Read the experiences of a French-German family, living in London, who spent a week at Juma Lodge in the Brazilian Amazon followed by four nights at Zagaia Resort in Bonito, in the south-west of Brazil:

“We had a fab time. Went from São Paulo to Manaus to Juma Lodge. It was totally seamless. No waiting or errors or anything. Super impressed.

The staff at Juma were so helpful and friendly and kind. Amazing excursions and knowledge passed on and good environmental practices.

Bonito is nice but a totally different experience. The hotel was contrasting (you told me so, so all good), but tasteless food, like Disneyland and no eco consciousness at all ….

But we did nice excursions and the kids loved it.

It was a 5* holiday overall”

What was your favourite destination in the itinerary?

• the Amazon

Who were your guides? How did they perform?

• absolutely amazing, especially the guide Herman at Juma

Which was your favourite accommodation and why?

• Juma as it’s a nature lodge and all eco

Which was your favourite restaurant / dish / drink? Did you lose or gain weight over the course of the holiday!?

• tambaqui fish and lots of fruit.

• I lost weight as I ate healthy. Very happy!

Did your itinerary involve any hiking? How would you rate it in terms of difficulty?

• not difficult but we had to carry kids, so that made it harder.

What was the most pointless item in your luggage!?

• too many clothes esp dresses

What were your favourite natural encounters?

• climbing the trees in the Amazon.

• Seeing dolphins and sloths and ant eaters

Did you suffer any insect bites?

• not many

Also, we feel it is important to assess the impact of tourism on a naturally and culturally sensitive region.

Did you have much interaction with locals? Where and how did this occur?

• not too many. Couple of shops and one village visit

Did you feel your money was going to local businesses and people?

• yes

Were you given any information regarding sustainability during the course of your trip (e.g. talks on environmental issues from guides)?

• from both guides, yes

Did you notice any areas where environmental practices could be improved?

• Bonito was terrible in terms of “eco”. The hotel was a plastic fest especially with being called an eco lodge. Food was wasted. Only plastic bottles, not even a water fountain available.

• All the tours are very well managed but all inevitably have plastic bottles and straws etc in their restaurants. Very sad.

• Juma could be plastic free - no need for plastic shampoo bottles and plastic water bottles