What if the part of Brazil most worth exploring is the one almost nobody talks about?
Eddie Lott is a Dallas-born expedition leader who has spent nearly two decades studying Brazilian history, geography, and culture. He rediscovered the Serra do Espinhaco in 2018 and has been documenting its trails and communities ever since. Elisa Oliveira is a Brazilian architect turned expedition coordinator who left behind her career and her previous life after a single weekend in the Espinhaco in 2019.
Together, they co-founded Gift of Go, a company that builds and leads founder-guided expeditions through one of Brazil’s most layered and least-visited mountain ranges, and they are also husband and wife.
In this episode, co-host Paige McClanahan talks with Eddie and Elisa about how Gift of Go came to be, what their expeditions actually look like, and what travelers need to know before heading to this part of Brazil.
This is a rewarding listen for anyone drawn to real adventure travel in Brazil off the beaten path. Eddie and Elisa spent three-plus years walking the terrain, building relationships with local communities, and living in the region before guiding their first traveler. You’ll hear why going deep into one place beats skimming across a whole country, how arriving somewhere by foot after 17 days on the trail completely changes how you experience it, and what it means to share a destination that still has almost zero international tourism presence.
Have you ever experienced a place that felt completely untouched by tourism? I’d love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.
Co-host Paige McClanahan is a writer, editor, and former journalist based in Paris, France. As the author of The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel, Paige is passionate about making sure our travels have a positive impact on the world. Learn more about her work here.
Tune In To Learn:
- What makes the Espinhaco a microcosm of Brazil’s most important ecological, cultural, and historical themes
- How Elisa left an engagement and a five-year architecture career after one weekend in a remote mountain village
- Why Gift of Go spent three years in the field before guiding their first traveler
- What the Veranico is, and why January might be the most spectacular and unpredictable time to visit
- How the expedition formats work, from 12-day group treks to fully bespoke solo journeys
- Why Brazil receives fewer international visitors per year than the city of Miami, and what that means for the right kind of traveler
- Practical tips for Minas Gerais: think in regions, know your biomes, expect limited English, and prepare for the warmth of the people
- What to eat and drink, from cachaça and UNESCO-recognized cheese to fig compotes with dulce de leche
- And so much more
Resources:
Want More?
- 7 Chile Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten Path in Patagonia, Mapuche Culture, and More with Steph Dyson
- How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism, Embracing Tourist Traps, and the Impact of Travel With Paige McClanahan
- How To Get Off The Beaten Track with Gunnar Garfors
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