About
A bridge between travelers and the forest.
Ubatuba Wild is a company in preparation, based on a simple idea: the Atlantic Forest around Ubatuba deserves to be experienced deeply, safely and responsibly — by Brazilians and by visitors from anywhere.
The face behind Ubatuba Wild
Hi, I'm Mario Lucas.
I grew up in the Quilombo do Sertão do Itamambuca, in Ubatuba — a quilombola community surrounded by the Atlantic Forest. Those trails and rivers were my backyard until I was 17.
Then I moved to Japan, where I lived for many years and worked as a welder in Saitama. After a long time between two cultures, the idea became clear: to build a bridge between visitors from abroad and the place where I grew up.
And that bridge has to work in both directions. Ubatuba Wild is being built so that the experiences create work and income for families of the Quilombo do Sertão do Itamambuca — together with the community, and on its terms.
Mario Lucas · Founder, Ubatuba Wild
Why Ubatuba Wild
Not just a trail. A prepared way into the forest.
Anyone can point you to a trailhead. Ubatuba Wild is designed to answer the questions that come right after “it's beautiful” — where, with whom, how, and what if.
Local knowledge
Rooted in the Sertão do Itamambuca, not learned from a map. The forest, its rivers and its moods after rain, read the way locals read them.
A safety system, not a promise
Each experience is planned before, during and for emergencies: weather and route checks, briefings, communication and response plans.
International from the first message
Ask, plan and understand everything in English, Japanese or Portuguese — before you book and on the trail.
Conservation built into the business
A defined share of eligible booking revenue is intended for local conservation — published openly once operations begin.
How we work
No invented reviews
Reviews will appear when real travelers write them. Not before.
No false urgency
No countdowns, no “only 2 spots left”. You decide in your own time.
No promises we can't keep
We talk about preparation and risk management — never about zero risk.
Clear about what isn't ready
Anything still in preparation is labelled as such, everywhere on this site.
Community
Local knowledge. Local value.
The people who live around the forest know it best. The goal is simple: when you explore it with Ubatuba Wild, more of what you spend stays with them.
Local guides
Working with people who grew up with these trails, whenever possible.
Local food
Meals and snacks from the region, prepared by people from the region.
Small suppliers and craft
Buying from small local businesses and artisans rather than from outside.
Regional partners
Transport, lodging and services from the region, recommended because they're good.
Rooted in the Quilombo do Sertão do Itamambuca
The Sertão do Itamambuca is home to a quilombola community whose history is tied to the land, the forest and the Itamambuca river. The goal is for tourism to benefit its families directly: paid work as local guides, food and products bought from the community, and value that stays in the territory.
This is an intention, not an announced partnership. Any collaboration will be designed together with the community and its association, and published here only once it is agreed.
Partners will be named only once partnerships are real and agreed. We won't list anyone we haven't worked with.
The forest is ready. We're getting ready for you.
Experiences are being prepared. Plan ahead, ask anything, and be among the first to explore the Atlantic Forest with Ubatuba Wild.