Olympics Help Showcase Eco-Tourism Offered By Sustainability Pioneer Thais Corral
Thais Corral, named Woman of the Year in 2013 by the UN and Brazil’s Presidency, is moving Brazil towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by bringing ethical eco-tourism to Brazil’s forests. Flourishing forest support good health and well-being, clean water, climate action, life below water and life on land, important elements of the SDGs.
Sinal do Vale is a living laboratory for the transition to sustainability, an international learning community for change-makers, and a retreat center for revitalization and reconnection in nature, established by Thais Corral. Located in a lush valley in the hills just 50 km outside Rio de Janeiro and 40 min from the international airport, Sinal do Vale is wedged between the Guanabara Bay and one of the largest nature reserves in the Atlantic Forest. The living laboratory has hosted hundreds of guests over the past four years who were looking to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city to reconnect with themselves and nature in the lush Mata Atlantica.
This year is a special year as the Olympics will be hosted in Rio de Janeiro. Sinal do Vale is offering tourists and companies the opportunity to explore the beauty of the surrounding region in an environmentally responsible way. Rio Green Belt Eco-Tours offer groups an adventure through the sites, sounds, and tastes of the Atlantic Rainforest – one of the most biodiverse but threatened biomes in the world – while supporting the organizations working to restore the rainforest. Because Sinal do Vale is located just an hour outside the city, groups have the chance to easily experience the beauties of the rainforest before or after their stay in Rio for the Olympics.
Groups on the Eco-Tour will observe exotic wildlife, witness restoration of the Brazilian mangroves on a boat ride in the Guanabara Bay, see impressive works of bio-construction and ecological art, and discover the delicious food that is grown organically and produced locally. Participants begin their journey at Sinal do Vale where they explore the lush valley with nature hikes and collect fruits and vegetables from organic gardens and food forests. Day trips visit the neighboring reserves where local social entrepreneurs and conservationists invite groups to experience the Atlantic Forest through boat trips, bird watching, and native food cooking lessons.
The groups are immersed in the natural wonders of the forest while being exposed to the burning challenges that this threatened ecosystem faces. All proceeds from the journeys go directly to helping fight deforestation and protecting the endangered animal and plant species at risk in the area.