Home Hospitality

• Provided by the Friendship Force Club of La Libertad.

Availability

• 20 spaces available.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Ambassador Application Form

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the historic city of Trujillo and visit the ruins of pre-Inca civilization, colonial and modern architecture
• Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Chimu culture in the city of Chan Chan
• Visit the ruins of Moche civilization, Huaca del Sol.
• Add on a trip to Cuzco and Macchu Picchu – World Heritage Sites
• Add on an additional trip to discover the famous Galápagos islands
  

Description: In addition to being a cultural center of Northern Peru, Trujillo is home to a rich history of Colonial Spanish culture and the pre-Inca Moche Civilization. We will visit the Chimu Adobe City, Chan Chan a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience the architecture and culture of the Inca Civilization by starting this exchange early with a visit to Cuzco and Machu Picchu, which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After our exchange is complete in Trujillo, we have the opportunity to extend our trip with an 8-day cruise to the Galápagos islands, home to the Giant tortoise, Blue-footed Booby, Marine Iguana, and more unique wildlife. We will each have a private cabin for 2, with bath, aboard the Galavén, a 20-passenger motor yacht equipped with a library, dining room and sun decks. This promises to be the trip of a lifetime.

Home Hospitality

• Provided by the Friendship Force Clubs of Guaruja and Curitiba.

Availability

• 4 spaces available.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Ambassador Application Form
• Itinerary

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pioneer new friendships with a one week home stay with the members of FF Guaruja, the newest Friendship Force club in Brazi
• Take in the sight of Brazil’s Iguassu Falls
• Experience urban life in Brazil in a second home stay with FF Curitiba
• Cross the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil by train to visit the historic city of Morretes
• Appreciate the landscape of rivers, plant life, and rural countryside in a visit to Vila Velha state park

Description: Explore Brazil in 3 parts this March: we’ll travel to Guaruja, Iguassu and Curitiba. We will begin by visiting the newest Friendship Force club in Brazil and staying with our new friends in Guaruja for a six night home stay. Our hosts will help us experience Brazilian life and culture through shared meals and experiences.

Next we will fly to Iguassu for a tour of Iguassu Falls. The word Iguassu comes from roots meaning “big water.” Our two day tour will allow us to view the falls from the Brazilian and Argentinean sides of the river. We will have opportunities to enjoy the parks and the flora and fauna of the area.

Our final adventure will be a flight to Curitiba where we will meet our Friendship Force hosts at the airport. They will take us to their homes by car for a seven night home stay with an intense program of city tours with lunch, city hall meeting, and welcome and farewell parties.

One of the highlights for this program is the tour to the historic city of Morretes. We will travel by rail, a bold engineering work which is a pride for Brazil, disembarking in Morretes. We take a short sightseeing walk and have lunch. Hopefully, enjoy a taste of a local food called "barreado". After lunch we return to Curitiba by graciosa road, which will give us an opportunity to see the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

We will say good bye to our friends in Curitiba on March 28th as we head for home or additional time in Brazil on your own.

Home Hospitality

• Provided by the Friendship Force Clubs of Filobobos.

Availability

• 10 spaces available.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Ambassador Application Form
• Itinerary

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire song and dance presentations by traditional folk artists
• Experience family life in Mexico in a five-night home stay
• Discover the pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico
• Encounter Mexico City in a pre-exchange tour including Teotihuacan pyramids, the Artwork of Diego Rivera, the Xochimilco floating gardens and more!
• Explore the ancient and colonial architecture and artifacts in a post-exchange add-on trip to the UNESCO World Heritage site Oaxaca and Monte Albán
  

Description: Throughout this exchange, you will experience Mexico as a friend, a traveler and lifelong learner. In Filobobos, you will be staying with families in an area above 2000 ft. elevation, north of Veracruz.  This will give you the opportunity to be a part of normal family life in Mexico. While in Filobobos, you will visit the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology, which houses the largest collection of artifacts from Mexican Gulf Coast cultures such as the Olmec, the Huastec and the Totonac. Don’t miss the most notable pieces such as the giant Olmec heads. The museum also contains a 40,000 sq. meter garden.

As an ambassador, you will learn about Mexico’s history, culture, and hand arts dating back three millennia. You will find that in the pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico there was little distinction between architecture, art and writing – you will experience the arts of Mexico in their many forms in all of your travels. You will visit a variety of historical sites throughout Mexico, take in song and dance performances, and enjoy the flavor of this culture with a variety of Mexican meals. You will also be able to take advantage of our expert, English-speaking guide’s knowledge of the arts, crafts and local sites we might otherwise miss!

Don’t forget the add-on trip to Mexico City prior to the homestay. It will include tours of the pyramids at Teotihuacan, the floating gardens of Xochimilco, Mexico City’s Museum of Anthropology and a trip to The Dolores Olmedo Museum, which is home to a collection of paintings by Diego Rivera and his wife Frida Kahlo.

After the exchange continue on the post-exchange tour to Oaxaca. The city of Oaxaca and the nearby Monte Albán make up a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will enjoy visiting the stone cut architectural sites from this ancient city. You will also visit Baroque style Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. Before completing our tour of Mexico, you will return to Mexico City to attend the Folkloric Ballet at Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Home Hospitality

• Provided by the Friendship Force Clubs of São Carlos and Itanhaém.

Availability

• 10 spaces available.
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Ambassador Application Form
• Itinerary

HIGHLIGHTS

• Make lasting memories and develop friendships with our Brazilian hosts
• Explore the first mining towns in Minas Gerais: UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ouro Preto, Diamantina, and Congonhas 
• Wonder at the spectacular Iguaçu Falls – another UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Marvel at the beauty of Rio de Janeiro from the Christ the Redeemer statue 
• Experience the wildlife of Brazil in the world’s largest tropical wetlands, the Pantanal 

Description: Our first stop on this exchange is the city of São Carlos. São Carlos is known as the capitol of technology in Brazil; it is home to two major universities and technical schools. We will explore nearby cities, visit coffee and sugar plantations, tour the Air Force Academy and enjoy the Aguas de São Pedros Springs with our first Friendship Force hosts.

Next we will visit our second Friendship Force hosts in Itanhaém for another home stay. Itanhaém is located on the coast and is the second oldest town in Brazil. We look forward to a boat trip on the river, a visit to the monastery and day trips to Santos City and São Vicente city.

The optional tour will visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the colonial buildings and Baroque architecture of Minas Gerais as well as the spectacular falls at Foz do Iquaçu (Iguaçu Falls). The tour ends in Rio de Janeiro with a samba show. 

An extension for the adventurous will go to the magnificent Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland providing for the greatest concentration of animals in the Western Hemisphere.

Home Hospitality

• Provided by the Friendship Force Club of Belem.

Availability

• waiting list
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Ambassador Application Form
• Handout

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a remote jungle lodge where you will view dolphins and fish for piranhas and caiman
• Swim in the clear waters of the Amazon jungle’s most beautiful beach at Alter do Chão
• Enjoy a homestay in Belém and learn about life in this metropolis of the Amazon
• Experience the view of hundreds of parrots awakening at sunrise on a boat trip to Parrott Island
• Visit the largest island in the Amazon with its beautiful landscape, nesting sites of tropical birds, buffalo farms and beaches.
  

Description: Explore the Amazon River basin as we travel to three distinct areas of this massive region: Manaus, Belem and Santarém. We will begin with a 4 day jungle excursion hosted by Gero Tours. We will travel by boat and van to our first destination – the “Meeting of Waters” where the Amazon and Negro rivers run side by side in two distinctive colors for miles. Our expert guides will lead us by foot and canoe as we will explore the flora and fauna of the Amazon Rainforest. We will learn about native medicinal plants, view native wildlife, fish for piranhas and more!
 
After our 4 day Gero Tour, we will fly across the Amazon to meet our Friendship Force Hosts in Belém. Belém is home to a number of beautiful and historic sites such as the basilica, “Ver-O-Peso” a fish and vegetable market, and museums. The Belém Friendship Force club has arranged a two night visit to the largest island in the world, Marajó Island, where we will enjoy its beautiful landscape, water buffalo farms, nesting sites for tropical birds, lovely beaches and folkloric dancing.

Our third regional destination is Santarém and Alter do Chão. These cities are home to the most beautiful beach in Amazonia.  Relax on the sandy beaches or join some local sightseeing tours – you will have a free day to enjoy this relaxing and beautiful place. You will also have the option to tour the city of Santarém to see the local markets, churches, shops and museums.