Rio de Janeiro.
We begin our itinerary with the most impressive views of Rio, at Sugarloaf Mountain. The well-known rock located on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, is a natural viewpoint in itself, to which we ascended with a two-stage cable car ride. We also had the opportunity to admire the statue of Christ the Redeemer in first person, one of the most imposing and iconic panoramic views of the city, and to enjoy an exclusive catamaran ride.
And before heading to our next destination, we ventured to discover the largest urban forest reserve in the world, located in the middle of the city of Rio de Janeiro, the Tijuca Forest. After a short walk through the forest, we embarked on an exciting Jeep ride through the entire reserve, discovering the stunning local fauna and flora as we passed by, while we came into contact with various species of animals, such as monkeys, birds and butterflies, as well as learning all about the Atlantic Rainforest.
Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is part of an archipelago of 187 islands and islets located in the Bay of Ilha Grande, on the west coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and the region, known as Costa Verde, is one of the most beautiful of the entire Brazilian coast. Thus, we reached our next destination, full of beautiful scenery of mountains, jungle and beaches, and where the sea -predominantly green- harbors a valuable natural wealth.
Here we undertook an enlightening tour, a walk through the Atlantic Forest, to Lopes Mendes Beach. The first is considered one of the richest biodiversity areas in the world; declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, it is home to 20,000 plant species and more than 2,000 animal species. However, it is one of the most endangered regions of our planet, since 90% of its original extension has been destroyed by man’s hand. Here we learned about the great impact that human beings can have on the world, and how necessary it is to really take care of it, with sustainable initiatives that can provide real solutions.
After the impressive tour, we finally reached Lopes Mendes Beach, one of the most beautiful and spectacular beaches on the Brazilian coast. With 3 km of white sand, so fine that it slips through your fingers, and a sea that is light blue in parts and green in others, it is undoubtedly one of the most famous beaches of Ihla Grande. Relaxing under the natural shade of the branches of its “amendoeiras”, which run along the coast, is an experience difficult to explain.
Amazon
And finally, we reached the last destination of our trip, the Amazon, a large region in the horizontal and northern part of South America, which includes the rainforest of the Amazon River basin. With 7 million square kilometers, distributed among 9 countries, it is the largest tropical forest on the planet. This is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Our lodge, intimate bungalows perfectly located in the lush surroundings of the Amazon rainforest, allowed us to experience the spectacular and rich landscape from the inside and from a new perspective; following the architectural style and techniques used by the native inhabitants of the Amazon River, it is built on high stilts resting at treetop level. Completely ecological in design and construction, all the materials used to build it are indigenous and abundant in the region, in addition to being carefully extracted from the surrounding area. A sustainable environment that values respect for the environment, and that invited us to live some of the most immersive experiences of the trip, offering us direct access to discover nature in its purest state.
Thus, we are witnessing the phenomenon of Meeting of the waters of the Negro and Solimões Rivers, where their waters run parallel for a long stretch, without mixing, until they form the Amazon River. igarapés (streams) e igapós (flooded forests), swimming, watching dolphins and listening to the mysterious noises of the forest on the way; and we went deep into the unexplored paths of the forest, accompanied by a private guide, who transmitted us all his knowledge of survival in the jungle, offering us at every step explanations about the Amazonian fauna, and showing us edible, medicinal and useful plants for any circumstance that we might encounter.
We also took a new walk, this time with the objective of raising awareness about the importance of keeping the Amazon Rainforest standing, so we had the wonderful opportunity to plant our own tree -a native species-, contributing a small grain of sand to the change we want to see in the world.
Quiet rides in a typical regional boat at sunset, watching the incomparable sunrise on the Juma River, climbing to the treetops to get a new point of view, going by boat into the Amazon rainforest at night to observe caimans, frogs and birds or letting ourselves fall asleep in hammocks in the middle of the forest with the sounds of animals as the only backdrop …. Authentic experiences, unique and full of contrasts that made this incentive trip an unforgettable memory for everyone.
