Long before the world spoke of sustainability, three Brazilian brothers — Orlando, Cláudio and Leonardo Villas-Bôas — crossed central Brazil on the Roncador-Xingu Expedition and met the peoples of the upper Xingu. What they saw changed the country's history.
The fight that became a park
For over a decade the Villas-Bôas brothers defended a revolutionary idea: instead of forcibly 'integrating' Indigenous peoples, protect the territory where they lived. In 1961, President Jânio Quadros signed the creation of the Xingu National Park — today the Xingu Indigenous Park, in Mato Grosso: Brazil's first great demarcated Indigenous territory.
- Over 2.6 million hectares of protected forest between the Cerrado and the Amazon
- Home to 16 peoples, including Kamaiurá, Yawalapiti, Kuikuro, Kalapalo, Waurá and Mehinako
- Birthplace of the Kuarup, the great ritual honoring the dead, known worldwide
Why this matters for travelers
The Xingu shows the Brazil the world wants to meet: living cultures, languages, dances, body painting and a relationship with the forest that teaches the planet. Visiting Mato Grosso means stepping into the state that guards this history — and traveling with respect is the only way to keep it alive.
Tourism in Indigenous lands only happens with the authorization and guidance of the communities themselves. Chigo stands for conscious tourism and absolute respect for First Peoples.