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Gondwana Brasil

Everything made in Brazilian style has a special touch. Check out our manifesto video!

From the union of purposes and deep love for Brazil, Gondwana Brasil was born in 2001. In that moment, amidst the trails of the Atlantic Forest in the Southern region of the map, a connection between worlds, people, cultures, and nature also emerged.

Like a seed in fertile soil, Gondwana grew strong and prosperous, becoming a necessary entity. Today, it leads a national operator that offers authentic experiences showcasing the best of Brazil.

In 2023, we came across Badauê, a creative curation company that resonates perfectly with our Brazilian energy and is also led by women. The process was intense and involved a lot of conversations, to truly capture our essence, our values, and our goals for the years to come.

One of the results, in addition to our new visual identity, was our manifesto, which became a video. Check it out below!


In Brazil, we were born and in Brazil, we are exalted. We are a bridge between worlds, cultures, people, and nature.

We celebrate ‘Brasil with S’, with joy, sensitivity, and responsibility, connecting international travelers to precious Brazilian destinations, communities, and experiences.

Brazilian.

Everything made in Brazilian style has a special touch: the preparation of food, the beat of the drum, the lush scenery, the blend of people, the stories on every corner. Clear the way, for the best of Brazil is ready to pass. The well-intentioned are welcome. Because Brazil is synonymous with joy, but it also demands respect.

We promote Responsible Tourism beyond rhetoric, supporting causes, stories, and cultural values that are non-negotiable to us. Wherever we go, we leave a positive impact.

Our fuel is the mutual relationships between people and places.

We believe in tourism as a great and powerful tool for transformation.

We exist out of love for people; Out of love for transformative journeys — both within and outside ourselves; because of our love for Brazil.


We hope you enjoyed it!

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Gondwana Brasil

We celebrated 2023 on Ilha do Mel, on the coast of Paraná.

Think about the delightful days we spent together?! That’s how the last week was for the Gondwana Brazil team. From December 4th to 10th, we managed to gather most of the people who make our business, trips, and especially our purpose happen.

Throughout the weekdays, from Monday to Thursday, we came together to work together, as we have a fixed team in Curitiba, but we work remotely from various parts of the country – and the world! So having this face-to-face contact is always practical and healthy to align strategies and renew the team’s energy.

With us were the directors Camila Barp and Daniela Meres, and our team: Aline Vörös, Barbara Ataide, Carolina Paiva, Camila Silva, Enayra Alves, Gabriel Bressiani, Lukas Flocke, Luzimar Del Rei, Marco Sieber, Renatha Caggiano, Sophie Nowak, and Vanessa Silva.

We also had two interesting external contributions. We had a lecture on Nonviolent Communication (NVC) by Paulo Cruz Filho, founder of We.Flow, and learned more about each person’s personality through the Enneagram, a system of personal and professional development that describes nine key personality types, each with its instinctive, emotional, and mental tendencies. Each of these personalities also reflects a central leadership style and behavioral patterns.

Karen Wasman gave a lecture on “The Power of ‘E’: Career, Motherhood, Diversity,” talking about the various roles we have and balance to live in society.

At other times, we talked a bit about our workflow so that everyone could visualize the sales, product, and financial processes we go through here. Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of how the year 2023 was for the company, considering especially the quality of services provided and the satisfaction level of our customers and those who visited Brazil with us. And we can say that the result was: excellence! And that’s how we want to continue.

How about some rest?!

After a night of Happy Hour and exchanging gifts, we headed to Ilha do Mel, on the coast of Paraná, the next morning. On Friday, part of the team took the Serra do Mar train to Morretes. The attraction has been around since 1997 and was considered one of the 10 most spectacular train rides in the world by the British newspaper “The Guardian.” One reason for this is that the journey cuts through the largest preserved stretch of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. From inside, you can see untouched waterfalls and lush vegetation.

Arriving in Morretes, we had a traditional Barreado lunch. The meat in this typical dish of the city is cooked slowly for hours in a clay pot sealed with a flour paste. When serving, it is eaten with banana and dry cassava flour – or in the form of porridge.

Morretes is the starting point for Ilha do Mel. Therefore, shortly after eating and strolling around the city, we set off to catch the boat that would take us out to sea and then reach the other side: our desired final destination.

On the island, we stayed at Pousada e Café das Meninas, where, in addition to accommodation in a cozy space, we had delicious breakfasts and afternoon teas with unique sweets in the world – such as maracolate (a combination of chocolate and passion fruit) pies, pineapple with coconut, hazelnut, and cheesecake. One night, they also served us a special dinner accompanied by wine and a carefully made risotto for each of us.

During the mornings and afternoons, we visited the beautiful beaches of the region: Praia de Fora, Praia Grande, Praia Encantadas, Praia da Fortaleza, and Praia do Farol, which, through a staircase with about 150 steps, provides access to one of the most stunning views in the area. An iconic spot!

But wait, soon we will talk more about this destination in detail.

We feel rejuvenated to celebrate what 2023 was and embrace the new that comes in 2024! We hope this text has brought you a little of the good feeling that it was for us to live these days.

Thank you for accompanying us so far. We’ll see you again on this same blog next year.

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Gondwana Brasil

New Visual Identity Highlights the “Brasil With S”

In Brazil, we were born and in Brazil, we are exalted. We are a bridge between worlds, cultures, people, and nature. We celebrate ‘Brasil with S’, with joy, sensitivity, and responsibility, connecting international travelers to precious Brazilian destinations, communities, and experiences.

Just as every piece of land and every element of nature carries a story, we believe that all stories should be respected. Diversity makes Brazil much more interesting, joyful, and inspiring. Whether it’s between humans or with nature, respect is the foundation on which our interactions foster healthy growth.

Around here, we say that the “Brazil with S” is this rooted, down-to-earth, genuine one. And it’s with this country that we want visitors to have a connection, to truly experience the reality of a good portion of the population, without filters. May it be an immersion beyond the breathtaking landscapes, but also through the culture, through the different ways of life; that connect and change the lives of each one who comes here.

And our new visual identity encompasses all of this! That’s why we’ve decided to share a bit with you about how this brand update process went and what’s new. Are you with us?

Content Summary
Starting from the beginning

Gondwana Brazil completed 22 years in 2023! And we know how much the journey to this point has meant for this collective construction, not only by those who are partners, also by the contribution of each person who has been part of our team of collaborators, as well as partner companies who have trusted and continue to trust us, and by those who, finally, have been amazed by the trips we provide. We even shared a blog post in April talking about our anniversary and sharing some highlights from our history. We recommend reading it!

And it was at this turning point that we also began to feel the need to express even more and better our essence through our visual identity, bringing more of what we are as a brand and company, more colors, more of Brazil, our values, etc. And we knew that the best way to do that was through a rebranding process.

Much has changed over the years. Let’s take a look together at the progression of our logo through this timeline.

2001

Gondwana's First Logo

2005

Gondwana's Logo 2005

2006

Gondwana's Logo 2006

(We also created a “Gond Brazil” seal)

2015

Gondwana's Logo 2015

Now in 2023, after research goes, research comes (as we say around here to express something that took some time to be accomplished), we came across Badauê, a creative curation company that resonates perfectly with our Brazilian energy and is also led by women.


The process was intense and involved a lot of conversations, to truly capture our essence, our values, and our goals for the years to come. It was quite gratifying to be part of this stage, and the result, finally, you can see below and in all of our brand communications from now on.

A little more about the rebranding process

We interviewed the creative team at Badauê to share a bit about the stages that included this new phase for us. Check it out below.

Gondwana: How was the creative process for structuring Gondwana Brazil’s new identity?

Badauê: Badauê had a profound, engaging, and immersive process with the brand, the company, and the team. The creation of Gondwana Brazil’s new identity was the result of a meticulous and highly strategic creative process. Our goal was to conceive a synesthetic and authentic identity, capable of capturing the company’s soul and reflecting its values, while also translating the diversity and multiculturalism of Brazil.

The starting point was a thorough research to understand the company in its market context, unraveling its rich ancestry, and identifying its essential values and aspirations. Based on this deep research, we developed a central concept that incorporated the four fundamental pillars of the brand: the Experience of Brazil, Responsible Tourism, Respect for People and Nature, and Women’s Entrepreneurship.

From this solid foundation, we created a captivating color palette, a unique typography, and visual elements that not only conveyed the company’s connection to Brazil, nature, celebrations, and continuous impact, but also evoked delicacy, strength, and love in a contemporary, expressive, and clear manner. After testing and refining, we strategically implemented the new identity across all touchpoints of the brand. The result is a robust, authentic, and genuinely Brazilian identity that communicates effectively and enhances the presence of Gondwana Brazil, allowing it to stand out in the market.

G: What was the most challenging aspect? And what was the most enjoyable?

B: The major challenge that guided Badauê’s entire creative and strategic process was undoubtedly to highlight Gondwana’s sway in a way that consolidated its essence into authentically Brazilian synesthetic elements, beyond the traditional ones already recognized by its international audience. We were confident that by doing so, we could differentiate it in its market and facilitate connections with its suppliers. This required a deep understanding of the company’s values and culture, as well as the ability to adorn the representation of Brazil’s diversity and multiculturalism, the core of Badauê-style projects.

As a result of this challenge, the most enjoyable aspect was seeing the identity take shape and evolve over time. The development of creative concepts, the choice of color palette, the creation of unique visual elements, and the design of the logo were all exciting moments and involved a lot of exchange with the Gondwana team. Additionally, the positive feedback from the Gondwana Brazil team during the process and then in the final presentation demonstrated that the new identity was achieving its intended goals. Overall, the satisfaction of seeing the identity come to life and surpass Gondwana’s expectations was the most rewarding aspect for the Badauê team.

G: In your opinion, what does this brand offer that is different from others?

B: The new identity of Gondwana Brazil à la Badauê presents a series of remarkable differentiators that set it apart from other brands. First and foremost, the brand stands out for its synesthetic approach, going beyond mere visual identity to create a complete sensory experience for its clients. This not only captures attention but also leaves a lasting impression, distinguishing the brand in a market often saturated with traditional approaches. Additionally, Gondwana Brazil stands out for its authenticity in representing the diversity and multiculturalism of Brazil. Avoiding common stereotypes, the brand celebrates the richness of different cultures in the country, making it relevant to a global audience in search of a genuine and rich Brazilian experience.

Another significant differentiator for Badauê is the strong emphasis on sustainable and social values. The inclusion of the four pillars of the brand – Experience of Brazil, Responsible Tourism, Respect for People and Nature, and Women’s Entrepreneurship – highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. This is an important choice in a market where environmental and social awareness is constantly growing. The new identity of Gondwana Brazil skillfully balances tradition and modernity, connecting the past and the present in a contemporary and expressive representation. This resonates with an audience that values both cultural heritage and innovation, making the brand relevant to a wide range of consumers.

Finally, the positive feedback from the Gondwana Brazil team during the creation and implementation of the new identity is a clear sign of its effectiveness. The fact that the team identified with the identity and embraced it wholeheartedly demonstrates that we successfully achieved our goals, adding a human and engaging touch that sets it apart and enhances its potential.




And you, do you like what you’ve seen so far?

The variety of colors, textures, applications, icons, and graphic elements as well as the curation of photos and videos, express our Brazilian sociodiversity. So get ready to see many beauties around here!

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Gondwana Brasil

Which types of tourism does Gondwana Brazil engage in?

September 27th is World Tourism and Tourism Professionals Day. A day when we take the opportunity to reflect on the importance of tourism and how it impacts the world and society.

We, at Gondwana, a tourism company that operates as a Destination Management Company (DMC), understand the responsibility of working in this sector. That’s the reason why we have decided to share more information about the types of tourism in which we are involved.

Many people think that tourism is only about leisure. But the truth is that tourism involves an extensive chain of products and services and has a significant impact on people’s lives. Here at Gondwana, we focus on ensuring that our impact on the world is positive, contributing to initiatives that promote environmental preservation, respect and value traditional communities and local development, and providing incredible experiences for those who visit Brazil through us, of course.

According to the definition of the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism (MTur, 2010), “types of tourism are classified into areas of specific interest that generate travel demands with their own motivations but fall within the dimension and characterization of a particular tourism segment.”

That’s why we have listed below the types of tourism that Gondwana engages with and interacts with, along with their definitions. Check it out!

Content Summary
Ecotourism

According to MTur, ecotourism refers to tourist activity that uses natural and cultural heritage sustainably, encourages their conservation, and aims to foster environmental awareness through the interpretation of the environment, promoting the well-being of populations.

Recently, Brazil was named the best ecotourism destination in the world by Forbes! A source of great pride for us. Our Ecotourism Index Score was 94.9/100.

“Around 30% of Brazil’s landmass is currently protected. This includes eight UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites, one of which is the Central Amazon Conservation complex, which protects threatened species such as the Amazonian manatee and the black caiman”, says a section of the article, which also provides detailed information about the evaluation methodology. It’s definitely worth a read!

Adventure Tourism

Adventure Tourism, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), “is a tourist activity that includes physical activity, cultural exchange, or activities in nature.” Among the most sought-after adventure tourism practices here at Gondwana are trekking, rafting, and snorkeling, for example, but there are many possibilities, especially in Brazil, due to its vast natural beauty.

You can check out the complete list of activities on the website of the Brazilian Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Companies (ABETA), of which we are a part.

Responsible Tourism
According to the World Travel Market (WTM), which awards global Responsible Tourism initiatives every year, the definition of this practice is about “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.” In other words, Responsible Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, local people, and tourists take responsibility and take action to make tourism more sustainable.

According to the Brazilian government, Responsible Tourism seeks to act within the principles of ethics and socio-environmental responsibility and is based on the understanding and promotion of ethical values common to humanity, in a spirit of tolerance and respect for the diversity of religious, philosophical, and moral beliefs.
Sustainable Tourism
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.”

And we truly believe that tourism only makes sense in this way: if it benefits everyone involved, including nature.
Cultural Tourism
As lovers of culture, especially Brazilian culture, we couldn’t overlook Cultural Tourism. These are tourist activities related to experiencing the set of significant elements of historical and cultural heritage and cultural events, valuing and promoting the tangible and intangible assets of a country, according to MTur.
Community-Based Tourism
Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is certainly one of the most incredible and enriching experiences that anyone can have, especially for those born or living for a long time in large urban centers, far from nature and traditional cultures.

According to responsibletravel.com, “community-based tourism is tourism in which local residents (often rural, poor, and economically marginalized) invite tourists to visit their communities with the provision of overnight accommodation. The residents earn income as land managers, entrepreneurs, service and produce providers, and employees. At least part of the tourist income is set aside for projects that provide benefits to the community as a whole.”

Final Note: Indigenous communities are among the 28 recognized traditional communities in Brazil, which also include caiçaras, extractivists, quilombolas, ribeirinhos communities, and other groups. Therefore, ethno-tourism is also a part of Community-Based Tourism.

In Brazil, indigenous communities have autonomy to develop tourism projects in their territories, with the government’s role being to monitor and regulate activities in these villages. All initiatives are regulated by Normative Instruction No. 3 of the National Indian Foundation (Funai). Visits are scheduled with the representatives of the communities or authorized tourism agencies.

It’s a true immersion into the life experiences of these people, which in addition to everything else, helps them continue to exist and survive with dignity.

We hope that these definitions have given you a better understanding of our reality and what we believe in.

Are you interested in providing these incredible experiences to your clients? Contact us to learn more about our exclusive itineraries that combine two or more of the types of tourism mentioned here.

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Gondwana Brasil

Gondwana Brasil turns 22!

Today, Gondwana Brazil is turning 22 years old!

Looking back on our journey, we feel very proud of everything that has been accomplished over all these years.

At this moment, Gondwana is experiencing a moment of maturity: we understand our purpose, our reason for existing. More than ever, we want to promote transformation through tourism. We believe strongly in the potential of travel and how it can transform people’s lives, both for those who visit and for those who receive them.

In addition, we are living in a very positive moment in our country: Brazil occupies a position of reference and trend! This “Brazilian-ness” is an experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. And we want to be part of this movement that values our diversity and joy, promoting tourism that takes people to experience this “Brazil with an s” that we love so much.

We have come a long way to get here. We started in 2001 with the goal of taking people to experience nature and meeting the international demand for nature and adventure travel in Brazil. We have contributed greatly to the development of nature tourism in different destinations in the state of Paraná and the south of the country alongside other companies, private institutions, NGOs, SEBRAE, and the government.

Promoting tourism in Brazil is in our DNA, and now intensified with the goal to promote responsible tourism, not only with nature experiences, but in a way that values the people who work in tourism, the local communities, and our unique and diverse culture. This year, we are also committed to seeking important certifications that will strengthen our commitment to promoting responsible tourism where we operate.

Our goal for the coming years is to offer more and more quality in our tourism services and products, and to reinforce and increase positive impacts with community-based tourism projects, social development, and nature conservation throughout the country.

At this moment, we feel very grateful for everything we have built so far. It is very rewarding to look at our journey and see that every effort, every commitment, and every detail was important to get where we are.

This was only possible because we have such a special team like the one we have. People who share the same cause and believe in the purpose we have. A diverse, powerful, highly engaged, and motivated team. Without them, we would not have arrived here with so much joy.

And obviously, another fundamental part of all this is due to our local partners and clients. We are immensely grateful to you, who have been building this story together with us. May our goal of promoting responsible tourism continue to unite us and bring good results, enhancing this positive transformation.

We believe that tourism can contribute to living in a better country. Creating jobs, distributing income, valuing culture, conserving nature, and bringing joy and well-being, our most precious assets!

We are ready for this new cycle! Soon, we will have more news to celebrate this moment. 🙂

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Gondwana Brasil

2022 Gondwana Impacts

During the pandemic, we had time to delve into the issue of tourism responsibility and managed to review our business model. This is the reason why taking responsibility for our impacts becomes a priority.

While we are at it, we would like to share some of the impacts we had on the tourism market. We want to be transparent and also be able to materialize the results of our efforts by analyzing them.

These are some of our impacts on Brazilian tourism last year:
  • 907 passengers got to know Brazil through Gondwana.
  • We supported 274 local suppliers in different regions of the country. Providing a total of R$5.093.228,94 in services.
  • We supported 7 different projects, totaling R$ 25938.72 in income for community- based tourism initiatives; R$ 2300.00 for biodiversity preservation initiatives and R$ 11064.50 for social development initiatives.
  • We took tourists to 40 different destinations around the country, strengthening the local economy.
We are looking internally for ways to contribute so that destinations, suppliers and local communities can also benefit from tourism.

These desired results can be possible through actions and partnerships with projects for cultural valorization and the local way of life, income and opportunity generation, inclusion and diversity.

Brazil is a country of untouched nature, diverse in its culture and social organization. It has a lot of power to transform people and the world. In the coming years, reducing our negative impact and increasing our positive impact will be a priority.

The year 2023 arrives with crucial goals to Gondwana Brazil:
  • Begin the process of being a B Company;
  • Strengthen and increase the positive impacts with Community Based Tourism, Social Development and Nature Protection projects all over Brazil;
  • Increase the supply of CBT programs and experiences throughout Brazil – including Community-Based Tourism experiences in Indigenous Territories;
  • And other actions that we will share with you during the year.
We believe that tourism is an economic activity with great potential to contribute to sustainable development. This is what we wish for our country.
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Gondwana Brasil

21st anniversary of Gondwana Brasil

We are celebrating 21 years of existence and this moment has so many powerful meanings to us. Gondwana Brasil was created to be an organic company that changes along with the world. Always for the good of life!
Looking back to our path we can confirm this. We have come a long way during all these years, learning and building together a better tourism for and to our country.

In these last few years there have been many achievements and challenges. Perhaps the biggest of them was the pandemic. However, like a living organism, we managed to adapt and integrate new strategies and knowledge. More than simply survive, we were reborn!

Our 21st anniversary has arrived to take this process of renewal even further. It has confirmed our role in the world and, more than that, our desire to keep doing what we love most: changing Brazil and its people through our trips while remaining an active agent of responsible tourism.

For such a special moment, we have chosen one of the most important destinations in Brazil: the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro. Celebrating our 21st anniversary here has given us a joyful, creative and invigorating perspective about the future.

The future is made of diversity, autonomy, women’s power, truth, nature, resilience, mutuality, passion, care, authenticity and collectivity! These ideas will guide us and permeate all our actions.

A very special thanks, with all the Axé of Rio de Janeiro, to all the people who have been supporting us! Our partners, friends and clients. Especially to the team that helps us to turn everything possible.
May there be many more years of passion, love, joy, professionalism, dedication and respect to all the people and every living being on the planet.

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® Gondwana Brasil 2001-2022 | EMBRATUR: PR 10.04.440.170/0001-48 | Feito com ♥ por Mandakaru