EXPEDITION LIFE

Accommodation
Food
A Day In The Life
Who Else Is Going?
Weather

Join a QUEST team in Brazil for 4 - 8 weeks volunteering on a community, conservation and development Project in the Amazon Jungle.

Accommodation
You will be staying in 'Casa Semente', a beautiful wooden open-style house with spectacular views over the surrounding forest.  The house consists of one large living area, an outside covered veranda, a large kitchen area with adjoining toilet and outside showers. All volunteers will sleep in hammocks in the communal house.

The house has a small library and art and crafts area, and is surrounded by herb gardens, fruit trees and a small vegetable patch.  There are several other buildings close by, including a plant nursery and workshop. 

Accommodation is simple but with the surrounding jungle as your backdrop, it makes for the most amazing setting.

Food
Food is predominantly vegetarian, although on occasion chicken is served.  Leo, one of the founders of the community, cooks some of the best pizzas you'll ever taste, with freshly made dough, baked over a traditional wood fire - delicious.

Typical Food
Breakfast: Bread, cheese, jams, fruits, nuts, porridge, yoghurt, occasionally eggs, fruit juice.
Lunch: Rice, beans, lentils, pasta, fish, salad and vegetables.
Dinner: Pizza, soup, bread, fruit, yoghurt, jams.

A Day In The Life
Your work will be mainly focused on developing the infrastructure needed to support the sustainable conservation project and continue to protect acres of primary rainforest.  Projects include ensuring the community infrastructure is environmentally sound, such as through the completion of a bio-digester, renovation of the plant nursery, the creation and maintenance of jungle trails and development of a children's area and education centre.

Typical Day
07.30  Breakfast
08.30  Construction - work on the ecolodge
11.00  Break, relaxation and Lunch
14.00  Work with the land, work in the nursery
17.30  Work ends
19.00  Evening meal

FREE TIME
You will have 1-2 days off each week to relax and enjoy the the beautiful surroundings that ABRA has to offer. From walks in the forest and swimming in the small rivers, to forest arts and crafts and workshops, there is much to keep you busy, or you may just prefer to lay back in your hammock and relax.

ABRA offer fully guided tree climbing courses, taking you on a journey to the heights of the forest canopy. Using ropes and harnesses, experienced instructors will help you rise above the trees, up to 40 metres to feel the intensity and beauty of forest life first-hand. You'll climb with Bromelias and Orchids, float with butterflies and soar with macaws and see the jungle from a completely different perspective. 

Leo, one of the founders of the Community, is a highly experienced photographer who has worked in the Amazonian region for over 30 years.  You will be professionally and informatively guided to make the most of your camera and find the best shots using a variety of angles and working with both flash and natural light.

And if all this wasn't enough, the surrounding area of Presidente Figueiredo is famous in the Amazon region as being home to a wealth waterfalls and environmental sanctuaries just waiting to be discovered.  Nature at its very best.

Who Else Is Going?
Your team will be between 8 - 16 people. The age range varies. Regardless of age and background, all participants have one thing in common - an enthusiasm to experience the real Brazil, explore the depths of the Amazon and have an amazing adventure. Your team will be led by two QUEST leaders to help the project run smoothly and to ensure all goals are achieved.

Weather
Although 90% of the country is within the tropical zone the climate of Brazil varies considerably in rain, temperature and humidity from season to season but it is only southern Brazil that has any large seasonal changes.

ABRA is located in the hot and humid tropics and temperatures are high all year-round. Most of the rain falls between the months of October - March. The months of May - August tend to be dry, whilst September and April tend to be changeable.  The rain often comes in short, sharp, down pours and are a welcome relief from the muggy tropical heat.