Step Up Travel, www.stepuptravel.org, is an up and coming resource for travelers looking for authentic/cultural experiences with Brazilian local people. The website is essentially a travel classifieds designed to connect travelers directly with local people. You can rent apartments, contact Portuguese teachers, Samaba dance teachers, assorted Brazilian music teachers, all kinds of sports and recreation, and more. This site was designed by two medical students who have extensively traveled and found it difficult to connect with local people and genuinely experien... full info