Aerial view of Tijuca Forest, its rocky peaks and Rio de Janeiro

The Story

We chose one forest over an entire country.

Tamaruva Origins creates private eco-luxury journeys in the Atlantic Forest, with the five core journeys based in Rio de Janeiro State.

Explore the Five Journeys

01The protagonist

The Golden Lion Tamarin — the Mico-Leão-Dourado — is the living protagonist of Tamaruva. Small, radiant and once at the edge of disappearance, it opens the door to one of the richest and most threatened forests on Earth.

It is never a mascot or a symbol. It is a real animal, in a real forest, followed with the researchers who know its family groups by name.

02The stage

The Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State is the stage. From the lowland forest of Silva Jardim to the restored wetlands of Guapiaçu, the stillness of Lumiar and the high silence of Itatiaia, one state holds an entire world.

Tamaruva is not a Brazil-wide operator. Depth in one forest, over breadth across a country.

03Field notes from a living forest

Beyond the golden lion tamarin, the Atlantic Forest shelters howler monkeys, muriquis and a rich variety of birdlife. Their habitats form part of a connected landscape that deserves close attention.

Scientific observation and species monitoring help researchers understand forest primates and the habitats they depend on. Thermal cameras can complement work in the field, detecting heat among the treetops.

These photographs share moments from a field visit. They offer a glimpse of observation behind the scenes, while the wider story is one of patience, knowledge and long-term conservation.

Howler monkeys observed among the treetops on a field monitor — A view into the canopy, recorded during a field visit.

Hands holding a controller displaying thermal observations of the forest — Thermal observation adds another perspective to fieldwork.

A drone seen from the forest floor during a field visit — Observation equipment, seen from the ground.

Discover the forest’s howler monkeys ↗

Another expression of the forest

A closer look at birdlife.

Colour, character and quiet moments among the branches.

A blue bird with a crimson crown among branches — Blue and crimson.

A black-and-white bird perched on a branch — Black and white.

A dark bird with a crimson head beside a tree — A crimson crown.

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04The private approach

Every journey is private — a maximum of six guests, ideally one to four. A bilingual Host accompanies you throughout the journey; a dedicated chauffeur carries you from arrival to departure.

Five cumulative chapters form one living story. Each longer journey keeps the chapters before it and adds its own depth.

The Story of Our Seal

05Who We Are & Our Essence

At Tamaruva Origins, we invite you to rediscover travel in its most refined, authentic, and soulful form. As a specialized boutique ecotourism agency, Tamaruva is deeply rooted right where we live and where our legacy began: we do not offer generic nationwide itineraries; instead, our curatorship focuses exclusively on what we master and where we deliver profound, transformative impact — the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro. This regional devotion allows us to design bespoke, immersive experiences where the true luxury is experiencing local life precisely as it is.

We believe that true connection stems from unfiltered, living heritage: walking side by side with regional guardians and pathfinders, sharing daily routines with those who protect the land, supporting independent local artisans and family producers, and witnessing firsthand the true engine of ecological restoration and community-led conservation across Silva Jardim and the state's vital biomes.

For us, immersive travel plays a transformative role by placing the traveler at the heart of a vibrant, multisectoral ecosystem. This network connects historic sanctuaries and initiatives we deeply admire and support — such as the Golden Lion Tamarin Association (AMLD), where our connection runs deepest and whose territories we frequently and respectfully explore, alongside Fazenda dos Cordeiros and the inspiring Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA) — together with esteemed scientific benchmarks like IPÊ, international alliances such as the Dutch organization Selva Green, and the local community. Because we strictly reject mass tourism, we curate exclusively private expeditions with small, highly respectful parties, ensuring absolute harmony with wildlife behavior and the pristine balance of the forest. When you choose our bespoke Atlantic Forest experiences and join our specialized journeys with Tamaruva, you are never merely a spectator; you become the vital catalyst of a circular economy that keeps the canopy standing, safeguards biodiversity, and honors the people who call it home.

Explore the Five Journeys