All Sides of Brazil with OWR: Rob’s Unforgettable Experience

This blog comes from Rob, one of our travelers who joined our 12-day adventure through Brazil. From São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, Rob’s journey was packed with lively experiences, new friendships, and deeper insights into Brazil’s rich culture. Here’s his personal take on what it’s like to travel with Other Way Round—and why this trip left a lasting impression.

When it comes to exploring the world, how far do you want to go?

Travel is an enormous privilege, one that has vastly broadened and expanded my horizons through the years, but many places have a hidden depth that can often be missed when travelling solo or with family.

Other Way Round, a gateway to more structured visits, had been on my radar for some time and Brazil is one of their bigger offerings.

Twelve days from Sao Paulo up to Rio with a huge variety of activities, locations and experiences.

Going as a group was always my preferred way to visit South America, a part of the world which often asks for a lot of planning and extra reading.

Led by our fantastic guide Marcella, the adventure we took was one to remember.

There were nine of us from the UK, Ireland, US and Canada; some had never been on a trip like this before and others were seasoned travellers.

Following a hefty load of organising, booking flights and preparations, we arrived in Sao Paulo with an incredibly efficient transfer straight from the airport.

Taking different flights and arriving at different times was easily put aside as we got to know each other and set out on the first city tour.

Right away, the sense of colour and personality made a mark with a wide range of street art, imbuing the place with an artistic flair.

This contrasted with the older style buildings and gigantic cathedral in the city centre.

It was a short yet effective start to our journey with internal transfers taking place by road and sea.

With each location, the number of perspectives and insights grew. The local guides got us immersed and invested in every part of Brazilian history.

Paratay on Day 3 was a real hidden gem, a smaller town along the coast with great variety.

Going to a distillery gave us a solid understanding of sugar cane and other Brazillian products we all take for granted and venturing off the main roads to a picturesque waterfall marked the first round of swimming.

“SOME AMAZING MEALS IN A FANTASTIC LOCATION”

Other activities were far more active; Capoeira is a blend of martial arts and dance, a pastime that can trace its roots back to the time of slavery.

It now works in the local community with the younger children being very keen to take us on as sparring partners. To round off this quaint location, we really got into the local cuisine.

A lovely older couple were our hosts and they shared their idyllic retirement with us; cooking and serving some amazing meals in a fantastic location. We put on our aprons and took on kitchen tasks; the end result was a delicious fish dinner cooked inside banana leaves with fried fruit and Caprichanas on the side.

You could feel the passion they had for their food, something that often held true wherever we ate.

“THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT WHERE WE FELT UNSAFE OR AT RISK”

One guest treated us to a round of yoga on the beach and another gave us a crash course in traditional dance.

Keeping the focus on the best activities while keeping the loud partying to a minimum was a solid choice, one that ensured we all got the most out of the trip.

This was paired with impeccable organisation and punctuality from both sides; Marcella kept us in the loop on scheduling and transport and in return we were always on time to move to the next location.

As a result, there was a never a moment where we felt unsafe or at risk.

Next up was Ihla Grande, which served up the most traditional part of the holiday; beautiful
beaches and some wildlife occasionally peeking out through the trees. At this point many of us were used to beaches filled with tourists, especially if you’ve been to the warmer parts of the Mediterranean.

After a round of kayaking and checking out the local offerings, we set off on a ferry to a different side of the island.

The beach we went to was more old-school, completely free of most infrastructure and asking for a quick trek through the jungle.

The challenge of slipping and sliding our way through the uneven path delivered a phenomenal backdrop, one where you can truly escape the madness of the modern world for a few hours.

We were even joined by some small monkeys who certainly crave an extra snack or two…

Fittingly, the last stop on the tour was Brazil’s ultimate city: Rio De Janeiro. With an excellent hotel on the shores of Copacabana Beach, we wasted no time getting to know the place.

A cycle tour topped off with some coconut water was a great start, the central ring playing host to thousands of beachgoers both domestic and foreign.

Pair this up with temperatures above thirty degrees Celsius and you can see why the place is so popular on a global scale.

Of course, Christ The Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain were equally astounding, but there is much more to find with the right itinerary in place.

The most fascinating and revealing activity was saved for the final day, a tour of the local Favela located a short walk from our hotel.

The contrast couldn’t be starker, a persistent and determined community up in the hills, less than a mile from the fanciest beachfront restaurants.

Before embarking, my only real knowledge of the favelas came from portrayals in films like City of God.

“OUR GUIDE WAS ENERGETIC AND KNOWLEDGEABLE”

Our guide was energetic and knowledgeable; having been born and bred there himself, there was no better voice to take us through this side of Brazil. He was incredibly open too, willing to take on all of our preconceptions from the get-go; the word I used to describe the favelas was “unpredictable”. 

None of us could imagine living the way these people did, but by the time we walked back down the hill to the entrance, our mindsets and perceptions had shifted tremendously.

The word I now use is “ingenuity”; favelas represent a community that has gone through hard times, but always find a way to build homes, connections and progress without larger financial support.

Needless to say, venturing in as we did is essential for understanding Brazil’s history.

It will greatly challenge your world views while also providing support for their wider development.

“IT’S AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING EXPERIENCE THAT WILL STICK WITH YOU, ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO EXPLORE SUCH A VIBRANT PLACE”

Many holidays are straightforward and easy-going; relax on the beach one moment, take in some of the major attractions the next.

OWR’s tour of Brazil went much further, exposing us to so many different sides of the country from urban centres to isolated locales.

It’s an all-encompassing experience that will stick with you, one of the best ways to explore such a vibrant place.

The nine of us would like to give a massive thanks to OWR, Marcella and everyone who made this trip so memorable; we’re sure to be back for another round elsewhere.

To anyone who has grand travel ambitions, OWR will offer some of the best and most comprehensive adventures you can find; be sure to bookmark their website!