Building Group Adventures in Brazil for a Better Future

Just a short boat ride from Belém, across the Guamá River in Brazil, lies a river community of about 1,500 on the small island of Cumbu. Part of the vast Amazon delta, this area is remarkably serene, especially given its proximity to the bustling city of Belém, home to over 1 million people just half a mile away.

On Cumbu, houses stand on stilts and children travel to school by boat, winding through narrow river passages that cut through the island's dense jungle. The air is humid and earthy, carrying the scent of river water that ebbs with the tides and the damp jungle floor.

I’ve come here to develop EF Ultimate Break’s next generation of tours in Brazil. According to survey market research conducted by EF Ultimate Break and Qualtrics in September 2024, an astounding 7 of out 10 Gen Z and younger Millennial travelers said sustainability factored into their travel booking decision. Even more significant, today’s young adults might be the first generation to book a sustainable choice even if it costs more, with more than half (56%) saying they will book the more sustainable option independent of cost.

Driving these booking decisions are also deep concerns about leaving the world a better place, seeking responsible and sustainable travel experiences that support local businesses and communities, considers animal welfare, and makes travel adjustments based on overtourism concerns (with more than 7 in 10 young adult travelers saying these attributes of sustainability were important to very important factors when they booked travel).

If they met Charles Teles, a 47-year-old Cumbu resident, they would witness firsthand a person, and a community caught in a delicate balance—fighting to make a living on the river while facing the challenges brought by urban expansion and tourism. As Charles explained through an interpreter, “The river has changed. The shrimp that once thrived here are gone, and larger, faster boats now fill the narrow waters, ferrying day-trippers. My canoe is mostly useless now," he said, gesturing to a wooden vessel lying idle on the shore, as boat traffic has made the river too rough for traditional fishing.

Some locals are selling their land to city dwellers seeking second homes, or to developers whose plans clash with the traditional ways of life here. But many, like Charles, are determined to stay and preserve their community. That’s why he founded YGARA Artesanal Tourismo, a family-run business that invites visitors to experience life on the river.

During my visit, Charles demonstrates his skill in harvesting açaí, the berry now celebrated in many North American health foods by expertly climbing a tree with a machete and gathering the ripe fruit. Later, he and his family serve a breakfast made entirely from indigenous foods they cultivate themselves.

Charles, his wife, and their six children are beginning to make it work, carefully managing how visitors interact with their land and the river. They’ve received support from local organizations like SEBRAE, the local small business association and Embratur, Brazil’s national tourism board, to help preserve their way of life. This kind of community-driven experience is exactly what we’re looking for as we build responsible guided, group travel options for our our our next generation of sustainably minded 18- to 35-year-olds booking international experiences at EF Ultimate Break.

As Charles’ daughters served açaí and fresh juices, he told us, “We’re afraid of the wrong kind of visitor, one who doesn’t care about preserving the harmony here. But so far, we’ve welcomed people from as far away as Poland and Switzerland, and they’ve come here to learn about life on the river. That has been the most rewarding part.”