Carlos is an urban planning and policy researcher at the Federal University, and an assistant professor at the Rural Federal University, both in Rio de Janeiro. He has an MA in juridical science with an emphasis on South American politics and fundamental rights. His main fields of interest are urban/regional planning and policies, architecture, and Brazilian history. He is a native of the northeastern city of Fortaleza, the region of the first modern-age settlements in Brazil. This area has a diverse culture and is the birthplace of many influential Brazilians who have shaped the city, thus giving Carlos the perfect background with which to introduce travelers to Rio's rich history.

Rafael's passion for history and travel is so significant that he decided to pursue a career path that would allow him to follow these passions. In 2007, Rafael traveled to the United State for a leadership training program, an immersive experience that created a vibrant cultural exchange with other students from 23 different countries. He went on to university to formally study tourism and later trained as a flight attendant. Upon returning to Rio de Janeiro, Rafael delved deeper into discovering the history of the Brazil focusing especially on its 19th century identity.