Trip Itinerary
View Trip ApplicationRio de Janeiro & São Paulo
March 5-16, 2026
Brazil, with all its mystery and allure, offers a marvelous vista by which to see the modern world. We will absorb Brazil’s beauty and history by walking on its streets and beaches, entering its museums, churches, universities, and spending time with its people. From Rio de Janeiro’s magnificent Sugar Loaf Mountain to São Paulo’s famed Avenida Paulista (Paulista Avenue) to historical and cultural sites in Piracicaba, we will find ourselves deep within the center of modernity itself, with plenty of sights to see and questions to ask. Along the way, we will find an opportunity for meaningful connections with the people of Brazil.
You are entering Brazil as more than a tourist: you are coming as a student, led by professors whose own experience of Brazil, and the broader world itself, will make possible entryways and byways the ordinary tourist never sees. For instance, when we visit the Latin America Memorial designed by famed Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer, or sit in the restaurant in Rio where bossa nova was first played, we will connect ourselves to a past that has shaped our present, and of which we, too, are the inheritors. The places we stay and visit will have formative power in our lives long after we leave.
Thursday, March 5: Flight to Brazil (whole group)
Overnight flight from Pittsburgh to Rio de Janeiro.
Friday, March 6: Rio de Janeiro
Arrival at the Galeão-Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro. Bus ride to our accommodations in Mosteiro São Bento, a historic monastery in downtown Rio. Lunch at the monastery. Afternoon visit by cable car to Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf in the Bay of Guanabara), a lovely mountain top with unforgettable views, including of the famous Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue, one of the most iconic landmarks in the world.
Saturday, March 7: Rio de Janeiro
Late morning and afternoon: sand and sun at the Copacabana beach. Evening dinner in downtown Rio.
Sunday, March 8: Rio de Janeiro
Morning church service/visit. Afternoon: visit to the famous Cristo Redentor statue perched high above Rio.
Monday, March 9: Travel from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo
Bus coach ride from Rio to São Paulo. Settle into accommodations at Monreale Hotel (Higienópolis).
Tuesday, March 10: Morning visit to Mackenzie Presbyterian University
Morning visit to the Afro-Brazilian Museum, which commemorates the African cultural heritage in Brazilian society. Afternoon visit to Mackenzie Presbyterian University, a large private, Christian educational institution in the heart of São Paulo to learn more about the university, its research projects, and meet with campus leaders.
Wednesday, March 11: São Paulo
Morning visit to the Museum of Art (MASP), a world class collection of European and Brazilian visual arts. Students will have the opportunity to visit the Avenida Paulista (Paulista Avenue), the central commercial and shopping street in São Paulo. Afternoon visit to MacKenzie Presbyterian University for conversation with Brazilian students and professors to learn about their projects in the fields of education, art, and history of culture, followed by a guided tour of the campus.
Thursday, March 12: São Paulo
Morning visit to MacKenzie Presbyterian School (primary/secondary education, connected to the larger project of Presbyterian education in Brazil), followed by a cultural and historical presentation of popular Brazilian music at the University. Afternoon visit to the Latin America Memorial, a cultural complex designed by Brazil’s great architect, Oscar Niemeyer.
Friday, March 13: São Paulo to Piracicaba
Early departure to Piracicaba (interior of the State of São Paulo) by bus. Visit to important cultural/educational sites in the city. Evening feijoada, a traditional Brazilian meal, with local families in town. Overnight stay at Hotel Nacional Inn (Piracicaba).
Saturday, March 14: Piracicaba, returning to São Paulo in the evening
Morning walk through downtown Piracicaba (e.g., city center, market, and other historical sites) followed by a day at a local recreation center with access to swimming pool, sports facilities, etc. Traditional meal (lunch) included.
Sunday, March 15: Church and preparation for departure
Morning worship at a church in Piracicaba. Afternoon travel to the International Airport of Guarulhos (GRU) in São Paulo.
Sunday, March 16: Arrive in Pittsburgh by 1 p.m.
*Schedule and itinerary subject to change with notice.
Academic Program Details
Brazil 2026
Brazil, with all its mystery and allure, offers a marvelous vista by which to see the modern world. We will absorb Brazil’s beauty and history by walking on its streets and beaches, entering its museums, churches, universities, and spending time with its people. From Rio de Janeiro’s magnificent Sugar Loaf Mountain to São Paulo’s famed Avenida Paulista (Paulista Avenue) to historical and cultural sites in Piracicaba, we will find ourselves deep within the center of modernity itself, with plenty of sights to see and questions to ask. Along the way we will find time for recreational activities among the people of Brazil.
Field trips are part of the students’ activity fees. Among the sites we intend to visit are:
- Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue and overlook (RJ)
- Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf) Mountain (RJ)
- Copacabana beach (RJ)
- The Paço Imperial Palace (RJ)
- Mackenzie University (SP)
- The Afro-Brazilian Museum (SP)
- São Paulo Museum of Art
- Avenida Paulista (SP)
- The Latin American Memorial (SP)
- Other sites in the “interior” of Brazil in the city of Piracicaba
Frequently Asked Questions
The program dates are March 5–16, 2026. The cost will be approximately $3000. This includes airfare and most meals. It does not include personal expenses. Students should plan to spend $50-$75 on food.
- Most meals
- Lodging
- All field trip admissions
- Guided tours of all field trip sights
- Transportation within Brazil
- Health and accident insurance
- Pre-departure information booklet
- International Health Insurance
The following are not included in the program cost:
- U.S. Passport fees and any visa fees
- International data for your phone—which is mandatory for all going on the trip)
- 5-6 meals, mostly lunches
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Souvenirs and other items of a personal nature
- Spring semester tuition for HUM 491 (for most students this is included in their 18-hour maximum allotment for the semester) or HED 632
Applications will be received beginning Monday, September 15, 2025. A limited number of spots are available, and space is reserved on a first-deposited basis only. Please complete the online application and you will be directed to provide your $500 deposit.
Yes. Many restaurants have gluten-free options.
No. We will stay together during the entire trip.
Yes. Brazil requires tourists to obtain a visa. We will offer instruction on how to apply for a visa.
First Year Honors Program students may be able to apply their stipend to the trip fees. Consult with the Crossroads Office for details.
Undergraduates will enroll in HUM 491 (3 credits) and take a weekly class throughout the semester. HUM 491 fulfills the requirements for HUM 303. Graduate students will enroll in HED 632.
The class will meet Fridays at 2:30 p.m.
The prerequisites for HUM 491 are HUM 103 and HUM 203.
Yes.
No. Undergraduates taking HUM 491 are required to go on the trip.
A deposit of $500 will confirm your participation in the trip.
Deposit checks should be made payable to Geneva College and submitted with the application.
If participating in the trip only, payment of the balance of the program fee must be received no later than December 15 of the year prior to the trip.
Students taking the class will have their spring semester student invoice charged for the remaining balance.
Notification of cancellation must be received in writing to emiller@geneva.edu. Deposit refunds less a cancellation fee of $250 will be granted if cancellation is received by December 1.
Refunds of the program fee will be paid according to the following schedule:
- December 15: 50% of the program fee is retained by the college
- January 15: 100% of the program fee is retained by the college
If a student cancels and finds another student of the same sex to take her/his place prior to January 15, and the trip director consents, the cancellation fees are waived.
Deposited students receive an orientation packet that provides necessary information related to the trip.
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