Trip to Brazil ► Expedition to the Javari Valley (Amazon)

Trip to Brazil from 3 to 12 June 2026 / From 8,490€

The objective of Last Places as a travel agency is to organize trips and expeditions to the less visited regions of the planet to meet societies that have their own cosmology and that help us to understand where we come from and the fragility of cultural diversity. This Brazilian expedition is one of the most important trips in our history as a travel agency. During this trip we are going to meet some of the most traditional tribal groups in the Javari Valley Indigenous Park, an area of 32,000 sq miles (the size of Austria) in the far west of Brazil.

We will learn about the challenges of ethnic minorities in their harsh environment and the threats of the encroaching modern world. With an expert guide and the right permits from the local authorities we will immerse into a Last Place on earth. A motor boat will be used to move around the jungle rivers and we will reach the tribal communities by foot. We will spend quality time with 3 different tribal communities: the Matis, Marubo and Tikuna, and learn about their daily lives in the heart of the Javari Valley.

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Discover the highlights of this trip to the Javari Valley

Introduction to the Javari Valley

We'll begin our trip to the Javari Valley in the Amazonian city of Leticia, on the triple border between Colombia, Brazil, and Peru. After completing the border formalities, we'll cross into Tabatinga, Brazil. This city, born in the heat of the rubber boom, preserves vestiges of its industrial and multicultural past. Indigenous Tikuna, Cubeo, and Carijona people will live here alongside Brazilian, Colombian, and Peruvian migrants. Thus, from the outset, our journey to the Javari Valley will immerse us in a unique diversity. Next, we'll sail down the Amazon River to Benjamin Constant, where the Tikuna people will welcome us at the Maguta Cultural Center. There, we'll discover Brazil's first indigenous museum, run by the Tikuna themselves. We'll then continue to Atalaia do Norte. From this small border town, we'll enter the Itaquai River system to reach the Last Place's Amazon Camp, an essential base for the trip to the Javari Valley.

We will share daily life and rituals with the Matis people

We will travel up the Ituí River to the Mati territory. To access this remote area, we will need permits and pass through a FUNAI checkpoint, which protects this indigenous region. There, the journey to the Yavarí Valley will reach one of its most intense moments: the encounter with the Mati people in the Tawaya village. The Matis were first contacted in 1978. Since then, they have maintained practices such as facial tattoos, nasal septum piercing, and the use of blowguns that are over three meters long. Although they have had to establish ties with the outside world, they will continue to defend their culture. Some will revitalize ancient rituals, while others will seek their place in modern Brazil. In either case, they will decide their own path. During our stay in the Matis village, we will participate in daily activities and rituals. The communities will be organized around the Maloca, a large, triangular communal house. Rituals will be held here, tools will be stored, and blowguns will be displayed. Among the most memorable moments will be the Mariwin, a ritual in which the Matis cover themselves in clay and transform into spirit beings. Also, we will witness the peccary dance (txawa tanek), which is performed during certain festivals. Through these experiences, we will better understand their spirituality and worldview.

We will live with the Marubo

From base camp, we will hike into the forest until we reach a Marubo village. From there, we will continue our trip to the Javari Valley. This group was the first to make contact with outsiders and is currently the largest in the region. Although they have adopted some external elements, such as shotguns and lanterns, they retain a strong connection to their traditions. The Marubo women will be known for their skill in making ornaments and their use of black body paint. During the gathering, we will share their worldview, their hunting and gathering techniques, and their communal life.

We will meet the Tikuna

Before concluding our trip to the Javari Valley, we will return to Benjamin Constant to reconnect with the Tikuna people. There, we will participate in their traditional ceremonies, such as the Pelazón, which marks the transition of young women to adulthood. Also, we will observe the making of their wood fibre masks, key elements of their identity. Finally, we will cross the border again into Leticia. This will conclude our trip to the Javari Valley, a profound experience that will have allowed us to live with communities that, despite external pressures, continue to strive to maintain their identity in one of the most fascinating corners of the Amazon.