Long days of road and river to reach Indigenous communities of the Xingu and the Araguaia, and three days and two nights as guests of each of them.
Price on request
Photos courtesy of the operator, taken on its expeditions with the communities.
Price on request
Request 2027 dates Ask on WhatsApp Not ready yet? Get the trip notes (PDF) →In the Xingu basin and along the Araguaia, Indigenous peoples keep their languages, ceremonies and ways of living with the forest, and some of their communities choose to host visitors for a few days each season. This is not a tour of villages but a stay as guests, on the community's terms: you share the days as they come, and the community decides what to show you.
Price on request
Request 2027 dates Ask on WhatsApp Not ready yet? Get the trip notes (PDF) →
How the days usually run. Your final itinerary comes with your proposal, confirmed with the operator for your dates.
Typical inclusions. The exact list for your dates comes in your proposal.
The exact arrangements depend on each community and are described in your proposal.
The Xingu is one of the great southern tributaries of the Amazon, a clear-water river that runs north for more than 1,800 km (1,100 mi) through Mato Grosso and Pará. Along its upper reaches lies the Xingu Indigenous Territory, created in 1961 as Brazil's first large Indigenous territory; further north lie the Kayapó lands, more than 10 million hectares of continuous forest.
Approximate locations. Map data: Natural Earth.
Communities visited may include the Kayapó, the Karajá of Bananal Island and peoples of the Xingu Indigenous Territory, depending on each season's route and on which communities are receiving visitors.
Tall forest, rivers with rapids and wide sandy beaches in the dry season, and open savanna in between. Long stretches of dirt road connect it all.
Hot year-round, 25 to 35 °C (77 to 95 °F). Dry season roughly May to October, when roads are open and rivers drop. Nights can be cool in July.
Indigenous territories are protected by Brazilian law and can only be visited with the community's consent. The communities decide who comes, when, and on what terms.
Not sure? Tell us about your group and we'll be straight with you.
Late May to October, the dry season. From November the rains make the dirt roads impassable.
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for Mato Grosso and Pará, and proof may be requested. Parts of the region have malaria risk, so ask a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you go about prevention, plus hepatitis A and typhoid. Travel insurance with medical cover and emergency evacuation is required.
Photography, clothing and visits follow each community's rules, explained before you arrive and on arrival.
A deposit holds your dates; the balance is due before departure. Full refund if you change your mind within 7 days of paying the deposit. After that, the operator's cancellation policy applies; you receive it in writing with your proposal. Booking terms
Practical details (rooms, food, Wi-Fi, money, what to pack) come with your proposal and in the trip notes.
It depends on the communities and the route, and some activities are meant for specific ages, under the operator's rules. Tell us the children's ages in your request and we'll check with the operator.
Yes. Solo travelers join the group departure. Tell us in your request.
By van or 4x4 from Cuiabá, and by boat where needed. Reaching the first community takes about a full day, and moving between communities takes about another day.
There are direct flights from São Paulo and Brasília, which connect with international flights from the US and the UK.
In very simple lodging inside or next to the village, arranged by the operator with the community. Expect basic bathrooms and cold water. Your proposal describes the arrangements for each stop.
Mostly what your hosts eat, with support from the expedition team. Tell us about any dietary needs in advance, so we can check what's possible.
Usually yes, but always with permission, and some moments are off-limits. Your guide explains each community's rules before you arrive.
Ask us first. The operator advises what is appropriate for each community. Buying crafts directly from the artisans is always welcome.
Not in the villages. Plan to be offline for several days at a time.
Hot and dry, with strong sun at midday and nights that can be cool in July. Dust on the roads is part of the trip.
Yes, it's required, with medical cover and emergency evacuation. We also recommend trip cancellation cover. Brazilian accident cover for the activities, issued by MBM Seguradora S.A., is included at no extra cost; you can decline it. The villages are many hours from the nearest hospital.
Bring Brazilian reais in cash for crafts, drinks in town and tips. There are no card machines in the villages.
Power is limited or absent in the villages. Bring a power bank and charge when you're in town. Brazil uses type N sockets, which also take type C plugs.
Tell us when you'd like to travel. We reply within 24 hours.
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