Mini-Escapes Brazil

  Brazil

• Northern Brazil: 
Recife,  Olinda

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks

Description: This wonderful 2 week Mini-Escape Brazil program features travel to the popular areas of Recife, Galinhas, Olinda, and Catamara. Immerse yourself in Brazilian history, cultural wonders, breathtaking scenery, and Brazilian art and drama. After your first few days of Brazil exploration, work with poor street children to provide them educational opportunities and loving care. Whether a short career hiatus or school break, the Brazil Mini-Escape offers an experience you won't find on the normal tourist trail.

Proposed Itinerary

Day 0: Welcome at airport and transfer to accommodations

Day 1: Orientation - Discussion of local geography, safety and health tips, what you can expect from your Global Crossroad program, what we expect from you, etc.; settle in, unpack and relax.

Day 2: Guided tour of Recife, capital of the state of Pernambuco. View historic buildings, visit local markets and eat lunch at one of the famous restaurants in the Old City. Continue to Olaria de Francisco Brennand, a well-known ceramic factory and museum, and view first-hand artisans plying their craft in Brazil.

Day 3: Day trip to Porto de Galinhas, considered to be the best beach on the north-east coast of Brazil. Spend the day exploring the town and enjoying the magnificent beaches, only an hour and a half from Recife.

Day 4: Guided tour of Olinda, a Unesco World Heritage City. Its historic importance is immediately obvious, with its magnificent buildings, churches, and art galleries displaying the work of the 7,000 artists who live and work in Olinda. Enjoy lunch at one of the many delightful restaurants.

In the afternoon, take part in something completely different - a Capoeira Class! A Brazilian Martial Art taught by local experts, Cappoeira is an authentic, exciting combination of dance and defense.

Day 5: Catamary Tour, including visits to Fort Orange, Peixe - Boi Marine Park, Maria Farinha beach, Itamaracy and Coroa do Aviyo Islands. This absolutely breathtaking tour of the rivers and coastline of the north-east coast is a thrilling experience you won't want to miss! End the day with dinner together, relax and look forward to your project work, which begins the next day.

Day 6 - 14: Volunteers will assist in a community project designed to educate, foster skills, and provide recreational opportunities for disadvantaged children ages 7 to 15. You will aid teachers and community workers who rescue children who would otherwise live at the city's municipal waste site. The area's community and educational center, much like a youth center, was built for this purpose and serves as many as 200 children. Your love and care for these children will help turn around their lives, and demonstrate that they are not 'the forgotten ones' after all.

Cost in US$: Please inquire for more information

Experience Required: no

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Global Crossroad's Mission Statement: Global Crossroad offers many remarkable and challenging volunteer, internship, mini-adventure, and cultural immersion opportunities to interested international volunteers in marvelous countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Mongolia, Ghana, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya. Our unique programs are creative and exciting, as they engage volunteers in breathtaking journeys. Here, a volunteer can become involved in service projects while they explore remote villages. A volunteer can also learn a wonderful new heritage as the Global Crossroad provides language training courses and cultural tours.

Year Founded: 2002