I was welcomed into the 4th region of my journey (Central) by local expert, photographer, journalist, and author Fabio Pellegrini.
I’d taken an overnight flight, and Fabio met me at the airport. We spent the day planning my next 7 days in the region, discussing must see sights and Eco-Tourism activities. He was able to connect me with the right people at the right time. Fabio knows everyone, and is certainly the go-to person in the Pantanal area. If you are planning a trip, get in touch with him.
After a morning of phone calls and making plans in the Pantanal with Fabio’s connections, we had received one strange request, which turned out to be the best of the day. Continue reading →
Lagoa do Cassange – one of the most sustainable and socially beneficial guesthouses in the state of Bahia.
I was connected with this place by Alison Mcgowan of HiddenPousadasBrazil, and if anyone knows guesthouses around Brazil, it’s her. She’s spent the last 4 years documenting and recommending the best around Brazil on her website. I think HiddenPousadasBrazil is likely to see quite a lot of growth as the World Cup and Olympics get closer.
When Alison recommended Lagoa do Cassange, I knew I had to visit. As I arrived after my 9 hour door to door journey from Salvador, I could tell it was something very special. Pallm trees lined a deserted beach. My bungalow overlooked the sea.
After a delicious breakfast on my first full day there, I had the chance to spend some more time with one of the owners of the guesthouse, Flavio Hauser. He explained to me in more detail why Lagoa Do Cassange had recently been awarded first place for an internationally recognised socia-cultural award.
As well as their sustainability policies, including solar power and recycling, Flavio, and fellow co-owners Marcelo & Isney started a number of unique projects in the area.
In short, they ran a free adult education course for 5 years, and built a kindergarden school that now has 30 students. They have run computer classes for over 100 local residents, and teach environmental awareness through beach clean up days, and a fascinating honey project.
Of course, you’d never necessarily know that these projects are going on. It’s just a beautiful place to stay, and by choosing Lagoa do Cassange, you’re also helping to reinvest back into the local community.
Richard Brownsdon 