Family album

An atypical mother’s journey through the Amazon and around the world

An atypical mother navigates the Amazon and beyond, revealing secrets of family planning for travel

By Claudine Blanco

Fabiane is mother to three incredible girls, and one of them, Sofia, who is 9 years old, has a rare syndrome within the autism spectrum. The family is always on the road and guarantees that, regardless of being an atypical family, the secret to successful travel lies in good planning.

Sofia’s arrival in the family meant this planning needed to be even more careful, as some things are more complicated for the little one. Fabiane tells us that an environment with lots of noise and many people, or having to stand still waiting for a long time, is a great challenge for Sofia, so she learned to work around some situations using tactics she generously shares with us, along with tips from one of the trips she considered most special for the whole family, when they discovered the Amazon.

How was this decision to go to the Amazon?

We wanted to show the girls one of the destinations we consider most important here in Brazil. We have daughters of very different ages. Today the oldest, Mari, is 15 and Laurinha is 11, so we consider the Amazon a historical, cultural, social, and environmental icon and wanted to present this place to them.

What about logistics and local infrastructure, considering it’s a more remote destination with difficult access and you’d be staying in the middle of the Amazon rainforest?

Exactly. First of all, we have the wrong impression about the place. Today you find very good hotels with easier access to get there, but you need to know how to choose and keep in mind that even with nice infrastructure, a trip to the Amazon involves lots of boat logistics, mainly, since the river is their highway.

Tell us how this journey was for the whole family?

To start, we decided on a specialized travel agency that clarified many doubts we had and made us feel more secure and calm about the decision. It was a group trip, but we presented them with some demands that are essential for our family because of Sofia.

Like what, for example?

We took certain precautions with flight time choices and specific seat reservations for the family, which meant we didn’t travel with other group families. This first airport stage is very important for us to minimize the effects of the environment that generates considerable stress for Sofia. A tip I give to all families is to use lanyards that identify hidden disabilities or autism. Today all airlines are prepared to provide more targeted service, which makes things much easier for us.

The agency also provided backup boat and car support on some tours in case Sofia became dysregulated and we needed to return before the group from some excursion or go later.

Was it necessary to use it?

No! Although Sofia doesn’t need much support, that doesn’t mean it was so easy for her.

When she was very small, she had many respiratory problems, and we always needed to be near a hospital. Now this doesn’t happen anymore.

At some moments during the trip, she became dysregulated. For example, on a canoe ride she got scared because this type of boat is more unstable and she gave us some trouble until accepting to go. Also on one of the forest walks she got tired and we had to carry her, but it was worth every second because we could see the giant Sumauma tree.

In the group there was also another atypical family so everyone was included in the context and it was a very inclusive process with all families.

You told us the Amazon was one of the most incredible travel experiences for your family. What was so special about it?

To start, it was undoubtedly one of the most challenging we’ve done and one of the most enriching.

Experiencing different heat, riding boats, feeling fear, were experiences she hadn’t lived yet. We saw alligators, enormous fish, pirarucu, sloths, pink dolphins, and Sofia even put on a special show dancing with the indigenous people in the village we visited.

Another nice thing is that the agency has a pedagogically-based project that the girls really liked. We had games, legends, visited an NGO, and they could have contact with the local community.

What’s the next trip?

Now in July [2024] we’ll go on a new challenging journey, 20 days through Europe. We’ll take a trip through England’s interior and then continue to Portugal.