Explore Brazil
9 days
from Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro
From
$ 3099
Duration9 days
Connect with the lively rhythms of urban culture and venture deep into extraordinary ecosystems on a nine-day adventure in Brazil. On the colorful streets and sun-drenched beaches of Rio de Janeiro, learn to dance the samba and meet the costumers of Brazil’s famed Carnival. Venture into the tropical wetland wilderness of the Pantanal in search of caimans, capybaras, and other incredible creatures; and stand in the mists of spectacular Iguaçu Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 9 daysService level: Upgraded
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Starts in: Rio de JaneiroPhysical Grading: Light
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Ends in: Rio de JaneiroAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Rio de Janeiro
Start place: Rio de Janeiro
Today is the arrival day, no activities are planned. The day is free to spend at your leisure exploring the city until our welcome meeting this evening. There’s so much to see and do in vibrant Rio de Janeiro pulsing with passion, music and ocean waves.
Arrive at any time. Your arrival transfer is included.
End place: Rio de Janeiro
Day 2: Rio de Janeiro
Start place: Rio de Janeiro
This massive city gets as many as five million international tourists every year to sip caipirinhas on the beach, dance the samba in the city’s streets, and ascend Corcovado Mountain to see Christ the Redeemer for yourself. Later, learn about the iconic dance of samba, an icon of African heritage and afro-Brazilian resistance in the country. Get a taste of Carnaval magic, learn some steps and meet some of the people who create the colourful costumes.
Venture into the vibrant streets of Rio, founded by Portuguese settlers in the 16th century and now a thriving metropolis on Brazil’s southeast coast. Ride a cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain to take in panoramic views of the city. Get a taste of the magic of Carnival at a samba school, where you’ll learn the history of the annual celebration, meet expert costumers, and pick up a few steps from performers.
End place: Rio de Janeiro
Meals: B
Day 3: Rio de Janeiro/Pantanal
Start place: Rio de Janeiro
The Pantanal, a largely flat, wetland area roughly half the size of France, covering over 70,000 sq mi (180,000 sq km) making it the world's largest tropical wetland. The area has the largest concentration of wildlife in South America; rich in bird life, including colourful macaws and jabiru storks. With a bit of luck and the appropriate weather, you may spot unique species such as capybara, howler monkeys, caiman, giant river otters, anacondas, and anteaters.
This morning, fly to Campo Grande, our gateway to Brazil’s Pantanal. This spectacular region of winding rivers and grasslands is the world’s largest area of tropical wetland, and hosts the highest concentration of wildlife in South America. Transfer to your lodge at the edge of the wetland, the ideal base for exploring the extraordinary ecosystems of the Pantanal.
End place: Pantanal
Meals: B, D
Day 4: Pantanal
Start place: Pantanal
Wildlife viewing in South America automatically makes you think of the Amazon rainforest, while biodiverse the dense jungle of the Amazon makes wildlife viewing a challenge. The wide open spaces of the Pantanal, on the other hand, offer easy viewing opportunities to spot a diverse set of species both in the wetlands and on land with the naked eye. At night, go caiman spotting and watch as a whole other set of species come to life under the cover of darkness.
Spend a full day deep inside the Pantanal alongside an expert naturalist guide. Hike across low-lying grasslands and into dense forests teeming with wildlife. Keep an eye out for an abundance of unique creatures, including the endangered hyacinth macaw, howler monkeys, giant anteaters, capybaras, and the southern crested caracara. In the evening, search for caiman along the riverbanks and encounter nocturnal creatures that emerge under the cover of darkness.
End place: Pantanal
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Pantanal
Start place: Pantanal
The Pantanal is home to the third-largest cat in the world, the majestic jaguar. Although notoriously tough to spot in the wild, the ongoing efforts of the Jaguar Conservation Fund, Onçafari, and other conservation projects in the region are decreasing habitat loss for the big cats and increasing chances of spotting them in the Pantanal.
Continue exploring this extraordinary ecosystem as you learn about efforts underway to protect big cats such as the rare Pantanal jaguar. Head out on hikes along the slow-moving tributaries of the Paraguay River. With luck, spot slithering anaconda, rare marsh deer, and the Brazilian tapir, and learn how the unremarkable apple snail acts as a keystone species in this complex and diverse environment.
End place: Pantanal
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Pantanal/Iguaçu Falls
Start place: Pantanal
Fly north to the Iguazú Falls area, near the borders of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Cross the border from Argentina to Brazil to experience the panoramic view of the falls.
As if imposing Iguazú Falls – with its 275 waterfalls – couldn’t get more impressive, the area surrounding this natural wonder is home to jaguars, ocelots, anteaters, and large toucans, among others. The falls and the national park by the same name were named UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1984.
As if imposing Iguazú Falls – with its 275 waterfalls – couldn’t get more impressive, the area surrounding this natural wonder is home to jaguars, ocelots, anteaters, and large toucans, among others. The falls and the national park by the same name were named UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1984.
This morning, return to Campo Grande and fly to Iguaçu; then check into our hotel located close to Iguaçu Falls, one of the largest waterfall systems in the world. Here, water crashes over a nearly two-mile span of cliffs, formed by a basaltic rift on the border between Argentina and Brazil. Clouds of mist from the falls soak the surrounding landscape, creating a lush tropical environment harboring several rare species, including tapirs and jaguars.
Meals: B
Day 7: Iguaçu Falls
Explore trails directly over the falls of the Devil's Throat — the highest and deepest of the falls. Other trails allow access to the stretch of falls across the forest on the Argentine side. Later, learn about the flora and fauna surrounding the falls from Wilson Fernandes, a local biologist specializing in the Atlantic Rainforest.
Visit the Argentina side of Iguazú Falls, standing amid the spray from the falls’ spectacular cascades, and set out on a hike along forest trails that wind directly over the cataracts known as the Devil’s Throat. Choose to explore by boat, gaining a unique perspective on the falls from below. In the evening, gather for a talk with a local naturalist to learn about the flora and fauna living around the falls, and the uses of local plants in traditional healing remedies.
Meals: B
Day 8: Iguaçu Falls/Rio de Janeiro
Get a different perspective of the falls from the Brazilian side. Take in the panoramic view of the falls before walking along the scenic walkways out into the falls. After, leave the falls behind and head back to Rio.
Today, see the falls from a different angle during a trip to the Brazilian side. Take in panoramic views of the roaring cascades and stroll along scenic walkways winding in and out of lush tropical forest. Later, transfer to the airport and fly to Rio de Janeiro.
End place: Rio de Janeiro
Meals: B
Day 9: Rio de Janeiro
Start place: Rio de Janeiro
Depart at any time.
End place: Rio de Janeiro
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Rio Tour: Cable Car Ride and Samba School Visit, Rio de Janeiro Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Iguaçu Falls, Flora and Fauna Lecture, Iguaçu Falls
- Arrival transfer
- Rio city tour
- Pantanal guided wildlife excursions
- Tour the Argentine and Brazilian sides of Iguaçu Falls
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Private van, 4x4, Plane, Walking -
Accommodation
Hotels (8 nts)