Day 1

You will arrive in Rio de Janeiro and check into the elegant oceanfront Miramar Palace Hotel. 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 on a city tour in your own private air-conditioned Land Rover 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.

 

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 as it has some of the warmest waters in the region, and 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 in their natural habitat ( Ihave already corrected this in old texts). 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.

 

Day 8

After breakfast on the last day of your trip you will be taken on a tour traveling the Macuco Trail in a rustic, open wagon, which allows you a view of the luxurious jungle in all its splendor. Our guides explain some of the stories, marvels and mysteries of the sub-tropical forest surrounded by orchids, bromeliads and thousands of butterflies. You will take a walk down the Iguacu Canyon Trail, visiting the picturesque Macuco Falls and enter the Brazilian jungle on foot to have more close contact with nature. Finally you will ride the rapids of the Iguacu Canyon in secure open boats (mild Rapid). This 3-hour tour gives you a unique and different view of the Iguacu Falls and allows you to feel the same emotions as the first pioneers did on discovering this untouched wilderness area. Before checking out of your hotel you may want to have one final look at the magnificent falls, before be driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the airport. We are certain that you will have enjoyed your trip and we look forward to seeing you again in Brazil.

 

·         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.