SUMMARY

The Amazon is more than just trees and wildlife; it is a managed landscape shaped by the wisdom of its indigenous inhabitants. Venture beyond the developed tourism areas to the edges of the known world. This tour is designed for those who seek an invitation into the living history of the Amazon, visiting the secluded AfukuriXingu tribe that have maintained their traditional way of life for millennia. The people of the tribe offer a masterclass in sustainable living. Guests will observe and/or participate in traditional ceremonial art making, harvesting, daily river bathing and hunting. Guests will learn about the spiritual significance of the flora and witness the resilience of a culture that has resisted external influence for centuries. We operate under a strict “leave no trace” policy, ensuring our presence supports the community’s privacy and health while fostering a genuine, respectful dialogue. A significant portion of every tour fee is dedicated to the community’s self-determined needs and the legal protection of their ancestral lands. Wild Amazon Tours is proudly to be the first and only tour company that is permitted by the AfukuriXingu tribe to bring foreign tourist to their land.

Brief history of the Xingu Indigenous Territory

The Xingu Indigenous Territory, established in 1961 in Mato Grosso is a ~26,400 km² protected area in the southern Amazon. It safeguards 16 distinct indigenous groups which has been secluded from the rest of the world for over 3000 years until first contact in 1941. It serves as a vital ecological buffer against deforestation, though it faces increasing threats from illegal logging, mining, and agricultural encroachment. In 2019, eco-tourism was deemed a vital part of region’s sustainable, community-based economic future. Through a complex partnership between the indigenous communities and governmental bodies, careful introduction of highly selective touring group began yielding positive economic result both for the tribes and for the forest management agencies. Wild Amazon Tours is proud to be among the select few tour operators permitted by the AfukuriXingu tribe onto their land.

Pricing: Contact us for details on pricing, and to find out if this tour is a fit for both you and the tribe.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Pick up from Goiania airport and travel by a small private plane to Xingu Territory. The private plane ride will reduce a 4-day round trip car transportation down to a few hours, and the guests can enjoy some unbelieve bird’s eye view of the Amazonian canopy. Guests will be transported from the airport to the AfukuriXingu village by truck and will be lodging in the traditional community houses with their guides and local families, sleeping in hammocks.

Day 2 to Day 4: Guests will be welcomed at the village in the introduction circle where village elders will give a brief introduction of the tribe heritage and provide some guidelines for guests. Since this is a cultural immersion program, we do not operate the tour based on any prescribed activities. Rather, guests will have the option to participate or observe any of the following activities that the tribe could be conducting. Body paining, taquara dance, Xingu River bathing, bonfire and story telling, Duhe festival, Yamurikuma festival, crafts making, farm harvest, fishing.

Day 5: Guests will depart after breakfast and be transported back to the airport to fly back to Goiania.

Special notes:

While photography and video photography of the tribe is permitted for personal use, any commercial activities associated with the imagery of the AfukuriXingu tribe must obtain permission from the tribal council first. We also ask our guests to be tasteful and respectful with the dissemination of tribal members’ personal images on the social media, especially given the often exposed body parts.