COVID Updates
We are very glad to share that, confirming last month’s trend, the covid-19 scenario continues to significantly improve in Brazil. According to an epidemiological bulletin from the national Ministry of Health, issued on last October 23, there has been a 19.4% decline in the number of confirmed cases in the week of October 11 to 17, compared to the previous week. And on October 21, the rolling 14-day death average was down 22%, and was the lowest since May 6, 2020. Considering the pandemic hit us harder precisely during our winter season, and that we are now almost half-way through spring, we really believe that the worst is past us.
This trend is having a positive impact on the domestic tourism sector since Brazilians are travelling a lot within the country, which allows for many of our local partners to catch their breaths. This regaining of momentum is proving to be extremely important for the industry at the end of the year. Tourists are being very respectful of the sanitary protocols put in place by the service providers.
We are following the news about the second wave in Europe and our heart goes out to all those affected, especially our business partners. Please keep us up to date regarding the particular situation in your countries and businesses.
In other news...
New home :)
We have moved to our new office and are gradually going back to work there, taking turns and following the appropriate safety protocols. As we mentioned last month, the pandemic forced us to slow down our renovation and moving plans, but we are thrilled that things finally came to fruition! Our new office is in a beautiful house, on a quiet downtown street. It underwent a large renovation in order to accommodate our headquarters and incorporate Gondwana’s soul. Pictures coming soon! (We’ll share just one for now, to give you a taste ;)
New itineraries
We are currently working on the creation of new itineraries around Curitiba, in a beautiful area of bays, mountains, preserved Atlantic Forest and communities that we care a lot for. We believe that people are genuinely interested in more immersive trips that allow for deeper contact with nature in secluded areas, delicious and authentic gastronomy and life-changing experiences amidst the outdoor life. Nowadays this is considered as a trend, but it’s always been part of our DNA. We have recently gone on two tours that we will start to offer in November, in order to implement our safety and health protocols and make sure everything is ready to go:
Ocean Kayaking in the Antonina Bay
Antonina Bay is located on the southern coast of the state of Paraná, Brazil, and it can be considered an extension of the Paranaguá bay. Several rivers, like the Cacatu and the Cachoeira, flow into it. The bay is the place where the Atlantic Ocean’s waters reach the furthest into the American continent, coming close to the slopes of the Serra do Mar mountain range, and offering waters that are suitable for sports. We went on two kayak tours, one for beginners, in a wilder environment, and the other one a little harder, and including a visit to a local community.
Bike Tour around Rural Morretes
Morretes is a charming historic town between the local mountain range and the coast, famous for its “barreado” (a traditional local dish) and “boia cross” (floating down the local river on an inflated tire chamber). Accompanied by a specialized local guide, the 3-hour bike tour includes the use of a 21-speed mountain bike, helmet, gloves, and the adventure insurance. The itinerary includes rural villages, crossing of rivers and streams, water fountains, places with beautiful views of the mountains, an artisanal cachaça mill, natural pools, a small waterfall, lakes, patches of forest and a suspension bridge.
Survey
We would like to thank all who have taken the time to answer our survey on how we can improve the contents of our newsletters. We were quite happy to realise that there’s great appreciation for what we are already doing and that our newsletters provide quality information that’s enjoyed by our clients. All the feedback and suggestions offered will be taken into account, and we should already have news in our following issue.
And we would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all who have made donations to the local institutions committed to the preservation of the Pantanal. Fortunately, the fires have declined and the situation is much better since, in the past week, it’s been raining in the affected areas.
Thank you.
Gondwana Brasil Team