Brazil Breathtaking landscapes and location, nestled between steep, green mountains and crystal clear seas

Brazil Breathtaking landscapes and location, nestled between steep, green mountains and crystal clear seas

Brazil Rio de Janeiro is world renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and location, nestled between steep, green mountains and crystal clear seas. Rio features some of country s most famous attractions such as the Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer Statue crowning over Corcovado s mountain peak and Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. The city is full of energy and the locals of Rio are known for their care free spirit and charm. The Iguazú Falls are the highlight of the Argentine/Brazilian rainforest. The falls are the widest and most imposing water falls on Earth. Iguassu Falls are the greatest waterfalls in the world, situated on the borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The falls consist of 275 cascades spread nearly 2 miles including the famous Devil s Throat. Price From: $6,300 The Amazon rain-forest is the world s largest tropical rain-forest, famed for its biodiversity. It s crisscrossed by thousands of rivers, including the powerful Amazon. River towns, with 19th-century architecture from rubber-boom days, include Brazil s Manaus the capital of the vast state of Amazonas. Salvador is the oldest City in Brazil and is considered the country s soul and the birthplace of Brazilian culture. Salvador has a lively art scene and its streets are filled with dance and music all year round. Inclusions 10 nights in a Double room for Single Use in 4 Star quality Hotels 6 x Dinners, 3 x Lunches, breakfast daily English speaking Guides throughout Transfers as shown Hotel Bar is open between 5.30pm and 6.30pm with house wines, beer, soft drinks included for Individual Travellers Private transportation in air-conditioned vehicles with bottled water provided All Entry fees and local taxes All gratuities and porterage costs 24 hour assistance during your trip

Day 1 Welcome to Rio de Janiero! You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Copacabana. Check-in to your Hotel and relax You will meet your new friends and Tour Manager for a drinks in the Hotel followed by a Welcome Dinner at a traditional Brazilian Barbecue with beer, wine & soft drinks included Arena Copacabana Hotel, Rio de Janeiro (or similar) D Day 2 This morning you will meet your Guide for a tour which takes a scenic drive from Copacabana beach, continuing along Botafogo beach and passing the Palácio Guanabara, official residence of the Rio de Janeiro State Governor, on the way to Corcovado Hill (704m), and the greatest national icon The Christ Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro. Here you will have time to enjoy panoramic views of Rio and appreciate the giant statue, which was recently named as one of the seven new wonders of the world. The tour then continues on to the district of Urca and the world famous Sugar Loaf. Here, you will board the first cable car to the top of Urca Hill (215m), which offers spectacular views of Guanabara Bay. A second cable car will take you on to the Sugar Loaf (395m), giving you a chance to take in the spectacular 360 degree views of the City and surrounds. Upon descending from the Sugarloaf, you will pass through the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema en route to a traditional Brazilian lunch in a local restaurant. Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Maracanã Stadium (Bellini s statue and Hall of Fame. The entry into the stadium is not included) and a stop at the Sambadrome (the stadium for the city s main Carnival parade). In the City s historic downtown area, you will have a chance to see the Duque de Caxias Palace, Itamaraty Palace, Tiradentes Square and Lapa Arches, followed by a visit the Metropolitan Cathedral. After passing through Cinelandia, with its 18th century French architectural influence, the tour continues towards the Church of St. Benedict. Built by the Benedictine Order in the 17th century, the church s magnificent gold-plated interior decoration reflects the apogee of Brazilian baroque. From here the tour will also make a quick stop for passengers to visit Selaron Stairs, an amazing urban work of art by the late Jorge Selaron. On way back to the Hotel, along Aterro do Flamengo, you will see the Museum of Modern Art, the Monument to the Fallen in World War II, the Church of the Outeiro da Glória, the beaches of Flamengo and Botafogo and return to you hotel. Dinner is at your leisure Arena Copacabana Hotel, Rio de Janeiro (or similar) B, L

Day 3 Today is a free day to explore Rio and do some shopping! Dinner is at your leisure Arena Copacabana Hotel, Rio de Janeiro (or similar) B Day 4 Today you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Foz do Iguassu. On arrival at Iguassu Airport you will be met and transferred to your Hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the town of Foz do Iguassu Recanto Cataratas Resort, Iguassu (or similar) B Day 5 After breakfast your Guide will take you to experience the Argentinean Side of the Falls. The Argentine Falls tour takes longer since the inauguration of the new facilities for the Upper, Lower and the Devil s Throat Circuits. Visitors first arrive to the New Visitors Center where you walk the Nature s Interpretation Center. From the Visitors Center you can board the train that goes first to Cataratas Station in about 8 minutes or take a short walk through the Green Trail that leads to the beginning of the path towards the Upper and Lower trails. Otherwise the same train goes on to Garganta Station. Once you have finished the circuits, you must go back to the Visitors Center where the vehicles are waiting to transfer you to your Hotel. This evening you will be transferred to the restaurant? Wine Cocktail Experience? Tonight enjoy a Wine Cocktail Experience followed by Dinner The Argentine Experience which offers a unique dining experience which cleverly blends exquisite food and wine, local culture and social integration After dinner you will be transferred to your Hotel Recanto Cataratas Resort, Iguassu (or similar) B, D

Day 6 Today you will be met and transferred to the Airport to board your flight to Manaus. On arrival you will be and transferred to the Lodge, a 40 minute boat ride away, on the banks of the Rio Taruma. After settling in to your comfortable room, we visit the Monkey Jungle Reserve and marvel at the many different species of very playful and friendly monkeys. The Monkey Jungle is a centre for the rehabilitation of primates that were rescued from illegal traders or from areas of Brazil that have been flooded or burned. Many of the monkeys are orphans. On arrival the animals receive any necessary veterinary treatment and time to acclimatize to their new home, before being released into the wild. Species of monkeys at the Monkey Jungle include the Spider monkey, Woolly monkey, Squirrel monkey and Capuchin monkey. Later in the evening, a delicious dinner will be followed by a trip by canoe to spot crocodiles and other nocturnal creatures. You will be transferred to your Lodge Tonight you will enjoy Dinner at the Lodge with beer, wine & soft drinks included Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge (or similar) B, D Day 7 We awake to the fresh morning mist and the magical sounds of the jungle coming alive. After breakfast we set off on a Nature Hike: with over two million species of flora and fauna the thick, impenetrable jungle will have you in awe of its immensity! There are around 10kms of jungle trails in the Ecopark area, which includes virgin rainforest, natural savannahs, creeks and crystal clear steams. The guide teaches you how to find potable water, how to improvise a shelter from natural resources found in the jungle, what plants can be eaten as well as basic orientation and first aid. We return to the lodge for lunch and time to relax, after which we visit the homes of caboclos or local Amazonian residents. Learn about their traditions and customs, the history of the Amazon, how cassava meal is prepared and the rubber cycle including how they smoke the extracted rubber sap. There is also the opportunity for piranha fishing. The notorious piranha is perhaps the most feared freshwater fish in the world. However, it is a common misconception that they are vicious man-eaters and the majority of species are not carnivorous. They make a delicious meal, if you manage to catch them with the help of our experts! We return to the Hotel for Dinner with beer, wine & soft drinks included Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge (or similar) B, L, D Day 8 This morning we depart on a full day tour to the Meeting of the Waters, a remarkable phenomenon where the black water of the Rio Negro converges with the lighter muddy brown water of the Rio Solimões before they finally merge to form the mighty Amazon River. The two rivers are different temperatures and run at different speeds alongside each other without mixing for several kilometres, in what is known as the Meeting of the Waters. Following this excursion we have the option of more piranha fishing from canoes. We return to the lodge in the early evening for dinner with beer, wine & soft drinks included and another atmospheric night in the jungle. Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge (or similar) B, L, D

Day 9 After breakfast, you will be transferred to Manaus airport for your onward journey to Salvador, Bahia. On arrival in Salvador you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day and Lunch is at your leisure Dinner is at your leisure Villa Bahia Hotel, Salvador (or similar) B Day 10 After breakfast, we depart on a panoramic tour of the culture capital of Brazil. This tour offers a different perspective of this sprawling city, commencing at the Barra Lighthouse and taking us to the quiet waters of the Itapagipe Peninsula where life moves at a slower pace than the bustling upper city. Fishermen fish from dugout canoes, locals collect shellfish at low tide, schooners lie at anchor, all protected by the famous Bonfim church, one of the most important churches of pilgrimage in Brazil and deeply syncretised with the Candomblé. We continue to the Monserrat district with its panoramic view of the city and on to the Mercado Modelo, a thriving market for local goods and souvenirs. This is also a great place to test your bargaining skills! The tour finishes with a visit to the historic Pelourinho a district famous for its narrow and winding streets and old pastel-colored buildings. It boasts the best preserved colonial architecture in the whole of the Americas, the exuberant São Francisco church with its extravagant baroque design and gold-leaf interior being a perfect example. Return to your Hotel Lunch is at your leisure This evening we celebrate the end of a fulfilling journey with a traditional Bahiana Farewell Dinner with beer, wine & soft drinks included in a local restaurant in Pelourinho within walking distance of your Hotel Villa Bahia Hotel, Salvador (or similar) B, D Day 11 Today you will be transferred to the Airport for your onward flight Adios!