Day 1

You will arrive in Rio de Janeiro and be met at the airport by a private driver who will take you to the elegant oceanfront Miramar Palace Hotel. After checking in, you may want to relax and have some lunch. We suggest lunch at Porcão, a Brazilian barbecue buffet restaurant.  In the afternoon you might like to take a wander around Copacabana and visit the famous beaches near your hotel.

Day 2

Today you will be taken by air-conditioned Land Rover on a city tour to visit some of the most famous sites of Rio. Driving on the scenic Castorina Road towards the Corcovado (the Christ statue) you will stop to see the Mesa do Imperador (the Emperor’s Table) and the Vista Chinesa (Chinese Lookout point) before entering the Tijuca National Park. In the park you will visit the principal hotspots: the Taunay Waterfall, the Mayrink Chapel and not to mention the view of the beautiful flora and fauna of the forest and the sounds of the Atlantic Forest birds. Still driving through tranquil scenic roads in the Tijuca National Park, the tour will take you across the top of the mountain in the direction of Corcovado. After experiencing the panoramic 360º views from the top of the Corcovado, you next stop will be the neighborhood of Santa Tereza, a historical district of old Rio, where artisans and artists live and work. You will be able to visit authentic local artisan stores and have lunch in one of the local restaurants, where you will experience the flavors of Brazilian cuisine. After lunch you will visit the Chacara do Céu Museum, a special place where nature, panoramic views of the Guanabara Bay and art are in total harmony with the landscape. Ending your tour at the Sugar Loaf, where you will be able to watch the magnificent sunset over the city and the bay, you will no doubt have fallen in love with this enchanted city. We suggest dinner at Da Brambini (Italian seafood) in Praia do Leme.

·          If you happen to be in Rio on a Sunday the hippie fair (open-air handcrafts market) at Praça General Osório in Ipanema is worth a visit.

·          There is an evening dinner show (Samba show and dinner) available, if you are interested, which is not included in the above package. Please let us know if you would like us to book this for you.

Day 3

On your last day in the city of Rio de Janeiro you must check out of the Miramar Palace Hotel after breakfast, after which you will be driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the Pousada Casas Brancas in Buzios, (approximately a 3 hour journey). After checking in at your pousada your driver will take you on a tour of the beaches and will discover how each beach has its own charm and why Buzios is so famous for its beautiful beaches. Praia do Canto, Praia da Armação dos Ossos and the lovely and intimate Azeda and Azedinha are the beaches which are closest to the “downtown” area, where the shops and restaurants are located.  These beaches became famous worldwide because they are the beaches that Brigitte Bardot fell in love with when visiting the city in 1964, then a fishermen village.  Driving along the peninsula is Praia de João Fernandes, and on the other side are the more secluded beaches of Forno, Brava and Ferradura.  The longest beach is Geribá and one of the trendiest among the young crowd and surfers, with lots of cool kiosks that offer cold beverages and snacks. Tartaruga Beach is our last stop, which is where sea turtles lay their eggs and it is more protected from the strong winds. On your return to the pousada you may want to relax before having dinner. We suggest dinner at Satiricon (seafood).

Day 4

Today is free to relax and enjoy Buzios. You may want to visit one or more of your favorite beaches which you discovered yesterday, and perhaps take a walk around the village and visit the local boutiques and restaurants. Tonight our dinner suggestion is at Capricciosa, an Italian pizzaria.

Day 5

On the fifth day of your trip we suggest snorkeling in Tartaruga Small Bay. The bay is well known for its tranquil and turquoise waters and is the best snorkeling point on the Buzios coast. You are guaranteed to see a plethora of colorful fish and most probably some sea turtles.

Day 6

On the morning of your last day in Buzios a tour of Arraial do Cabo and Prainha Beach awaits you. This tour will be taken on your way back to Rio as it is en route. You will check out of the Pousada Casas Brancas and say goodbye to Buzios. Your driver will collect you and take you on your final tour. Every year Prainha Beach in Arraial do Cabo makes the top ten lists of the best beach destinations in Brazil.  It lies in front of a channel that is surrounded by sand banks, turquoise water and beautiful white sand dunes, making it a favorite sailing and scuba-diving point.  Just in across from the beach is the small island of Cabo Frio, a Nature Reserve, what makes this place even more magical and appealing.  Arraial do Cabo was a fisherman village that has evolved into a small city renowed for its fresh fish and pristine beaches. The Tour will take no more than 2 hours. After the tour your driver will take you to the airport in Rio, where you will catch a flight to Foz do Iguacu.

At the airport in Iguacu you will be met and driven to the Tropical das Cataratas Hotel where you will check in. Your guide will then take you to the Bird Park. You will enter 8-meter (26 ft) high forest aviaries to study and photograph birds. There are over 800 birds, both indigenous and from other continents. Exciting new exhibits also show caiman, snakes, monkeys, humming-birds, and butterflies. Once back at the hotel, you will no doubt want to have dinner and relax to prepare for day 2 of your Iguacu Falls adventure.

Day 7

Your second day at the falls will comprise a full day tour of both sides of the falls. Firstly, you will be taken on a 3-hour tour of the Brazilian side of the falls by a private English-speaking guide. You will follow a trail inside the sub-tropical forest, which includes a visit to the bottom of Salto Floriano (Floriano Falls). During the walk there is an impressive view of the Devil’s Throat from a bridge. At the end of your tour an elevator will take you up to the top of the falls.  After your tour of the Brazilian side, there will be a break for lunch. Lunch is included in your package and you can choose from the following list: Bufalo Branco Churrascaria or Churrascaria Rafain (grilled meats with a mixed salads buffet), Maringá (good variety of seafood and sushi), La Mamma Galeteria (Italian food), Porto Canoas (grilled meats, pasta dishes and salads). Then on to see the Argentinian side of the Iguacu Falls (4-hour tour). You will be taken across the border into Argentina by private vehicle, into the Parque National del Iguazu, 40 km away from the Brazilian border. Once in Argentina you will go on a walking tour of the falls. The views are magnificent, especially the one right on top of the Devil’s Throat, which is reached by a little boat taking you through breathtaking scenery. Throughout the day you will see numerous rainbows, hundreds of beautiful butterflies, lots of friendly little South American coatis, and dozens of exotic birds. (The entire tour takes about 8 hours). We suggest dinner at the Restaurant Clube Maringá – their specialty is regional fresh water fish.

Day 8

Before checking out of your hotel after breakfast you may want to have one final look at the magnificent falls, before being driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the airport. From Foz do Iguacu you will fly to Campo Grande in the Pantanal. You will be met at the Campo Grande airport and driven to the Hotel Aguas de Bonito (approximately 4 hours by car), where you will check in. You may want to have lunch at your hotel and relax before your afternoon boat tour.  This tour takes you down 7km of the beautiful Formoso River in inflatable boats, with a capacity for a maximum of 13 people per boat. You will pass various waterfalls and rapids and have the opportunity to see many animals and birds, as well as observe the rich vegetation along the riverbank. Stops to swim in the river and waterfalls will be possible. Dinner is included at your hotel.

Day 9

After breakfast you will be taken on a tour of the Blue Lagoon Cave, which is undoubtedly the most beautiful and impressive cave in the region. The stunning blue lake lies 180m below the earth’s surface and is reached by a steep descent. The clear blue color is due to rich deposits of calcium carbonate and magnesium in the lake. It is a truly beautiful and mysterious place. Lunch is back at your hotel, followed by a snorkeling trip to the Sucuri River. This crystal clear river is one of the most transparent in the world. You will float down 2km of river, carried by the current, wearing life-jacket, mask and snorkel. Hundreds of fish live in the river, as well as incredible sub aquatic vegetation. Dinner is included back at your hotel.

Day 10

Today you will check out of Hotel Aguas de Bonito and be driven to the Refugio Ecologico Caiman in the Pantanal (3 hour drive). After checking in and having lunch at the hotel you will have a choice of tour to go on.

On days 10 and 11 of the package at Refugio Ecologico Caiman you will have a choice of the following tours, depending on the different conditions of the trails (due mainly to the weather). All tours are guided by expert, local, English-speaking guides:

·       Walking trails through wetland areas near your pousada to see flora and fauna, animals and the different ecosystems of the Pantanal.

·       Horseback riding tours – this is the best way to really see the Pantanal. The horses are well trained and will take you through rivers, streams and to areas which are impossible to reach by car. This is a great way to see birds, mammals, reptiles and flora.

·       Boat tours. During the wet season (December - March) the rivers and streams flood on to the plains and boat trips are offered through these flooded plains to see reptiles, mammals, water birds, fish, plant life and the famous capybara (the world’s largest rodent). During the dry season (July – October) the water level drops and it is possible to see an abundance of wildlife on the river banks, such as caiman, and beautiful, colorful macaws.

·       Day and night time safari tours in an open-top vehicle to see the rich wildlife and flora of the region. You will have a chance to observe animals such as monkeys, deer, armadillos, anteaters; and birds such as macaws, toucans, eagles, emus and herons.

Day 11

On your second day at Refugio Ecologico Caiman you will go on a morning tour after breakfast. Lunch is back at the hotel and in the afternoon you will be taken on a different tour. Tours will vary according to trail conditions and weather. See options above on day 13. Dinner is back at the hotel.

Day 12

On your last day in the Pantanal you will check out of the Hotel Caiman and be driven to the airport (4 hour drive). From Campo Grande Airport you will make your way to Salvador, Bahia. In Salvador one of our English-speaking guides will meet you at the airport and drive you to the charming, historic hotel Catharina Paraguacu. (This packages does not include Flights. Please contact us for flight quotes.) After checking in you might want to relax a bit before dinner. We suggest dinner at the Lambreta Grill, an award winning seafood café in the Rio Vermelho district.

Day 13

Today you will begin your journey through Salvador visiting the Pelourinho, the historical district of the city, followed by a delicious Bahian lunch. Then you will visit the Mercado Modelo in Cidade Baixa.  The Mercado Modelo is a handcraft market that used to be the merchandise and slave-trading outpost of the city. Here you can buy many handicrafts and local products. Make sure you visit the dungeon below the market where the slaves were kept prior to sale.

Day 14

You will check out of the hotel Catharina Paraguacu and be transported by a private vehicle to Praia do Forte. The journey takes roughly an hour and when you arrive you will check into the Pousada Farol das Tartarugas. We suggest having lunch at 'Bar do Souza'; try their delicious and famous 'bolinhos de peixe' (Bahian-style fish cakes) and/or a fish or shrimp moqueca (Bahian stew). After lunch we suggest you visit the TAMAR PROJECT (turtle NGO) Visitor Center and then on to Papa Gente's Natural Pools for snorkeling (times may vary due to the tide). It is now getting dark and you have worked up a hardy appetite so, we suggest having dinner at the Fata Morgana restaurant (Spanish food).

Day 15

On your last day in Praia do Forte you will check out of the Pousada Farol das Tartarugas and say goodbye to Praia do Forte, then be driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle back to the airport in Salvador. We are certain that you will have enjoyed your trip and we look forward to seeing you again in Brazil.

Flights are not included in this package.  If you would like quotes for flights let us know.