In an unprecedented meeting, the ecotourism platform brings together its team and local operators to discuss community impact and environmental preservation amid the region’s growing international projection.
SÃO PAULO – PlanetaEXO, an international platform specializing in adventure travel and sustainability, announced the launch of “EXO Connection,” a strategic initiative designed to bring its corporate team closer to the reality experienced by tour operators on the ground. The first edition of the event focused on Lençóis Maranhenses and featured the participation of the founders of Paraíso do Caju, a pioneering local partner.
The meeting served as a barometer for the profound transformations the region is undergoing. Central themes included the vital economic impact of tourism for native oasis families, ethical partnerships between agencies and the community, and urgent challenges brought by the exponential increase in visitors and the park’s recognition as a heritage site.
Photo: Marcelo Bonifácio
For Lucas Ribeiro, founder of PlanetaEXO, the initiative reinforces the company’s DNA. “The goal of EXO Connection is to communicate our purpose internally and to the market: generating real positive impact in our partners’ communities,” says Ribeiro. “We chose to start with Paraíso do Caju because of our admiration for their authenticity and genuine social commitment. This level of care connects deeply with the essence of PlanetaEXO.”
A Partnership Transforming Lives and Businesses
The choice of Paraíso do Caju as the first guest was intentional. Operating in the region since 2013, the local agency specializes in “adventure tours” and immersion Lençóis Maranhenses hiking trips, building a symbiotic relationship with oasis residents.
Alana Paixão, manager of Paraíso do Caju, highlighted how the commercial alliance boosted the professionalization of tourism in the area. “PlanetaEXO is currently our largest partner in sending clients, and this union has been fundamental to our growth. Above all, it is a relationship based on deep respect for local communities and guides, ensuring the financial impact fairly reaches those living inside the National Park.”
Photo: Isadora Sá
The Sustainability Challenge Amid the “Hype”
The event also addressed the other side of the coin: the vertiginous growth of tourism in Lençóis Maranhenses and the pressure on the ecosystem. Marcelo, an experienced guide and partner at Sítio Paraíso do Caju, shared a moving account of the paradigm shift in the region but warned of the need for collective responsibility.
“Tourism has radically transformed the lives of families in the oases, who historically lived on fishing and extraction and now have financial security and access to education for their children,” Marcelo reports. “However, we feel both pride and apprehension. Guiding people from all over the world — from Japan to France — in our backyard is an honor, but we have an immense responsibility to maintain the quality of the Lençóis Maranhenses trek and preserve this natural gem.”
exo connection
The “EXO Connection” will continue throughout the year, with the next edition already confirmed to cover Chapada Diamantina. The initiative will keep bringing other strategic destinations and partners to the center of the debate on the future of ecotourism in Brazil and the world.
