Samba & Sunsets: Discovering Brazil's Charms

Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the airport and drive you to your Rio hotel, Hotel Miramar, by Windsor. 

The rest of the day is yours to relax at the pool or explore the area around the hotel. 

We'll meet tonight on the Hotel Roof Top for a welcome drink, followed by dinner at Alloro al Miramar. 

Get a good night's sleep as the tour kicks off tomorrow morning.

After breakfast, we'll visit Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain. It is one of the most visited monuments in the world. The journey up Corcovado begins on a cog train in Rio‘s Cosme Velho district. The incredible views over the city will stun you on the way up. Christ the Redeemer stands on the top, looking over the city, its inhabitants, and visitors. 

Lunch is at a must-visit restaurant! Marius Degustare invites you to taste a refined selection of meat, fish, and seafood and indulge in the fun atmosphere.

After a delicious lunch, you're off to the barrio of Ipanema, the area that gives the world-famous beach its name. A few streets behind the beach, you'll discover vibrant Rio life. Discover small, distinctive boutiques, shops, and stores selling local chocolate, gin, and fine South American wines. 

Tonight, we'll dine as a group at a local restaurant known for its pasta. Cedilha is small and cozy, with attentive waitrons and very good food. Leave room for the exceptional dessert. 

Sleep will come easy after a long day.

After breakfast, we'll spend the morning at Sugarloaf Mountain. Because of their height and excellent views, Sugarloaf and Corcovado offer some of the most beautiful viewpoints in Rio. You'll undoubtedly take the famous postcard picture from the cable railway on the way up. Our first stop is Morro da Urca, where we'll change trains and head to our final destination. Once we reach the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, you'll relish the views over the Rio and Niteroi beaches as well as the Atlantic rainforest along the coast.
 
For lunch, we'll eat at Emile's. The menu consists of fresh, local ingredients carefully prepared by a talented team. 

The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please.  More shopping? A sweet snack or perhaps some beach time. 

We'll have dinner at Satyricon, eating authentic Mediterranean cuisine. From fresh fish and seafood to specialty meats, all carefully selected by the owners Marly and Miro Leopardi. 

After dinner, we'll experience Rio by night at Riothe  Scenarium. Located in a former antique shop, local band music creates a lively atmosphere. You can mingle, dance, enjoy delicious local food, and sip one of the best caipirinhas in town.

We'll head out to Petropolis after breakfast. Located 60 kilometers from Rio, the Petropolis is known as the Imperial City. The buildings and delightful streets tell of Brazilian history. 

The tour starts with a visit to the Imperial Museum, the summer residence of Dom Pedro II. Next, we are off to the stunning Neo-Gothic Cathedral, where Princess Isabel was buried, right next to the tombstone of Dom Pedro II and his wife. 

We'll pause for lunch at Cervejaria Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. It was founded by the German Henrique Kremer in 1853, producing the first pilsner beer in Brazil. 

Then, we'll visit the Crystal Palace, built in France and installed in Brazil. 

In the late afternoon, we'll head back to our hotel. After a busy day, dinner is at your leisure.

Today we'll fly to another part of Brazil. It's a world away from Rio De Janeiro. 

Your guide will be waiting when you touch down in Foz do Iguacu and will take you straight to your accommodation, the Hotel Belmond das Cataratas. The hotel is in the southern part of Foz do Iguacu, in the middle of the national park and right in front of the waterfalls.

Relax, explore, or spend time in the spa. The afternoon is yours to enjoy.

Tonight, dinner is at Ipe Restaurant. You're about to try a Gaucho-style BBQ of meat, fish, and vegetables.

After a breakfast of native delights, we'll drive to the Iguacu National Park. The plan is to walk along the well-developed panorama path, stopping to take pictures or to let the impressive natural spectacle take effect. We'll learn loads of interesting facts about the immense waterfalls and the local flora and fauna. At the end of the path, a footbridge takes you very close to the water. 

A visit to the Tropicana Bird Park will complete the visit to the Brazilian side of the falls. Birds are kept humanely in huge aviaries, and you'll see parrots and toucans in their native subtropical environment. 

We'll dine at Sabores da Floresta Restaurant in the park, connecting with nature through a special meal using hyper-local ingredients from the restaurant gardens. 

After a day of exploration, enjoy dinner on your own or order room service and rest well.

We'll go with our guide to the Argentinean side to marvel at the natural spectacle of the waterfalls from all angles. We'll arrange the best hike depending on how much the group wants to walk. The view into the Devil's Throat shouldn't be missed. 

There will be an optional boat tour below the waterfalls. 

We'll lunch on regional cuisine at Aqva Restaurant. 

After a long day in the fresh air, it's time to rest and relax. We'll have our farewell dinner at Itaipu Restaurant. Here, we'll dine on signature Brazilian dishes and celebrate our time together, reconnecting with nature, learning Brazilian history, and making new friends.

Today is the last day of our trip, so we'll bid "adeus" to our new friends. 

After breakfast, you'll head for the airport and your flights back home.

If you are continuing for the Amazonian extension, you still have plenty to look forward to.

Welcome to Manaus in the heart of the Amazon!

Upon arrival, you'll head to the Hotel Juma Opera. You can relax for the rest of the day and adjust to the weather or explore the historic center of Manaus. 

Tonight we will meet at the hotel's Opera Resturante for divine gastronomy.

Today, we have a city tour, including the Manaus old town. Here, you'll learn about the history and religion of the Manaus and Amazon inhabitants. You'll also visit famous buildings and monuments, like the Opera House, the Rio Negro Palace, and the City Market. 

Lunch is at the hip restaurant, Caxiri, to feast on Brazilian food. Specialties include fish and grilled meat. 

The afternoon is yours to spend as you please. This is a good time to catch up on your shopping before we head to the river.

We'll have dinner as a group at Banzeiro, enjoying the distinctive tastes of Amazonia.

In the morning, we start our journey into the Amazon Rainforest. 

On the way to the lodge, you'll see the famous “Meeting of the Waters,” where the differently colored Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes meet to become the Rio Amazonas. If you're lucky, you'll also spot pink dolphins and giant water lilies. 

The journey to the lodge takes about three hours and is quite diversified due to land and water transportation. You'll arrive at the lodge by boat. The friendly staff will receive you with a welcome drink. Your first jungle adventure is scheduled for the afternoon. 

Led by your guide, you will paddle a canoe through small creeks (igarapés) and flooded forest areas (igapós) for your first close encounter with the mighty Amazon rainforest. During this trip, it is also possible to swim in the river. With some luck, you'll encounter a pink dolphin swimming next to your canoe, a monkey family playing in the trees, or a sloth hanging from a branch. 

Dinner is at the lodge's restaurant before you head out on a night excursion to spot caimans and discover the Amazon's diverse nocturnal life.

You'll start the day early, before breakfast, to witness the spectacular Amazon sunrise to the sound of the awaking rainforest. This is also an excellent time for bird-watching.

After a delicious breakfast, including lots of tropical fruits, another excursion awaits you. During an easy hike through the forest, your guide will explain interesting facts about local plants and their use as medicine and food, reveal some jungle survival techniques, and try to spot the local wildlife. Look out for howler monkeys, a tapir, or colorful macaws.

Lunch is at the lodge's restaurant. Later, we'll go fishing for piranhas - another great opportunity to spot wildlife on the riverbank. If you're successful, the chef will prepare the catch of the day for you. 

In the evening, one of the local guides will give a lecture about the customs and traditions of the Amazon people. Dinner is at the lodge.

After breakfast, we'll begin another nature hike to explore the surrounding area and discover more about the Amazon's flora and fauna.

The guides will prepare a picnic lunch over an open fire in the jungle. Then, you can relax and nap in a hammock. 

We'll visit a local community in the afternoon to learn about the life of the "Caboclo Ribeirinhos," aka the river bank people, and the importance of cassava flour for the economy of this region. 

As tonight is our last night, we'll return to the lodge in time for dinner. We'll have drinks under the stars and toast our new friends and incredible adventures.

After breakfast, we'll transfer back to Manaus. We've built a stop at a river to see the enormous pirarucu or arapaima fish, which can reach up to 9.8 feet (3 meters) and 440 lbs (200 kg) in size. 

We'll get you to your Manaus hotel or the airport by noon. Our concierge can assist you with your transport back home.