We may or may not know the Brazilian sertão up close, but it is certainly something we learn and hear a lot about as Brazilians. So much that it is rare to not know anybody who says “I come from the sertão”. We have heard beautiful stories of struggle, culture, and survival, but in the end, how are the travel experiences there?
The term “sertão” in Brazil would correspond to “outback” in Australia. Originally it referred to one of the four sub-regions of the Brazilian northeast. The sertão covers the states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe.
But there is also the Jequitinhonha Valley, in Minas Gerais, which actually belonged to the state of Bahia until the end of the eighteenth century. Although officially it doesn’t belong to the sertão, this mining region has the characteristics of the northeastern sertão. Not only similar in climate, but also by the social indicators – which disregard the innumerable riches that we will talk about below.
A cultural root
This mining region has the characteristics of the northeastern sertão, not only similar in climate, but also by the social indicators. It stands out through its lush beauty and cultural richness, with traces of both indigenous and African cultures.
It is a Brazil that brings out strong feelings in our memories especially from our childhood. These parts are the real interior of the country; it is simplicity and purity. It is true human warmth; it is eye to eye and heart to heart.
The Communities
People living in the Brazilian sertão are wise, we would even like to claim that they are survivors. They have gone through many difficulties in life and could have ended up bitter, but no!
They are happy, grateful and wonderful. In addition, they are also very hospitable and take pride in sharing their stories and knowledge.
As it is a region of drought, people commonly associate this scarcity with only negative things. What comes to people’s minds are always bad, difficult things, associated with everything that “they do not have”. When you get there, you do face a scenario with many challenges, but what really stands out is the extreme abundance of love, sympathy, respect, appreciation and teachings.
In other words, if you live in the “big city,” in a developed place, you are probably accustomed to a range of resources. The people living in the sertão had to learn how to survive with few. So, the great lesson they bring, is how to value everything we have. And how to be grateful for it!
The strength of women, in particular
Before writing this text, we asked some people who visited the Jequitinhonha Valley specifically what were the most remarkable stories of their travel experiences there. The answers where unanimous: the stories of the women. After all, they make that place what it is.
“They made that place into something special. Each of our hostesses have rich narratives about their trajectory, I emphasize here the generic story of the amazing art that they produce”, comments Marianne Costa, turismologist, founder of Vivejar.
In a place that is often hard, arid, inhospitable, cruel, poor and scarce, what they create is beauty, fun, creativity and of course pure art. The Jequi women express in the most beautiful way what exists on the inside. These are women often abandoned by their companions, without much resources and few opportunities – they raise their children, take care of their homes, and still find time to live in harmony together, helping each other in the spirit of a true community.
Among the many places that you must go to be able to say that you KNOW Brazil, the sertão is one of them … it is the genuine Brazil. It is a place that has the Brazilian joy and simplicity that characterizes us.
So, ready to live these travel experiences?
