Special Interest Tours
Havas Creative Tours has accumulated a great deal of experience creating special interest tours in Brazil and South America. As our name implies, Creativity is our motivation and we are happy to work closely with you to develop new programs on topics that may be of interest to your clients. We’ll provide you with the best experts on the topic you’re looking for, and we’ll organize visits and meetings with experts in the field of interest. Check below for some suggestions of interesting itineraries in this field in our beautiful country.
Art Programs
From Baroque to Contemporary art, rich folk art and our famous naives, Brazil has unlimited experiences to offer in this field. We take you beyond the museums and art galleries, while visiting unique private collections and enjoying the company of experts in the field over informal drinks or dinners. Experience the chance to hear the artist explain their work or take part in conferences with university professors and authorities in the field of art.
Mineralogy – Brazilian precious stones
In the north of Rio Grande do Sul there is a source of natural beauty: the largest amethyst mines in the world. In this region, the geological pressure emitted by volcanoes millions of years ago is at the origin of its natural beauty, which is desired all over the world. The city of Frederico Westphalen is home to an important gemstone extraction industry. Amethysts, citrines, quartz, crystals and agates shine with their colors and beauty. This place is a paradise for connoisseurs and amateur collectors, with many stores, exhibitions and collections open to the public, a museum inside a mine, a privileged place used as a jewel box for these underground beauties.
Religious Programs and Cultural Heritage
Brazil is known as a place where various races, religions and cultures merge and mix, since, throughout our colonization and development, many different nations have migrated to our huge and beautiful country. With the people came different cultures, and religion is a very strong vein in this field. We’ll take you to learn about the history of the main religions and cultures that have grown strong in our country; you’ll learn about the great Catholic conquests in Brazil, from the Jesuit Ruins in the South, to the great city of Aparecida, between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, which receives around 200,000 pilgrims on October 12 – the day of Our Lady of Aparecida, the Patron Saint of Brazil. The Historic Cities in Minas Gerais – Ouro Preto, Congonhas and Tiradentes – are home to some of the most beautiful churches with a Baroque influence and the famous artwork of Master Aleijadinho. And along with more than 365 churches in the city of Salvador, in the state of Bahia there are more important points of interest in this field, making this an unforgettable learning experience from South to North in Brazil. The Jewish presence is also very strong in our neighboring country, Argentina. A program combining Buenos Aires and the importance of the Jewish presence in this country, passing by the magnificent Iguazu Falls as the gateway to Brazil, and continuing on to São Paulo, where the majority of the country’s Jewish population lives, can include visits to the famous Bom Retiro district, the impressive synagogues and the Country Club Hebraica, the largest and most important country club and center of the Jewish community in the city. Rio de Janeiro also has an important part of Jewish culture, while it is in Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil, that we find the first synagogue built in Brazil. Meet with the most important people in Jewish culture in Brazil, enjoy a Shabbat dinner with members of the local community, and learn how the history and tradition of this religion has spread far and wide in this great country. Another key point of cultural influence in Brazil is the large African-American community. Apart from Africa, Brazil has the largest black population in the world. Afro-Brazilians still maintain and manage to preserve the culture and traditions of their ancestors in terms of music, cuisine, religion and languages. These concepts are so inherent in their daily lives that Afro-Brazilians call themselves black. Another aspect to consider is that international relations are intense with their African brethren. Afro-Brazilians are descendants of various African ethnic groups who were brought to Brazil as slaves and greatly influenced the doctrines of Brazilian culture. These ethnic groups were scattered throughout Brazil and played an important role in the establishment of the Brazilian economy and the overall construction of its society. The importance of this exchange between Afro-Brazilians and Africans cannot be overestimated as a means of re-establishing relations between cultures affected by the diaspora. This close relationship is not only beneficial to both communities but will have a ripple effect on all black communities in the diaspora. The exchange establishes links between descendants of all Africans in the Americas. Rio de Janeiro, Parati, Baroque Minas Gerais and Salvador with Cachoeira are the main points of interest to learn more about the influence of African culture in Brazil.
Ecological Studies and Birdwatching
Brazil scores with ecological wonders: the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest; more than 8,000 km of coastline, much of which is covered by the Atlantic Rainforest; the gigantic Iguaçu Falls; the Tijuca Forest – the world’s largest urban forest, in the heart of the city of Rio de Janeiro; these wonders and many others make our country the perfect destination to learn more about ecology. Many great professors of ecological subjects from all over the world are seen doing research here, and museums and foundations of great importance are located in Brazil. Our proposal is to take you to meet these people and learn on the spot about endemic species of plants, birds and animals, and how we can grow with the experts in the field to protect our environment. There are also many birdwatching programs in Brazil, and we can offer you the best experts in this field along the main points of interest: The Amazon; the Pantanal; the Itatiaia Region in Rio de Janeiro; and the Iguazu Falls, among many other options whose visit could be valuable, depending on your special interest.
Healing
Not far from Brasilia is the Geodesic Center of the Earth, a place of special energy. Many communities have moved to this region and developed healing activities over the last few years. Here we find the beautiful Valley of the Dawn and the incomparable Valley of the Moon, as well as the Crystal Mines of Cristalina, 136 km from Brasília, well known for their active trade in precious and semi-precious stones, and the crystalline reservoirs. Crystals are said to have healing attributes. We can organize visits to communities, such as the Centro Religioso da Tia Neiva, a community of approximately 2,000 people, several “mediums” who help 50,000 people throughout the month, founded by the visionary spiritualist Tia Neiva. This spiritualist, now deceased, called herself a being chosen by the “Astral beings” to carry out a mission to save these “elect” and announce to our civilization the coming of the “Third Millennium”. Come and unravel the mysteries of the center of Brazil.
