Dear Peter, just a quick recap of our trip to Brazil... In short: it doesn't get any better than this! Without going into details, EVERYTHING was just right. When we think back like this, we get (almost..) a bit emotional... Really, even after all these years with a lot, a lot, a lot of travel experience, I (we) are still just thrilled and grateful. I'm a fan of jobs well done and people doing them. But these seem to be dying out these days and that's why I'm all the more happy that they still exist... I think the “engine” behind this super job is probably Annette. The way this woman pulls the strings in the background and organizes everything with her colleagues and other tour guides – really everything – 100% reliably and reorganizes herself remotely (communication) is good for the Guinness Book of Records! Just fine... Thank you for your kind answer. I myself am not a person of “big words”. In this case, however, I would like to once again honestly confirm: it was a great job, well above my rather demanding benchmark and we really enjoyed it. Well then, stay fresh, all the best and keep up the good work of Southern Cross Tours!
Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions was founded in 1995 by Peter Rohmer, a German-born travel expert who has lived in Brazil for over 40 years. Based in Arraial do Cabo (Rio de Janeiro State), the company organizes fully private, tailor-made tours across Brazil with a team of specialist guides – biologists, expedition leaders and regional experts – who speak English, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
What makes a trip to Brazil
with Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions so special?
At Southern Cross Tours & Expeditions (SCTE) we offer outstanding trips highlighting content, authenticity and sustainability. A coherent price/performance ratio is an important part of our concept, as it guarantees the demanding traveler a trip that matches their expectations.
Our objective is to avoid cliché-ridden itineraries by offering visitors an intensive, close-up look at a vast, diverse and amazing country. We prioritize individual travel and very small groups of friends and relatives. Larger groups are welcome for social, scientific and educational travel.
When you book a trip with SCTE, you will always receive something more than you expected. Because making your trip to Brazil a memorable journey is our goal and our commitment.
The Cornerstones of Our Work
- Customized and private itineraries ensure greater privacy and flexibility
- Selected destinations and routes “off the beaten track”
- Guaranteed authentic travel content
- Appropriate price-performance ratio
- Personal contact with the client before, during and after travel
- Long-standing and trusted relationships with local partners
- Cooperation on projects for local populations for a sustainable way of working and living
Peter Rohmer – Founder
More than five decades ago, a young German left his home country with nothing in his pocket, but blessed with courage and curiosity to get to know the big world. Over the years, he has lived and worked in several European countries and overseas, learning five foreign languages and surviving through determination and willpower.
Peter Rohmer knows how to hold his ground even in difficult situations. In over 40 years living in Brazil, he has had to overcome tricky situations with a pistol to his head more than once. His passion for largely untouched landscapes, for his friendships with the locals and for the unique wildlife with which this extraordinary land is blessed is contagious.
A man of many talents, with a great love for Brazil, its spectacular scenery, its adventures and its people, Peter Rohmer knows Brazil like few others. His experience is the basis for beautifully tailored itineraries that match each customer's individual needs, offering private and unique adventures instead of the usual mass tourism.
Ask Peter to personally design the “trip of a lifetime” just for you. It will be “satisfaction guaranteed”!
Meet Our Guides and Travel Specialists
Edemir Rodrigues de Souza
Pantanal Wildlife and Jaguar Safaris
Eddy was born and grew up in the beautiful town of Bonito, so he is a genuine Pantaneiro, as the residents of the Pantanal are called. He is 37 years old, married and has 3 children. He graduated as a sports trainer from UNINTER University in Campo Grande and played professional football in Germany for 7 years. After returning to Brazil, he founded the non-profit organization (NGO) Associação Atlética Gol Bonito in his hometown – a social project in which he and his team train children and young people from the region to become future football athletes. Eddy has been working as a wildlife guide in both the southern and northern Pantanal for 11 years. He speaks fluent German and English. His knowledge of the Pantanal and its wildlife, together with his always amiable and courteous manner, is greatly appreciated by our guests.
Alexander Eulalio Cordero Blanco
Amazon Expeditions and Roraima Tepuis
Alex was born in 1972 in Cumaná, on the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. He is married, the father of 3 children and lives in Manaus. He has been working as a guide since 1990, first in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, then in the Orinoco Delta and the Andes of Venezuela. His specialty is geology, the ideal background for the tours and expeditions he leads to the magical tepuis of the Roraima Plateau. Alex also leads our expeditions into the largest and most remote river and forest areas of the Brazilian Amazon. His work has a solid scientific and technical foundation, while his heart clearly belongs to the outstanding natural landscapes and their cultural characteristics – exactly the mix our guests expect from our trip leaders. Alex speaks English, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
Lúcia Maria Weber
Amazon Private Cruises
Lucy, a native of Rio Grande do Sul, is of German descent and therefore speaks fluent German. She has lived in Manaus for over 30 years. Lucy's talents are multifaceted: she is a real all-rounder, driving everything from 40-ton trucks to Amazon steamers. She is a school teacher and also a registered nurse. Not only is she familiar with the medicinal plants of the Amazon, she also knows the region's flora and fauna better than almost anyone. During 11 months of service with the Brazilian Special Forces for Jungle Warfare, she successfully completed a jungle survival course under extreme conditions. Working in jungle lodges and as a moderator for rainforest excursions on cruise ships, she learned why mass tourism is not her thing and why it harms sensitive natural landscapes such as the Amazon. This is one of the reasons why the always helpful and friendly Lucy has been working with Peter for 10 years.
Edson Roberto Sarmento
Amazon Wildlife and Primates
Edson was born in 1983 in Juruti, in the jungle of the state of Pará. Today he lives and works in Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas. He is a biologist specializing in biochemical and toxicological analyses and holds a postgraduate degree in Amazonian ecology with an emphasis on primatology. Edson has a wide range of interests and is always committed to protecting the natural resources of his homeland. His love belongs to the wild animals of the Amazon, especially the primates. Together with Edson, Peter created the “Journey of a Lifetime – Amazonian Wildlife”, which Edson leads as a specialist and certified nature guide. Edson speaks English and Portuguese.
Annette Ursula Runge
Rio de Janeiro and Costa Verde
Nette joined Peter's team in 2002 as an assistant in planning and organizing his trips. In this role she had the chance to travel extensively in Brazil, mostly far off the typical tourist routes. She was able to delve deep into Brazil's different cultures, experienced extraordinary landscapes and made many friends among the locals. When putting together a travel program for our customers, Annette pays particular attention to professional advice and transparency. Following our philosophy of sustainability, Nette established partnerships with small family-run businesses to ensure that they, and not large organizations, benefit from our trips. She is now responsible for developing our activities and guiding our private tours in Rio de Janeiro and the Green Coast. Having lived in Rio de Janeiro for 20 years and now living in Paraty, she is the ideal insider guide to take our guests to special places known only to a few. Annette speaks German, English and Portuguese.
Antonio Rouvenat Ribeiro
Chapada Diamantina National Park
Tony was born in 1987 in Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia. As his name suggests, his ancestors are from France, where he spent a number of years. Very fit and an excellent trekker, Tony is the right man for our hiking tours through the wild and beautiful table-mountain landscape of Chapada Diamantina National Park. He has held the SENAC Tour Guide Diploma for Regional Tourism since 2012 and has been active in the Chapada since 1997. Tony knows this Belgium-sized region like the back of his hand, including all its well-known and lesser-known highlights. He speaks French, English and Portuguese.
Antonio Henrique Leão “Branco”
Deep Amazon Expeditions
“Branco” was born in Santarém, in the Amazonian state of Pará. He is 52 years old and has spent most of his adult life in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, our gateway to the more intense rainforest adventures. If you are looking for a real adventure, nobody delivers it like “Branco”. He is also the person you want by your side if something goes wrong: he is in command, and nothing is too rough or tough for him to handle. Basically a joker, always friendly and helpful, but all business and standing his ground whenever the situation requires. Lost and in peril in the deep jungle? Not with “Branco” around!
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Let’s design your tailored expedition to Brazil.
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