Neil’s Journey

A traveler’s account of his 35-day journey across southeastern Brazil with GOGO in 2018.

Caraça. Serra do Espinhaço

Note from Eddie

GOGO was still in its infancy in 2018.

Elisa and I were sharing the story of Brazil, but we were still operating with the idea that more geography meant more understanding. Trips were immersive, but expansive. Windshield time was significant.

The miles felt… passive.

Neil’s trip that year took us from São Paulo to the northern coast of Bahia and back again, passing through much of Minas Gerais—and the Espinhaço—along the way.

It was one of Gift of Go’s first true “beta” journeys. It helped us understand what mattered, what didn’t, and how we wanted to guide moving forward.

In January 2022, Neil returned for a 14-day Journey—this time entirely in the Espinhaço.

In August 2023, he came back again for a third trip.

What follows are scenes and select reflections from that first journey.

Day 2. Southern Minas

Perfect road. Ilha de Boipeba

Three men wearing hats, two of them with their backs turned, look down at an elderly woman with a wide-brimmed hat. They are inside a colorful room with a rustic setting.

Artisanal Cachaça. Southern Minas

Day 2 Vibes. Near Itajuba

View through a vehicle windshield of a dirt road surrounded by green crops and trees, with mountains visible in the background.

Bananal. Southern Minas

Vale do Capão, Chapada Diamantina

I would say that I’m a fairly well-seasoned traveler. I’ve lived in Switzerland and Costa Rica and Mexico, and been across Latin America [on multiple occasions] and most of Western Europe.

There’s just so much out there that most people have no idea about—so many interesting places and people.

I like the freedom, and also coming back with new stories.

I usually do some pretty epic [stuff]. (laughs)

Fireside Cachaçinha. Vale do Patí

I can honestly say that that first GOGO trip [in 2018] was one of the most epic trips I’ve ever taken. It opened some new doors for me as far as traveling goes.

I’d done a lot of cool and interesting things, but not necessarily the kind of [stuff] we did on that trip.

My impression was that you’d basically taken travel to a whole new level.

Clothes hanging on a line in a rural outdoor setting with trees and misty mountains in the background.

Clothesline. Vale do Patí

A man in a blue shirt and dark cap smiling and standing near a table with a water bottle and a candle, in front of a weathered wall illuminated by colorful laser star patterns at night.

Fun Times. Ouro Preto

Coqueiros. Ilha de Boipeba

A set of open double doors with glass panels, leading to an outside view of a street and trees, inside a dimly lit room with beige walls and a framed picture hanging on the wall.

Room with a view. Ouro Preto

There was a [six-day] trek through the mountains thrown in during the middle of the trip where it was like what the hell man. (laughs)

It felt like a mini-pilgrimage on foot thrown in during the middle of an epic roadtrip. Like holy shit, are you kidding me? Did we really just do that?

It was crazy, and also insane how gorgeous it was.

Man hiking in a grassy, mountainous landscape with shrubs, wearing a plaid shirt, shorts, and a hat.

Still Going. Chapada Diamantina

A man with a beard smiling outdoors, wearing a baseball cap and dark jacket, standing in a landscape with grass and hills.
A man crouching at the edge of a river during daytime, holding a hat, surrounded by trees and rocks.

Reflection. Chapada Diamantina

A man walking on a trail through a rugged landscape with mountains in the background, wearing a backpack and outdoor clothing.

Last Miles. Chapada Diamantina

Getting Started. Chapada Diamantina

Overcoming Traumas. Gerais do Vieira

I’ve had a knee injury—a trauma—since my soccer-playing days, so I’ve always avoided doing things that could possibly aggravate it.

Some of the things we did on that trip were so mind-blowing in the moment, though, that I honestly completely forgot about it.

That’s something I still think about to this day.

Pedra do Baú. Serra da Mantiqueira

Minas was definitely the highlight for me—or at least the unexpected highlight.

I mean, the whole trip was full of mind-blowing places. But Minas? The food, the architecture, the people.

Who knew that place was so epic? What foreigner even knows that exists?

Night view of a historic church with twin towers, illuminated, with palm trees in front, and a stone staircase leading up to it.

Igreja + Lanterna. Ouro Preto

Big View. Serra da Mantiqueira

Saúde. Ouro Preto

Blue Door. Santuário do Caraça

Exhausted. Vale do Patí

The most challenging day was probably that second day on the trail in Chapada.

The first day was technically harder, but there was also this excitement about getting up into the mountains, where the scenery was just amazing.

The second day was all closed, though. I was definitely out of shape, and there was a sense of danger, like we were on this never-ending trail into the forest.

It was definitely challenging, both mentally and physically.

Trail Bod. Chapada Diamantina

I definitely came back thinner. (laughs)

I also came back with some new energy, some new perspectives, and honestly just an appreciation for everything—for Brazil, the U.S., just everything.

We did some pretty serious things, some pretty amazing things, and we got through it. It was about as epic an adventure as a person could have in 35 days.

Oh yeah, and my Portuguese got pretty good, too.