Plan Your Trip
When visiting Brazil – a country of continental dimensions – the perfect starting point is Rio de Janeiro, a true melting pot of over six million people where no particular race, religion or creed dominates. On this journey, you will go on a city tour of vibrant Rio, visiting Corcovado Mountain with its the Christ the Redeemer statue, and taking a cable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain, the city’s emblematic granite peak. In addition, you will spend a day being introduced to the “real” Rio, visiting typical neighborhoods and getting a taste of the city’s authentic day-to-day life. Leaving cosmopolitan Rio, you will then travel deep into the Amazon, stating and finishing in Manaus, the largest city in the Brazilian Amazon. A marvel of the imagination, the Amazon ecosystem of unrivaled size and diversity holds almost a mythical status among travelers. Your options will be to experience this region by staying at a “jungle lodge,” or on an Amazon riverboat, stopping for excursions and sleeping on board in a hammock. But no matter where you stay, your Amazon stay will include long memorable hikes and canoe trips on which you will to enjoy and learn about the rainforest and its wildlife. You will be able to visit the home of a local family and participate in activities that range from piranha fishing and caiman spotting. Later, we will travel to São Luís de Maranhão, which is a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site for its magnificent colonial architecture and is the entrance to the unique and truly spectacular desert of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, with its countless blue freshwater lagoons situated between a maze of sand dunes – incredible scenery. Afterwards, it will be off to Salvador de Bahia, an animated hub of African influence. Once the center of the Brazilian slave trade, the city is also known worldwide for its lively festivals and sparkling beaches, making it an ideal destination for travelers looking to combine culture and relaxation. All of this and more can be found on this 13-day/12-night ALL BRAZIL experience.
“I want to thank you for arranging a perfect tour for me. I know you did not have control over who the other people would be, but it all, on all fronts, was perfect. The itinerary was sensational and the boat fabulous.”
PM: Today you will land at the airport in Rio de Janeiro – dubbed “The Marvelous City”– where you will be welcomed at the airport. From there, you will be driven to your hotel, where you can rest up for your almost two-week journey ahead.
AM: This morning, you will witness most famous spots and the most striking landscapes in Rio. We’ll visit the main touristic city icon and one of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World”: the Cristo Redentor statue that towers over the city and region.
PM: After that, we will go to the “Sugarloaf” (Pão de Açúcar) viewpoint, where we’ll enjoy one of the best views of Rio de Janeiro. The ascent and descent to the top of the Sugarloaf Mountain are made using a traditional cable car. Later, you will be taken back to your hotel.
AM: Today you will be introduced to the day-to-day lifestyle of the cariocas (“the locals”). We will start the tour with a walk to the nearest subway station and travel for 15 minutes to the historic and commercial center of Rio, highlighting the Metropolitan Cathedral of São Sebastião and the Saara neighborhood. Here, you will have a chance to see local customs and commercial activity, as well as witness the joy of the “Carioca” people.
PM: We will have lunch at the Confeitaria Colombo (included), which is one of the oldest and most historic restaurants in Brazil. During the meal, you will get to taste a delicious natural juice made with tropical fruits. We will then return to the subway station and go to the stop closest to the hotel.
AM: This morning you will be driven to the Rio de Janeiro airport for departure (NATIONAL FLIGHT) to Manaus airport, which is the capital of the Brazilian Amazon and the central point for almost all excursions into the Amazon jungle.
PM: Once we land, you can choose to either spend the day relaxing at your hotel or go on an optional tour to visit the Amazon Theatre, the market, and Manaus’ port.
AM: In the morning, your expedition down the Amazon River will begin at the Manaus port in a private boat that will accommodate us for 3 days. The journey will start when we reach the “Encontro das águas,” the place where Rio Negro and Rio Solimões meet.
PM: Afterwards we will sail the river on small boats to fish for piranhas, discover giant Vitoria Régia Lilly pads and later do some caiman spotting at night. Accommodation aboard the boat in hammocks.
AM: During the second day of this Amazon expedition, we will continue along Rio Negro to arrive to the area of Acajatuba. There, we will first visit a traditional manioc house and then visit the Acajatuba community to experience the native customs and crafts.
PM: This afternoon, we will go swimming with dolphins. At the end of the day, we travel by canoe to a beach where you can enjoy a moonlight barbecue dinner (if the river water levels are too high, we will dine on the boat). Accommodation on board in hammocks.
AM: On the third day of the expedition, after breakfast, we will go on a jungle trek to learn about rainforest hunting techniques and medicinal plants, and hopefully see some wildlife.
PM: After lunch, we will travel downriver to the Rubber Museum, where you will learn about rubber’s historical importance for the region. Afterwards, we will reach the port of Manaus. Accommodations in Manaus.
AM: This morning, you will be driven to the Manaus airport for our departure (NATIONAL FLIGHT) to the airport in São Luís de Maranhão, the capital of the Maranhão state.
PM: Upon our arrival, we will drive to the pousada (inn) where we will be staying.
AM: In the morning, we will head out for the departure for the town of Barreirinhas. Along the way, we will stop to rest in either Rosário or Morros.
PM: After lunch, we will meet a local guide to begin an amazing tour of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in a Toyota 4WD vehicle, and later return to Barreirinhas for the night.
AM/PM: After breakfast, we will go on a scenic speedboat ride up the Preguiças River, passing the Preguiças APA (environmental protection area) and the town of Mandacaru (with its Farol Preguiças lighthouse) and Caburé Beach.
AM: In the morning, we will return by road to the São Luís de Maranhão airport for our departure (NATIONAL FLIGHT) to the Salvador airport. Salvador is the cradle of the Afro-Brazilian culture and offers the visitor many popular amusements with its cuisine, music, enchantment, and cheerfulness.
PM: From the airport, we will be driven near downtown to the Pelourinho pousada (inn), where you will find the area’s most important Hispanic-America architecture collection and one of the main meeting points for locals.
AM: This morning, we will go on a half-day walking tour of the historic downtown area, where it’s possible to spot different sites representing the city’s vibrant culture and art.
PM: In the afternoon, you will have free time to take part in other optional activities, like a panoramic tour to get to know the rest of Salvador. At night, we head to the Miguel Santana Theatre for a performance of the Companhia de Balé Folclórico da Bahia. This folkloric dance company performs a seamless presentation of the multiple African traditions that shape local Bahian culture. We will see the sacred dances of Candomblé, “Puxada de rede” (a song by fishermen in honor of Yemanja, the goddess of the sea), Maculelê (a stick and sword acrobatics dance with origins in the cane fields), Capoeira (a martial arts/dance of Angolan origin), and the samba de roda (a spinning version of this exuberant national dance). At the end of the show, you can enjoy a delicious farewell dinner (included). After dinner, you will be taken back to your pousada for the night.
AM: Transfer to Salvador airport for departure (INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT) home or onward.
| 2 Persons | Persons | |
| Hotel Category | Double | Single Supplement |
| First Class | US$ 3,436 PP | US$ 1,773 PP |
Standard 3* accommodation in pousadas/hotels, with breakfast:
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Meals, transfers, and tours with a guide in English (German and Spanish for special departures, please see above):
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