Authentic Brazil: Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure Travel with Gift of Go

Authentic Brazil: Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure Travel with Gift of Go

May 12, 2026 · 1h 12m

About this episode

Eddie Lott and Elisa Oliveira discuss their adventure travel company Gift of Go and exploring the lesser-known Serra do Espinhaco in Brazil.

What if the part of Brazil most worth exploring is the one almost nobody talks about? Eddie Lott is a Dallas-born expedition leader who has spent nearly two decades studying Brazilian history, geography, and culture. He rediscovered the Serra do Espinhaco in 2018 and has been documenting its trails and communities ever since. Elisa Oliveira is a Brazilian architect turned expedition coordinator who left behind her career and her previous life after a single weekend in the Espinhaco in 2019. Together, they co-founded Gift of Go, a company that builds and leads founder-guided expeditions through one of Brazil's most layered and least-visited mountain ranges, and they are also husband and wife. In this episode, co-host Paige McClanahan talks with Eddie and Elisa about how Gift of Go came to be, what their expeditions actually look like, and what travelers need to know before heading to this part of Brazil. This is a rewarding listen for anyone drawn to real adventure travel in Brazil off the beaten path. Eddie and Elisa spent three-plus years walking the terrain, building relationships with local communities, and living in the region before guiding their first traveler. You'll hear…

People in this episode

Host: Paige McClanahan

Guests: Eddie Lott, Elisa Oliveira

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Gift of Go

Places: Brazil, Serra do Espinhaco, Dallas

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