Curator: Professor Helena Costa
Laboratory of Studies on Tourism and Sustainability (LETS UnB)
As part of the SCORAI Brazil Conference 2026, participants will be invited to take part in carefully curated extra visits that enrich the cultural exchange between Brazil and the international community. These experiences are designed to enrich your experience in Brazil and help you make the most of your visit, going beyond stereotypes. We aim to enhance your stay while staying true to SCORAI’s values of sustainability and responsibility. The program features activities that showcase the diversity of Brazilian contexts, encompassing nature, gastronomy, urban life, traditional communities, and alternative mobility. Visits will take place in São Paulo and its surroundings as day trips, with overnight stays occasionally required.
All tours are organized in partnership with small operators who are engaged in sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals, with a preference for local small businesses, Black entrepreneurs, and women-led initiatives. This approach ensures a more careful and responsible form of tourism, creating direct benefits for communities that are building opportunities around sustainable tourism and inclusive entrepreneurship. Participants will be able to purchase experiences directly from the operators, with the option to extend participation to accompanying guests. SCORAI will not mediate financial transactions, thereby reinforcing transparency and emphasizing that its goal is to support responsible initiatives while providing participants with authentic, high-quality experiences during their stay in Brazil.
June 11 and 12 (Thursday and Friday)
1-Overnight Tour: Nature and Adventure in the Atlantic Forest (TBC)
Legado das Águas, the largest private Atlantic Forest reserve in the country, is located 2.5 hours from São Paulo, in the Ribeira Valley. It’s a destination for those who love nature, adventure, and tranquility. Among trails, waterfalls, rafting, kayaking, and wildlife watching, it’s home to endangered species in a breathtaking setting. Activities include birdwatching and hiking, with the site offering comfort and gastronomy. Exclusive group for SCORAI. Departure from USP at noon. Estimated price: R$1,400 / USD$265 per person.
@legadodasaguas | https://www.legadodasaguas.com.br/
Viva o Vale: https://vivaovale.com.br/
Photos: Legado das Águas
June 13 (Saturday): Afro Experiences
Morning or afternoon
Afro Experience (TBC)
African Matrices Tour: Experiencing a day of axé in an Umbanda temple. This experience invites people to experience the daily life and Afro-Brazilian culture in an Umbanda temple. It is part of an initiative to strengthen anti-racist tourism and open up narratives from minority groups. By participating in this tour, you support afro-brazilian entrepreneur’s business (Afro-brazilian Travel) that is part of the Muda Collective, which incorporates principles of responsibility in tourism.
Dharma tourism, Itarobá Temple (1-hour drive from Vergueiro metro station), offering visits from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Estimated price: R$289 / USD$55 per person.
Includes: Transportation by executive van or minibus, Cadastur Tour Guide, Meals (breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea) – vegetarian option, special meal kit, guided tour, community discussion circle, workshops (materials included), travel insurance, Participation in the gira (Umbanda ritualistic service) – Optional
https://www.instagram.com/dharmaturismo/?hl=en
Photos: Dharma Turismo (Instagram)
June 14 (Sunday): Urban and Indigenous Experiences
Option 1 – Morning or afternoon
Urban Bike Tour. Art & Secrets of Downton Tour (TBC).
Discover the city’s vibrant energy, rich history, and captivating culture on our guided bike tour. We take you past iconic landmarks and hidden gems, offering the perfect blend of adventure and insight—whether you’re here for business or leisure. It’s the best way to truly connect with São Paulo!
Your Adventure Begins at Portinha183. We start at our cozy, cyclist-friendly café where you can fuel up with a rich Brazilian coffee or a refreshing juice before we hit the road.
Iconic Paulista Avenue & Cultural Stops. From there, we ride down the famous Paulista Avenue, making several memorable stops.
Casa das Rosas: A beautifully preserved French-style mansion, now a cultural center—perfect for a relaxing break.
Trianon Park: A green oasis in the heart of the city.
São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP): Admire its bold architecture and world-class collection.
Augusta Park: A lively urban space blending nature and city life, ideal for photos and unwinding.
Copan Building: A modernist masterpiece designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
Municipal Theater: A magnificent building inspired by European architecture, located at Praça Ramos de Azevedo.
Vale do Anhangabaú: A historic square that has witnessed major political and cultural events.
Estimated price: USD$55 per person.
https://urbanbikesp.com/pt/passeios/street-art-graffiti/
https://urbanbikesp.rezdy.com/353850/secrets-of-downtown-s-o-paulo-bike-tour
Photos: Urban Bike Tour (website)
Option 2 – Morning and afternoon
Tenonde Porã indigenous community (resistance within SP) (TBC)
An unforgettable day in an indigenous village in the country’s largest city. The Tenondé Porã Indigenous Land is a Guarani Mbya community located in the South Zone of São Paulo and parts of other municipalities, with approximately 1,500 inhabitants divided into seven villages. The community preserves Guarani culture, focusing on passing on traditions, respecting nature, and cultivating plants such as corn and sweet potatoes. Traditional food tastings, crafts, lectures, and trails are offered.
Vivalá, a B Corporation, has won numerous sustainability awards.
Group: up to 14 people.
Estimated price: R$550 / USD$105 per person.
Includes: Round-trip transportation from the meeting point to the Tenondé-Porã Indigenous Land – São Paulo Ecotourism Hub; Lunch with organic ingredients, following traditional culture with native ingredients, and options for vegetarians and vegans; Discussion with indigenous leaders; Visit to learn about the agroforestry system; Guarani children’s choir; Handicraft exhibition; Prayer house. Out of respect for Guarani traditions and way of life, attractions may change throughout the day.
https://www.vivala.com.br/expedicoes/tenonde-pora-aventura
Photos: Vivalá (Site) e Site Aldeia Tenondé-Porã
Recommendations from other interesting tour operators, in case attendees want to visit other Brazilian destinations. All were selected based on their recognition and voluntary commitment to responsible tourism in Brazil::
- Amazônia:
Grupo Caju (Experiências e Pousada da Milla)
Tailor-made Amazon itineraries. A local family-owned business located in Presidente Figueiredo (AM).
https://amazoniajujutour.com.br
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL3dEYatn7P
- Pantanal
Amolar Experience
A joint initiative between the Instituto do Homem Pantaneiro and Pure Turismo, this initiative offers a river cruise through the Pantanal, featuring history, culture, wildlife observation, investment in regeneration, and interaction with social projects in remote communities.
https://amolarexperience.com.br/
https://www.instagram.com/amolarexperience
- Rio de Janeiro
Sou + Carioca
Since 2015, Sou+Carioca has been developing unique tourist itineraries, allowing you to experience Rio de Janeiro beyond the obvious—in other words, discovering places far beyond Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Copacabana. A local company, female entrepreneurship.
https://soumaiscarioca.com.br/
https://www.instagram.com/soumaiscarioca
- Chapada Diamantina (Bahia):
Nas Alturas
A company certified for safety in adventure tourism operations, a Brazilian benchmark and member of the MUDA Collective. Entrepreneurship, feminism, and family business in Lençóis, Bahia.
https://www.instagram.com/nasalturaschapadadiamantina
- Maranhão (Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil’s newest UNESCO Natural Heritage Site):
MOVA Experiências
Award-winning company at the 2025 Responsible Tourism Awards, focusing on local and female entrepreneurship. What it does to promote sustainability: Working with the local community (job creation, alternative income); Working with small local suppliers; Educating customers/travelers; Promoting less-visited destinations; Cultural preservation and promotion.
https://www.instagram.com/movaexperiencias
https://www.instagram.com/movaexperiencias
- Other Brazilian destinations:
Vivalá Turismo Sustentável no Brasil
B Corporation, a company that has won several national awards for sustainability in tourism, offers more than 25 different itineraries to help you experience the best of Brazil in small groups (up to 12 people).