All accommodations; daily buffet breakfast, lunch and full dinner during the tours, all land transportation between cities and to sights; services of an experienced English speaking tour leader; and airport transfers from start day until departure from Brazil. All mine and other sites admission fees are included.

The Crew on all tours consists of a professional driver, a specialized local guide and the Tour Leader. Where necessary, it may only consist of a tour guide.

If you are traveling on “Wonders of the South” trip, the tour departs from Porto Alegre. We will pick you up at the Airport Salgado Filho on the dates and times specified. If you are taking the “Gem Storm” tour, departure is from Belo Horizonte and pick up is at the Confins Airport.

Optional tours and activities have not been organized or planned at this time however we are always trying to improve our tour by adding new sites or activities and welcome any suggestions you may have to offer.

Seasons in Brazil are the reverse of North hemisphere countries. "Wonders of the South" is in May (autumn) and August  for "Gemstorm" (winter), therefore you could expect variations in temperature and rainfall, but the temperatures are not cold at all. Actually, you may even experience summerlike temperatures over 30 degree Celsius. In the South temperatures are cooler, varying from 10°C to 25°C, and in the Southeast from 15°C to 30°C.

Each group is limited to 10 participants (not included the tour guide/crew). Small groups are very important in Geo Tourism travel. It allows for more interaction and more personalized service.

We always stay in good accommodations — hotels and lodges all have private bath or shower. Accommodations have been chosen on the basis of location, atmosphere and local charm.  Accommodations are based on a twin share basis,  with a single supplement charge for single occupancy people.

Brazil is covered by the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which means that many Brazilian products including gem, mineral and jewelry items have lower duties when coming into Canada, and are duty free when brought into the U.S. GST in Canada will be charged as per Customs discretion and regulations.

Full daily meals as specified on the itinerary are included, starting with dinner on day 1, and finishing with breakfast and lunch on departure day. We will eat a variety of local foods prepared in a wide range of settings. In many cases, we will simply order a number of dishes and share, allowing you an opportunity to sample new foods and decide what you enjoy best.

If you have any further questions about the trip, please do not hesitate to contact our office or your travel agent for additional information. A Trip Kit containing further details on the destination will be sent to you after you have booked on the tour. Find more FAQ questions by clicking here to download a "pdf" file or refer to the “Resources” sections of this web site.

A non-refundable deposit of $ 500 (CAD) is due at time of booking to reserve your place on the tour. Payment of the full land cost is due 60 days before departure. Cancellation charges are applicable as outlined in the “Terms & Conditions” section of our website.

All land travel transportation in Brazil is included in the price of the trip. Most of the transportation is done by tour bus or van except when alternate vehicles are needed to access some mines. Of course, we also explore on foot. Since we will be walking to do a lot of our exploring, be sure to bring good comfortable shoes.

Yes, in the broadest sense of the word, “educational”. We will visit many temples and historical sites, and develop an overview of Brazilian history and culture. Museums and technical lectures are included in all tours, as well as, geographic and geologic explanations are ongoing throughout the entire duration of the trip. But this is only a fraction of the educational experience. We believe that it is equally educational to meet local people on a non-commercial basis, visit their homes and even try to learn a few words in Portuguese. Sometimes the most “educational” moments are spent sipping a cold drink in a street market.

Yes, a passport and visa are required for citizens (even enfants) from the U.S., Canada, and Australia for entry into Brazil. U.K. and New Zealand need only a passport. Tourists and visitors from the Mercosul do not need to present a passport. Business travelers may need a special business visa. The Consulate General of Brazil in Toronto: http://www.consbrastoronto.org can assist you in obtaining the required information.

For travel anywhere in Brazil normally no immunizations are required; however, it is recommended that you have updated vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, and polio. Children must additionally have inoculations against measles, mumps, and rubella. A yellow fever certificate is mandatory if certain third-world countries were visited 90 days prior to arrival in Brazil. Contact your personal physician for individual recommendations.

Airport terminal fees for International flights and internal flights are normally taxed and included in your total airfare. All other goods and services taxes are included on displayed prices. Taxes are not refundable.

Tour fares and rates are quoted in Canadian Dollars and are based on tariffs and rate of exchange in effect as of September 01st. of 2008. These rates are subject to change prior to the the tour start date.

Most shops in Brazil are open from 9:00 A.M. to 6:30 - 7:00 P.M., Monday to Saturday, and 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. on Sunday. Many shopping centres remain open as late as 10:00 P.M. Banks are open 11:00 a.M. to  4:00 P.M. (Monday - Friday). Many of the small towns we will visit continue with the tradition of closing for lunch between 11:00 A.M. to noon or 1:00 P.M.

In most restaurants and bars a 10% service fee is added to the bill. Normal gratuities to porters and waiters are included in the price of the tour, however it would be appreciated if you left an additional tip whenever you feel it is deserved. End-of-tour gratuities to the guides and drivers are customary, but not compulsory, and are left to the discretion of the tour members.

Rio Grande do Sul, 220-volts. Minas Gerais, 110-volts. Plugs are the two pin type, and most of the outlets will accept North America-style two-pronged plugs, but not those with one wider prong. You can bring a converter plug for the wider 2 prong type. If you have 3 prong outlets, bring an adapter for the 2 prong system. Most hotels provide 220-volts and 110-volts outlets.