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Tour Description: Enjoy
a taste of Brazil's absolute best - the fabulous beaches of
Rio, bustling Sao Paulo, the wilds of Brotas, the mysterious
Amazon jungle, the colorful and legendary rhythms of
Salvador, the northeastern beaches of Recife, and the mighty
Iguassu Falls, even bigger than Niagara. The Brazil Air pass
is included.
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Day 1
- Any day
- USA or any other International
departure country - Rio de Janeiro
AM, PM or EVE -
Depart from your home country on an overnight flight to Rio de
Janeiro
(No meals)
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Contact us for International airfares and
additional services in Brazil |
Day 2
- Rio de Janeiro
AM - Upon arrival
at the airport of Rio de Janeiro you will be met by a local tour
guide who will provide the transfer to the hotel located on or
nearby Copacabana Beach.
Enjoy the morning hours at leisure for some rest.
PM -
In the afternoon
we depart for a city tour, visiting the Cathedral, built in
the 1700s in intricate Baroque style. We will tour the beaches of
Copacabana, Flamengo and Ipanema as well as the Corcovado. We
will ascend the Sugar Loaf on the unforgettable cable car
ride to get a stunning view of beautiful Rio and the sea below.
EVE - In the
evening, we head to "the Plataforma" to catch a Samba show and enjoy dinner. Overnight
at the hotel in Rio.
(D.)
Day 3 -
Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls
AM & PM-
Today you will
plenty of time to explore the city of Rio de Janeiro at leisure. You
may just want to relax on the beach or
take an optional excursion to historical Petropolis, to the idyllic
coast of B?, on the trails of Tijuca forest overlooking Rio,
or a number of other possibilities in and around the Cidade
Maravilhosa (marvelous city).
EVE -
Overnight in Rio.
(No meals)
Day 4
- Iguassu Falls
AM -
Early transfer to the airport of Rio de Janeiro for the flight to
Iguassu Falls. Upon arrival in Iguassu you will be transferred to
the hotel.
PM -
Afternoon at leisure to explore Iguassu Falls on your own.
EVE -
Free night. For entertainment, we offer the "Three Nations
Show," a dinner show with colorful dancers from Brazil, Argentina
and Paraguay at the Rafain Churrascaria Restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel in Iguaçu Falls.
(No meals)
Day 5
- Iguassu Falls
AM & PM -
Today we spend the day visiting
Iguassu Falls, truly one of the
world's greatest natural wonders. The Falls consist of 275 waterfalls
cascading over a precipice into the Paraná river situated at the
border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Optional tours will
be offered including taking the Macuco, a boat ride through the
waterfalls, as well as a half hour helicopter flight over the Falls,
an exhilarating event or take an optional tour to the massive
Itaipu Dam.
EVE - Overnight at the hotel in Iguassu Falls.
(No meals)
Day 6
- Iguassu Falls - Sao
Paulo
AM -
Early transfer to the
Iguassu Falls airport for
the flight
to Sao Paulo. After our flight arrives, we will be met at the airport and
transferred to the hotel, conveniently located in downtown Sao
Paulo. This city is the largest city in South America, founded
in 1554 as a mission, and finally becoming of age in the late 1800's
during the coffee boom. The subsequent industrialization produced
a very high population density; Its present population is 18 million
inhabitants. Nowadays, this bustling city is a lively center of
finance and culture.
PM -
If flight
schedule permits enough time in the afternoon, we can enjoy an
informative city tour.
EVE -
Overnight in Sao Paulo.
(No meals)
Day 7
- Sao Paulo - Brotas
AM - Early this morning, we
will transfer to Brotas. Brotas is a favorite
nature getaway in the State of Sao Paulo and lies about 260 km (160 miles)
northwest of the city. This is a year-round
hotspot for adventure activities, especially water-sports. Born
in the days of the coffee boom, it is located in a region rich in
water resources, the most prominent of all being the mighty JacaréDepira
River.
PM -
In Brotas, we
will head out to go rafting, canoeing, tubing, hiking or rappelling
(trekking and rafting are included here - others are optional).
There are a number of easy, self-guided trails here that will lead
us to discover waterfalls, such as the Cachoeira Santa Maria, towering at 65 meters (over 210 feet!)
and crystal-clear springs. Wildlife to be found in this barely-tamed
region includes armadillo, deer, raccoons, capybaras and the endangered
Maned wolf.
EVE -
Overnight in Brotas.
(No meals)
Day 8
- Brotas
AM & PM -
Today
you can go on one of several tours offered by our local agent.
The afternoon is free to enjoy the region's natural beauty as
you walk to waterfalls
and stroll along the river.
EVE - Overnight in Brotas
(No meals)
Day 9
- Brotas - Recife
AM -
In the morning hours we transfer to the airport for the flight Recife on Brazil's sparkling
northeastern coast. Upon arrival we will be met by a local guide
who will provide the transfer to a hotel near the beach.
PM -
Recife is located
on Brazil's Atlantic Coast in the state of Pernambuco. Recife,
meaning "reef," has a long history as a port city, its waterways, bridges and
reefs have earned the nickname "the Venice of Brazil," although Olinda is a closer match to Venice as far as charm and historical
significance are concerned. The largest city in the Brazilian
northeast and fourth largest in the country, Recife has expanded
well beyond its original colonial-era confines, especially over
the past thirty years. A visit to Recife's beachside district,
Boa Viagem, is a must; great nightclubs, restaurants and hotels
abound.
EVE -
Overnight in Recife.
(No meals)
Day 10
- Recife
AM & PM -
Today we will have the choice to either relax, explore the area on
our own, or go on one of two optional tours "Olinda"
or "Joao Pessoa":
-
Olinda option: We make the short drive north to Olinda, where
we will have an orientation to the town and its long history.
Tranquil Olinda has one of the best concentrations of colonial
structures in Brazil: Baroque designs, white churches, pastel
buildings, cobblestone streets, fountains and squares. Olinda
was once burned to the ground by the Dutch, who established control
here at various times in the 17th century. From the Alto da Sé
the highest square in Olinda, we can see the skyscrapers of Recife
in the distance. The town market is also a worthy spectacle. Olinda's
Carnaval is a very popular event, drawing fun-loving participants
from as far away as Europe. We'll make a visit to Fort Oranje,
a former Dutch outpost. If time allows, we can stop and educate
ourselves about the conservation efforts of Projeto Tamar Peixe-Boi,
an important manatee conservation project.
- Joao
Pessoa option: Go on an optional tour from Recife to Joao
Pessoa, 130 km (80 miles) away. The capital of the state of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa lies on the easternmost tip of the Brazilian coastline,
and is known to be the first spot of land the sun hits as it rises
every day. The city was founded in 1585, and still has a good
number of centuries-old monuments to the colonial era. We'll tour
the primary places of interest, including Tambau Beach, Manaira
and Cabo Branco (the White Cape). We will also have a look at Solon
de Lucena Park, the St. Francis Historical Center, a local crafts
markets and the Seixa's Point, the closest point in South America
to Africa. In the late afternoon or evening return to Recife.
EVE -
Overnight in Recife.
(No meals)
Day 11
- Recife - Salvador
AM & PM -
This morning we will board our early morning flight
to Salvador, Bahia. Once again we will be transferred to our
hotel upon arrival. Later we will enjoy a tour of the city and the Pelourinho
district. Founded in 1549, Salvador was the capital city of Brazil
for over 200 years. Salvador is Brazil's third largest city, and
was the country's busiest port until 1815. Although a large and
modern city, Salvador's colorful, well-preserved colonial buildings
are a sight to behold. The African influence in the food, music
and culture is very apparent here. Salvador pulses with an African-tinged
Samba beat; the percussion-heavy rhythms evolved from the music
of the African slaves. Our hotel, the Bahia Othon Palace, is a
fabulous hotel located on Ondina Beach in Salvador. In the evening,
we can go out in Pelourinho, a historical neighborhood with many
local bars and nightspots. This is the place where Olodum (a musical
group with hundreds of drummers and dancers) plays every night.
Be sure to enjoy some typical Bahian food while you're here!
EVE -
Overnight in Salvador.
(No meals)
Day 12
- Salvador
AM & PM -
Optional tour to Praia do Forte, or spend the day on your own.
EVE - Overnight in Salvador.
(No meals)
Day 13
- Salvador
AM & PM -
A free day to enjoy the beach or stroll through beautiful Salvador.
EVE - Overnight in Salvador.
(No meals)
Day 14
- Salvador - Manaus
(Amazon)
AM & PM -
Transfer to the
airport for our flight to the jungle port of Manaus in the heart of
the Amazon jungle. Your adventure in the wilds of the Amazon are
about to begin! We'll see some truly amazing things on our jungle
expedition.
EVE -
Overnight in Manaus.
(No meals)
Day 15
- Manaus ( Amazon)
AM - The
Amazon EcoPark lies just over 30 minutes up the river from the
hustle and bustle of Manaus. In the morning, we'll board our vessel
at the docks of the Hotel Tropical on the banks of the Rio Negro in
Manaus to start the journey . At the Amazon EcoPark Lodge, we'll
be shown to our bungalows, outfitted with air conditioner and hot shower.
The Lodge serves excellent meals, has a natural pool and a private
beach. It has access to six miles of jungle trails and a hosts a unique
monkey rehabilitation park.
PM -
We'll
take a jungle hike to see some of the varied species of trees
and medicinal plants of the rain forest. Our guide, trained in
the biology of the Amazon, will brief us on our Amazon jungle
program, familiarize us with some of the wildlife we'll spot as
well as discuss some common-sense precautions to take. Our guide
will point out the interdependence of the jungle's aquatic, terrestrial
and avian species. What wildlife we'll actually see depends upon
local conditions, the time of day, time of year, and our tour
guide's advice and guidance. Mammals include several species of
primates like wooly, squirrel and spider monkeys; sloth, deer,
jaguars and peccaries to name a few. Avian life to be spotted
includes beautiful butterflies, colorful macaws and potentially
hundreds of bird species. Aquatic and amphibian creatures run
the gamut from frogs to caimans, and from river dolphins to various
subspecies of piranha. In the evening,
we can even go piranha fishing!
EVE -
Overnight at the Amazon EcoPark.
(L & D.)
Day 16
- Manaus (Amazon)
AM & PM - Today we go a full-day jungle survival course, where hotel staff
(with military training and extensive survival knowledge) will
lecture on how to build temporary shelter, forage for food and
water, start a fire and build a trap, among other essential survival
skills. We'll go on a visit to the Monkey Project which houses
several species of monkeys, and nurses sick or injured ones back
to health.
EVE -
After dark, we can go on an "alligator flashing" trip - we'll see
alligators up close as they stare into the lights of the guide's
flashlight (yes, this is safe, for us and the alligators). In the
nocturnal world of the jungle, a completely different array of
wildlife appears - you'll never forget your experience here. Dinner
and overnight at the Amazon EcoPark Lodge.
(B, L & D.)
Day 16
- Manaus (Amazon) - Rio
de Janeiro or Sao Paulo
AM -
Today we will depart to the International Airport for your flight
back home. We are confident that your Brazilian experience has been
a fulfilling one and that we will be happy to welcome some or all of
you back some day!
(B.)
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