Full Expedition
28 December 2026 – 8 January 2027
US$3,301
per person
The full 12-day route, from rafting and kayaking in Juquitiba to New Year’s Eve on Ilhabela and the coastal trek.
Request a place
28 DECEMBER 2026 – 8 JANUARY 2027
BrazilRivers, ocean and New Year on Ilhabela
Paddle with Brazilian crews, spend New Year’s Eve on an island and hike through the Atlantic Forest. Join all 12 days or pick the part of the trip that suits you.
Explore packages See the route ↓Experience Brazil with local paddlers
Meet the local club, paddle with Brazilian crews and cook together. After New Year’s Eve on Ilhabela, head out with a pack to the island’s remote beaches. There’s time for both active days and afternoons by the ocean.
Choose your Brazil package
Life on the Island
30 December 2026 – 5 January 2027
US$1,600
per person
Join the Ilhabela stay for New Year’s Eve, outrigger canoeing, beaches and time with the local paddling club.
Request a placeFinal Four Days
5–8 January 2027
US$700
per person
Join the group for the Bonete and Castelhanos coastal trek, the final evening on Ilhabela and the return to São Paulo.
Request a placeFor the shorter packages, we’ll confirm what’s included, where to meet the group and the 5 January schedule before you book.
What’s included in the Full Expedition
- Accommodation throughout the trip
- Group transfers and the ferry to Ilhabela
- Paddling equipment and sessions
- Meals and camping equipment
- Guides throughout the trip
- Entry to the New Year’s Eve club celebration
- Barbecue evenings with a chef
Budget separately for flights, travel insurance that covers the activities, personal expenses and any private transfers you arrange with us.
Booking the Full Expedition
Pay a 50% deposit (equivalent to US$1,650.50) by 1 December 2026. The balance is due before the expedition starts on 28 December 2026.
Payment is in Russian rubles at the Bank of Russia exchange rate. We’ll confirm how to pay from your country and can arrange instalments before you book.
Five stops on the route
Select a pin or a place name to explore the route. Drag to move the map and pinch to zoom on a phone.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
The map is temporarily unavailable. Use the link under each stop to open it separately.
São Paulo
28 December: group meeting. 8 January: end of the trip.Arrive, meet the group and get ready for the drive. The pin marks a city landmark for orientation.
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗The dotted line connects the stops in order. We reach Ilhabela by ferry from São Sebastião and share the exact meeting points with participants.
Twelve days in Brazil
Select a day to see what’s planned. From 1 to 4 January we’ll plan activities around the weather and the local paddling club’s schedule.
We may change the order of activities depending on wind, waves, rainfall and conditions on the trails.
Brazil in photos
CASA CHARMOSA · ILHABELA
Our home on Ilhabela
We stay together in a private house with a veranda and garden. It’s where we unwind after paddling and gather for barbecue evenings with our chef, Beatriz.
The house is at Rua Nova Dois, 93, Ilhabela, about six minutes on foot from Itaquanduba Beach. It’s a base for our ocean outings and for exploring the island’s cafés and local culture.
View Casa Charmosa on Booking.com ↗Overnight stops on the full route
- 28–29 December
- Juquitiba for the river programme
- 30 December–4 January
- Six nights at the house on Ilhabela
- 5–6 January
- Campsites near Bonete and Castelhanos
- 7 January
- Back at the island house
We’ll confirm rooms and sleeping arrangements when you book.
Meet the team
Nikita Zhuravlev put this trip together after living in Brazil and getting to know its paddling community.
Nikita Zhuravlev
Organiser and expedition leaderHead of Academia Paddling Club, president of the Moscow Rafting Federation and organiser of international expeditions. Nikita lived in Brazil for more than seven months, explored the route and worked with local partners.
Willian Tomas
River programme in JuquitibaA member of Brazil’s national rafting team, Willian introduces participants to the local rivers and paddling community.
Laura Santos
Outrigger canoeing on IlhabelaA representative of Brazil’s national outrigger canoe team, Laura coordinates ocean sessions and outings with the local club.
Beatriz
Chef and Brazilian cookingBeatriz leads cooking workshops and hosts group meals and barbecue evenings.
On the water and on the trails
Raft and kayak in Juquitiba, paddle a va’a outrigger canoe, hike to waterfalls and Pico do Baepi, and spend New Year’s Eve with the local club. Surfing or packrafting at Bonete and snorkelling depend on conditions.
Good general fitness is important. We’ll discuss the more demanding coastal trek and any alternatives with you in advance.
Ask about the tripBefore you travel
Passport and entry requirements
Check Brazil’s visa requirements for your passport and the entry and transit rules for each country on your flight itinerary.
Brazil’s official visa information ↗Travel insurance
Before the trip, arrange travel medical insurance that covers the activities you plan to join, including rafting, kayaking, ocean paddling or hiking. Check whether your policy covers search and rescue and evacuation.
Vaccination guidance
Check Brazil’s Ministry of Health guidance and any requirements for your transit countries. Discuss your itinerary with a travel health clinician before departure.
Brazilian Ministry of Health guidance ↗What to pack
On the water
Quick-drying clothes, water shoes that stay on, a cap, sun protection, a dry bag and a water bottle.
On the trails
Shoes with good grip, rain gear, a backpack, a headlamp, dry spare clothes and insect repellent.
Personal essentials
Bring your documents, insurance details, personal medication and a first-aid kit. Carry some cash and plan how you’ll pay in Brazil. Mobile coverage can be unreliable in remote bays.
Frequently asked questions
Can I join without paddling experience?
Yes, if you’re reasonably fit. We adapt water sessions to the group’s experience. The Bonete to Castelhanos trek is demanding, at about 18–20 km and 8–12 hours.
Can I skip the longer hike?
Talk to us before booking about staying in town on Ilhabela or doing a shorter route. We’ll discuss the arrangements and any costs with you.
Will every activity run on the scheduled day?
Water activities depend on wind, waves, river levels and the local club’s schedule. Surfing, snorkelling and friendly races go ahead when conditions allow. The schedule for 1–4 January is flexible.
Can I arrive after the group?
Yes, if we agree on where and when to meet in advance. If you need a private transfer, we can discuss it separately.
Where do we stay during the trek?
The itinerary includes campsite stays near Bonete on 5 January and Castelhanos on 6 January. Camping equipment is included in the Full Expedition.
Request a place
Tell us which package you’re interested in. We’ll get in touch to confirm availability, answer your questions and explain how to book.
Message us on WhatsApp ↗