What IS the package fee for our Expeditions?

Because of changing costs and fluctuations in international currency exchange rates, it is difficult for us to offer a fixed price for our expeditions until approximately 3 months before departure.

What type of vehicle can be used in our Expeditions?

Four wheel drive cars, pickups or SUV´s, with a minimum soil clearance of 25 cm, at least 70 % off-road tires (e.g., BF Goodrich All Terrain type tires are acceptable) in excellent operating conditions. A winch is desired but is not essential (the support team cars have winches). Two spare wheels equipped with the same tires, an extra 20 L fuel reservoir and fuel tank protection. Diesel engines are preferred but gasoline cars are also accepted. A radio for communication among the cars during the expedition is essential.

What IS included in the package fee?

The package fee for our Expeditions includes the following:

- A carefully considered and researched itinerary. We pre-run (conduct a full reconnaissance) every Expedition to identify any potential problems at border crossings, verify road conditions, survey all accommodations, capture waypoints for navigation, and meet and qualify (when necessary) local guides and drivers.

- Two support vehicles fully equipped for off-road activities and with the drivers who pre-run the itinerary. These personal are experienced and trained in off-road driving and fluent in Portuguese, English, German, Spanish and Italian.

- All lodgings and accommodations in Brazil. Abroad we will try to obtain the best available accommodations for you every night. Of course, these are reserved well in advance. Included in our requirements - secure parking for the cars. When we say "best available", we mean exactly that. Generally, the accommodations will be "3" to "4" star, if such exist. At times, the government agency granting our travel permits determines where we will stay. At other times, where we spend the night is a function of the distance we can reasonably travel in a given day, and the "best available" accommodations may be the ONLY lodgings available, and these may be of a dramatically lower standard than you are accustomed to. We also ask you to bring your camping equipment because in some locations no lodging at all is available. Camping near a volcano, in the middle of a desert, at 4.800 m altitude, maybe an unforgettable experience! It's all part of an expedition! When possible, we will book a more comfortable hotel after a camping under such rough conditions.

- Exclusively for the Pantanal Expedition we provide dinner and breakfast every day. To allow a greater flexibility in our daily ride, we do not include lunches. We may stop at a nice spot for photographing wild animals or try to surpass a muddy or flooded stretch and, thus, have only time for a quick lunch or sandwich. Meals will be prepared by our cooker and will be the same for the entire group. Soft drinks, beer and liquor are not included.

- Group expenses. Every tour has fixed group costs. These include the cost of two supporting vehicles, their drivers, co-drivers and fuel. To educate, translate and, if needed, intervene, our support team members are fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English, Italian and German. When touring in major cities, we will leave the cars at a secure parking area, and will walk or use local transportation.

- Pre-departure documentation package that contain travel instructions, a complete check-list (including documents, camping equipment, clothes, spare parts, etc), suggested reading lists, vaccines list, itinerary, a daily Roadbook that contains detailed activity and routing instruction along with relevant GPS waypoints (coordinates), a Mapbook showing the start and end waypoints for each day's ride, promotional materials from our sponsors, stickers for your car (white or black on transparent background) and of course, two Gaia Expedições silk-screened T-shirt, made especially for each tour, and pre-ordered in your size.

- A GPS upload. At the start of each tour, we will collect your Garmin portable GPS unit, verify its operation and settings, and then upload the needed GPS waypoints and routes for the entire tour. For an extra fee we will also offer a GPS instructional course for those desiring one.

- And last, but not least, the collective wisdom, off-road experience and know-how of our Gaia Expedições support team, who will be with you from start to finish, and be there to offer assistance and guidance where they can!

- Should a car break down and cannot be repaired on the spot with the tools and spare parts described in the check list, we will tow it to the nearest location and search for a mechanics. Repair costs will be covered by the car owner. If the repair cannot be done at the nearest location the owner must pay the car’s transportation to a better equipped garage in a larger city.

- Our support team and co-drivers explain things along the way either personally or by the intercommunication radio, and keep things running smoothly.

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