We live here. That changes everything.

Brazil isn’t just a destination for me, it’s home.

I was born in Florida to an American mom and a Brazilian dad, and before I was even six months old, I was already living in Brazil. I spent the first five years of my life there. When my parents separated, I moved to Minnesota with my mom, but Brazil never let go of me, and I never let go of Brazil.

Every single year of my childhood, I went back. Usually for a month at a time, and that trip was always, without fail, the highlight of my entire year. I’d count down the days. As a kid landing in Brazil after months in Minnesota, the contrast hit me every time, the warmth of the people, the rhythm of daily life, the way strangers felt like family, the food, the music, the sheer aliveness of it all. Everything in Brazil felt different from the US, and I loved every bit of it. Those summers shaped who I am.

I studied Finance and Economics at Baylor University and did an internship in banking. The traditional plan was always “build a career in the US, retire in Brazil.” But I couldn’t wait that long.

In December 2024, I made it permanent. I moved to Brazil, and I’m now based in Florianópolis, fluent in Portuguese, fully at home, and finally living the life I’d been dreaming about since I was a kid.

In 2025, I spent 3.5 months traveling the entire Brazilian coastline, not as a tourist, but as someone building a deep, firsthand map of the best this country has to offer. I’ve now personally visited 18 of Brazil’s 26 states, from the beaches of the Northeast to the islands of Santa Catarina to the cultural richness of the interior.

I started this company for one simple reason: I love Brazil so much that I want to share this feeling with as many people as I possibly can. I know how overwhelming planning a trip here can feel from the outside, the language, the logistics, knowing where to go and what’s actually worth your time. My goal is to take all of that off your plate and make traveling to Brazil as easy and seamless as possible, so you can experience the country the way I always have: open, joyful, and unforgettable.

It all started in 2002. During the World Cup, I watched Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, and I saw something that left a lasting impression on me: a sense of lightness and joy for life that was completely different from what I knew back in Germany. It wasn’t just football; it was an entirely new way of living that captivated me. Even back then, I felt a deep, almost inexplicable connection to South America that never faded over the years.

In 2022, this feeling became reality. After a six-month internship in Ecuador and a subsequent trip to Uruguay, I reached Florianópolis, and I was instantly hooked. After just one day on this beautiful island, I made up my mind: this is where I want to live.

I returned to Germany briefly to successfully complete my degree in Sustainable Tourism Management, but my heart remained in Brazil. Back in my chosen home, I deepened my passion during two years in incoming tourism, where I had the pleasure of accompanying guests from the USA and Germany on their voyages of discovery through this fascinating country.

Today, I am turning my passion into my profession. With AuthenticBrazilTravel, my goal is not just to organize trips, but to share the spirit of life that impressed me over 20 years ago and that now accompanies my everyday life in Brazil. I invite you to see Brazil through my eyes: authentic, vibrant and unforgettable.