mangueira, brazil - gap year

learn

Sun, sand, samba and study, the perfect combination...!

Your introduction to Brazilian life takes place in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro. With it's beautiful beaches alongside struggling favelas, the contrasts in this country could not be more visible. After daily morning sessions of conversational Portuguese, we have the chance to visit the many and varied parts of this city in the afternoons, evenings and weekends. Sugar loaf mountain, Christ the Redeemer, the magnificent Maracana stadium, never a dull moment!

where: Rio de Janeiro

what: Portuguese tuition, cultural orientation

how long: 3 weeks

mangueira, brazil - gap year

work

Make their summer holiday one they'll never forget

The Rio Carnival party is probably the most seriously taken party on the planet, and everyone takes part, rich and poor alike. The favela of Mangueira, in the outskirts of Rio is no exception and this is where our project is based. A local NGO has been running a social project there since the early 1990s and Quest has been working with them since 2005. Help bring a child's summer to life, work in the handicapped home Casa Lar giving the staff there much needed support, and help in their preparation for the Carnival parade - ever wondered how you'd look in sequins?!

where: the favela of Mangueira, Rio

what: sport, games, care for disabled boys, Carnival!

how long: 4 weeks

mangueira, brazil - gap year

explore

All to the beat of the samba...

Now it's time to hit the road, and what an adventure awaits us! Surfing in the idyllic resort of Itacare, snorkelling in the crystalline waters of the caves of Bonito and wildlife tracking in the rugged Pantanal are all sure to blow you away. And if that wasn't enough, we then head into Bolivia to follow in the footsteps of Che Guevara and make our way up to the awe inspiring Salt Flats of Uyuni. Thermal geysers, hot springs, ice climbing and mountain biking through the Andes, before crossing Lake Titicaca and trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - what a blast!

where: Brazil, Bolivia and Peru 

what: trekking, biking, surfing, city life, beach, Inca Trail to Machu Picchu...

how long: 6 weeks

mangueira, brazil - gap year

in a nutshell

trip summary

Learn Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro for three weeks. Take your new found language skill into the favela of Mangueira, where your team will spend 4 weeks working with the children of the community. Then head off on a spectacular expedition, exploring the best the continent has to offer.

where: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru

what: Learn the language, work in the favelas of Rio, explore amazon to andes

when: January (3 months)

how much: £4450 plus project donation of £700

where does the money go?

click here to download a trip factsheet