Meet the crew who bring your journey—and the story of Brazil—to life

Expedition Leader / Country Guide + Translator

The bumper sticker on his ‘89 Toyota Bandeirante (Brazilian Land Cruiser) may read “Lost Texan”, but don’t be fooled: Dallas-born Eddie has dedicated himself to the study of Brazilian history, society, and geography for the better part of two decades. He first “rediscovered” the Serra do Espinhaço in 2018, and has spent nearly 7 years since documenting its its labyrinth of forgotten trails and unforgettable characters—becoming, by many local accounts, the region’s most well-versed foreigner in over a century. The only thing he enjoys more than exploring this spectacular & little-known part of the world is bringing it to life for other adventurous & culturally curious travelers.

Expedition Leader / Country Guide + Translator

The first time Elisa encountered the daunting “roads” of São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras during a fateful weekend getaway in 2019, she swore to her mom she would never come back. These days, she can’t seem to leave the Espinhaço, having spent the better part of her life since then driving all manner of backroads in a gangly leaf-sprung 4x4 named “Gaucha”—usually with various drones, satellite devices, emergency contacts, and communications equipment in tow. Bringing itineraries of this scope to life in this part of the world takes steadfast determination, meticulous planning, graceful communication, unshakable patience—and the kind of vision that sees adventure where others see obstacles. The rest of us just require Elisa.

Regional Guide + Naturalist

The difference between a good guide and a great one is the calling—and in Julio’s case, there was never a question. Passionate, dedicated, and bursting with the knowledge, energy, and conviction necessary to make the world a better place, he’s both a natural-born mountain guide and a natural-born man for others. You’ll see him put both of these callings—and his degree in Geography—to use during your Journey. When the brush is thick, snakes abound, the light is fading, and there are still kilometers ahead, there’s no one on earth we’d rather have by our side.

Driver + Support Guide

The eldest son of Diamantina’s most celebrated 4x4 dynasty, Xaxau—like his brother André—is adventure nobility without the pretension. In addition to being one of the region’s most seasoned mechanics and welders, he’s also an expert rider of horses, motorcycles, and (lucky for us) vintage 4x4s. You’ll see Xaxau & “Gaúcha” (our primary support vehicle) during long overland crossings, but it’s the moments when you don’t see him—driving parallel to our route—that puts our minds at ease. In the unlikely event of an emergency, there no one we’d rather have close by.

Support Driver

A soft-spoken, big city-loving motorcycle enthusiast born into (decidedly small-town) Diamantina’s most celebrated family of 4x4 mechanics, André—like his brother, Xaxau—is adventure nobility without the pretension. He’s a devoted (and much beloved) P.E. teacher, but it’s his uncanny dirt bike skills that landed him on our crew. As the official motorcycle rescue driver of your journey, we’ll hope to not see too much of “Dezinho” on the trail—but his steady presence along roads that run parallel to ours is what lets us push forward with confidence. If you see him on the trail, don’t panic. You’re already being rescued.

Support Driver

A year abroad in Australia taught Michel—then a biology undergrad—the power of travel, and convinced him that his hometown of Diamantina deserved to be rediscovered by the world. Since then, he’s become one of the most renown photographers in the Espinhaço, capturing the region’s history and everyday life in striking portraits published by The Guardian, National Geographic Brasil, and more. As a member of our crew, Michel gets to combine his love of cultura mineira and vintage Toyota 4×4s with his fluency in English—teaching others about the wondrous region he calls home.

Overland Driver

When we meet at Tancredo Neves International Airport (the rendezvous point for all of our trips in the Espinhaço) on Day 1, you’ll be forgiven for thinking we’ve brought along a personal security detail. Towering, stoic, and probably (ok, definitely) wearing aviators, Caio—our official overland Driver—was once a professional mixed martial artist in Montes Claros. Now the proud owner of a taxi service and poultry farm on the outskirts of Diamantina, he’s exactly the kind of serious, enterprising, and (most importantly) punctual individual that this crew—and city—needs. We’ll ride with Caio to and from the airport, bookending your trip.

Local Guide + Mule Driver (Serra Circuit)

A local legend in a landscape of legends, Santo is synonymous with the iconic crossing from Bica d’Água to Rio Preto State Park. Stoic and hardened yet soft-spoken and graceful, his backcountry skills are unmatched—and his camp grub isn’t half bad either. If your trip takes us to the Espinhaço’s highest peaks, you may have the pleasure of spending an evening with Santo and his wife, Dona Maria, whose wood-fired stove is the stuff of regional lore.

Local Guide / Horsemen (Serra Circuit)

Gracious, thoughtful, and humble, with a quiet serenity that draws you in, Valdir is the kind of guide who saves his stories for those who seek them. For over a decade, he’s tended the remote Fazenda Santa Cruz do Gavião alone, and when we venture out to visit, it’s often simply to enjoy his company. If your Journey ventures through the quieter corners of the Serra Circuit, a visit to Valdir is a possibility—and a gift. There are few people we’d rather walk, ride, or sit beside a stove with.

Local Guide (Serra Circuit)

On expeditions as in life, you want resilient, kind-hearted souls beside you—people who’ve done it themselves and want to see you succeed. This is especially true when summiting foreign peaks—and especially true when those souls have done it thousands of times (literally). A Park Ranger from a family of Itambé guardians, Genésio knows the mountain better than anyone. Should your Journey take you near it, it will be an honor to walk in his company.

Local Guide (Garden Circuit)

Humble, self-educated, and full of stories, Barbosa grew up in a tiny quilombola settlement where money was once unheard of and diamonds flowed through the sand. Today, he and his wife, Lucia, host visitors in Inhaí and share tales of a vanishing world. If we find ourselves near the eastern borderlands of Sempre Vivas, you may hear those stories firsthand.

Local Guide + Boatman (Garden Circuit)

Gracious and soft-spoken, yet adventurous and lighthearted, Gomercindo knows the river like a second home. A former miner turned prolific farmer, he’s spent his life on the banks of the Inhacica Grande—a river as pristine as it is unknown. If our Journey carries us to the eastern edge of Sempre Vivas, Gomercindo will likely be beside us—part guide, part guardian.

Local Guide + Horseman (Sertão Circuit)

Born and raised in quaint Curimataí, Tau spent years navigating the rat race in Belo Horizonte before circling back to the Espinhaço to pursue a quieter dream. Today, he and his wife Gilma run our favorite pousada west of Sempre Vivas—where we’re always happy to sleep and (especially) dine when the route allows. Equal parts outdoorsman, bon vivant, and showman, Tau often guides those of us hoofing it along the sun-kissed roads of the Sertão.

Local Guide + Horseman (Sertão Circuit)

A stoic cowboy with the heart of a guardian, Avilmar once battled wildfires in the backcountry of Sempre Vivas. He knows the Park’s western frontier like few others, having crisscrossed its rugged escarpments by foot and horse for decades. These days, he lives a quieter life on his small ranch north of Curimataí—but when the call comes, he still rides. And we’re always grateful when he does.

Local Guide + Horseman (Sertão Circuit)

Cool, confident, and charismatic in a way that only a natural-born cowboy can be, Pê has been guiding and housing our crew since the very beginning. Raised in the one-family outpost of Santa Rita, he served multiple tours as a park firefighter before returning to ranch life full-time. These days, he’s known across the region for his horsemanship—and if your trip takes us to the spectacular Rio Preto Valley, you’ll likely be riding alongside him.

Local Guide (Garden Circuit)

The lone resident of a forsaken ranch hidden deep in one of Brazil’s wildest corners, Levi is a living legend in the borderlands. His name alone stirs reverence, curiosity, and rumor in equal measure. A full day’s trek from his nearest neighbor, he lives a life few can fathom—solitary, self-reliant, and steeped in the land. He’s a man with stories to tell, and few to hear them. Reaching him is a journey. Sharing time with him, a privilege. A day with Levi is a day for the ages.

Local Guide + Horseman (Berço Circuit)

One of just three remaining residents of Sempre Vivas, Dorico is a quiet force of resilience and grace. For the past 30 years, he’s lived alone at the foot of Serra da Gamba, trekking an hour each way to the tiny flower-picking village of Macacos (pop. <20). Soft-spoken and gracious, with a lightness of being that belies his solitude, he carries the history of the highlands in his gait. There are few men left like Dorico. We treasure every moment beside him, whether on the trail or by the fire.

Local Guide + Horseman (Berço Circuit)

João, like so many other residents from beautiful, yet neglected São João da Chapada, left his hometown in search of opportunity. Unlike most, he came back. Uncommonly well-traveled—and vivacious and wiser for it—he’s returned to the rhythms of rural life with a quiet confidence and a lifetime of stories in tow. A gifted horseman and courteous companion, João brings depth and presence to every trail. Should your journey lead us near São João, you’ll get to experience it for yourself.

Local Guide (Berço Circuit)

Poliana is Quarteis’s touchstone to the outside world—a role she never sought, but embodies with grit and grace. Raised in that bucolic quilombola village, she’s spent much of her life tending crops and raising spirited children. Now, she’s the newest—and perhaps the most fearless—member of our crew. When repeated efforts by our crew to locate a lost trail near Quarteis failed, she shrugged, slipped on her Havaianas, and led the way herself. No fuss. Just forward. That’s Poliana.

First-Mate + Porter (Garden Circuit)

In a remote farming village long defined by beans and corn, Deraldo went rogue: broccoli. His harvests have reshaped local school lunches—and local thinking. But Deraldo’s talents go far beyond vegetables. A lifelong resident of the Inhacicão, he knows the river’s every bend, and owns the region’s finest outboard motor. If we boat the river on your journey, chances are he’ll be at the helm. Count on calm waters and a cooler full of fruit.

Porter (Garden Circuit)

Despite growing up on the banks of the Inhacicão, Esdra had never hiked with a pack—or seen the mountaintop fields where his father, Gomercindo, was raised. That changed in early 2024, when he joined a GOGO crew as a last-second porter. He carried more than we expected—and came back for more. Still just 20, Esdra has already proven himself a natural. Rumor has it the father-son duo may soon be the Park’s next local guides.