Service Learning

BRAZIL

10 days/9 nights | Half Board | Up to 30 participants | From $1,940pp

Experience Brazil’s rich cultural traditions and diverse natural landscapes through meaningful community engagement in the Atlantic Forest region. Contribute to locally led initiatives focused on environmental conservation, reforestation, sustainable agriculture, and community development. Deepen your connection with Brazilian life through immersive experiences in traditional cuisine, music, language, and cultural exchange. Conclude your journey in Rio de Janeiro with time to reflect and unwind along Brazil’s iconic coastline, taking in the energy, beauty, and rhythm of this extraordinary country.

Itinerary

Beach with people swimming and relaxing, city skyline with tall buildings, mountains in the background, and a partly cloudy sky.

Day 1

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro and settle into your accommodations before beginning the program with a guided orientation. The evening opens with a welcome dinner at a local carioca restaurant, offering traditional Brazilian cuisine and an introduction to Rio’s cultural rhythm, hospitality, and community context.

Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with lush green hills and mountains in the background.

Day 2

Discover Rio de Janeiro through a guided exploration of its most iconic landmarks and historic districts. Visit Christ the Redeemer and explore the city’s colonial downtown before ascending Sugarloaf Mountain for panoramic views over Guanabara Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and Rio’s dramatic coastline.

A white off-road vehicle with people getting in and out standing on a dirt path near a white house with a red-tiled roof. Two people in jackets and hats stand nearby.

Day 3

Travel from Rio’s coastline into the Atlantic Forest region of Minas Gerais, experiencing the shift from urban Brazil to rural conservation landscapes. Arrive at the Iracambi Research and Conservation Center and become familiar with the conservation campus, its mission, and the surrounding forest environment, followed by a group dinner with local staff.

Four people planting or tending to seedlings or small plants in a forest or jungle environment. They are working on a long table covered with black plastic containers filled with soil and young plants.

Day 4

Take part in hands-on forest restoration projects within the Atlantic Forest. Activities include collecting seeds, tending tree nurseries, and planting native species, contributing directly to biodiversity protection and ecosystem recovery.

Group of seven smiling people standing and kneeling in a lush green garden with trees and plants, some structures and a person working in the background.

Day 5

Engage in agroforestry and sustainable agriculture initiatives that integrate food production with environmental conservation. Work alongside local partners on planting, soil enrichment, and land management practices that support long-term ecological balance and food security.

Two workers building a small wooden bridge over a creek in a lush green forest.

Day 6

Participate in wildlife and ecosystem monitoring through activities such as species identification, camera trap support, and field observations. This day offers direct exposure to conservation research and the rich biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest.

Group of eleven people standing outdoors on grass in front of a white house with blue trim, surrounded by green plants and pink flowers, smiling and posing for a photo.

Day 7

Collaborate with local communities through environmental education activities, cultural exchange, and workshops on medicinal plants and traditional sustainable practices. The experience concludes with a celebration dinner recognizing shared work and community collaboration.

Aerial view of Rio de Janeiro with Sugarloaf Mountain and coastline, showing city buildings, beaches, and a harbor with boats.

Day 8

Depart the Atlantic Forest region and return to Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax, explore neighborhoods, or spend time along the city’s famous beaches.

A densely packed hillside neighborhood with numerous small, multi-colored houses stacked closely together.

Day 9

Explore Rio’s creative and social landscapes with visits to Santa Teresa and the Selarón Steps, followed by a community-led experience in the Cantagalo Favela that includes neighborhood exploration and a yoga session with local residents. The day continues with a visit to Tijuca National Park, including a guided hike through one of the world’s largest urban rainforests, and concludes with a farewell dinner.

Aerial view from an airplane showing a large blue body of water with small islands, coastal city, and mountains in the distance.

Day 10

Say goodbye to Brazil as you depart for the airport with new perspectives, meaningful memories, and lasting connections formed throughout your service-learning experience.

Meals & Accommodation

Hotel & Research Center | Twins & Dorms for students | Single rooms for staff | Half board

Bunk bed with striped mattresses and pillows next to a yellow window with visible outside trees.

Small white house with red shutters and a tiled roof surrounded by greenery and trees, with a mountain in the background

Open-air rustic dining area with green walls, wooden picnic tables, and a food counter with a woman serving drinks. Surrounded by trees, with a tiled floor and a thatched roof.

Plate of traditional Latin American food with various bean and vegetable dishes, a glass of pink juice, and a partially visible mobile phone on a wooden table outdoors.

Bathroom with a glass shower enclosure on the left, a white toilet in the middle, and a beige marble vanity with a sink and a large mirror on the right. Blue mosaic tiles cover the wall behind the toilet and vanity. Bathroom toiletries and towels are visible.

A small house on stilts with a brown tiled roof, white walls, and a wooden porch surrounded by greenery.

An oceanfront balcony with tables and chairs, overlooking a sandy beach and cityscape with high-rise buildings.

Hotel room with two beds, ocean view, wooden furniture, and modern decor.

A green wooden table with breakfast items including scrambled eggs in a pan, sliced papaya on a plate, two bowls with bread slices and utensils, two jars of jam, a shaker, a white container, and a yellow cup with a beverage.

A small bedroom with two single beds, one with a headboard, a window showing green trees outside, and a shelf with pillows on the right.

Hotel room with a large window overlooking the ocean, a bed with white sheets and pillows, a wooden headboard, a desk with a chair, and a small TV mounted on the wall.

A balcony with lounge chairs overlooking a sandy beach and ocean with a city skyline in the distance.

Locations

Included

9 nights accommodation
Breakfasts/dinners (some lunches)
Transportation
All activities
Entrance fees
Certificate of completion
Program management

Not included

International flights
Visas
Tips/gratuities
Laundry service
Alcohol
Travel insurance
Items of a personal nature

Which courses can our Brazil Service-Learning Trip be tailored to?

Education, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation, Sustainability, Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation Studies.