"Land of Spirits" Estado do Acre by sanguin

There are beautiful places and then there are places that are special. We were down in Acre shooting a documentary on the CNS's health project (CNS being the National Council of Rubber Tappers). Everywhere you go you feel Chico Mendes still alive, the air beaming with the spirits of the rainforest. Acre has one of the very few state governments who act in favor of the Amazon's protection, which is another reason why it's just a wonderful place.

Don't rush it, dude!

Apart from the rainforest, Santo Daime, and Chico Mendes, Acre has a lot to offer: lots of culture and cool people in Rio Branco, borders with Bolivia and Peru and - if you're lucky - a baby sloth finding its way along the dirt street.

Brasiléia, frontier town

I thought, since the towns around the border of Brazil, Peru and Bolivia are so close to each other, there wouldn't be much difference when crossing the border. Wrong. You know and feel immediately that you're in a different country. Which makes it all the more worth the visit.

• Pros:Nature, People
• Cons:The last two years, Acre has been incredibly dry. Desertification is a real problem here!