Day 1

You will arrive in Rio de Janeiro and be met at the airport by a private driver who will take you to the elegant oceanfront Miramar Palace Hotel. After checking in, 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 final day in Rio, you must check out of the Miramar Palace Hotel at around 10.30am and say goodbye to this ‘marvelous city’, then be driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the airport. The flight to Salvador leaves around 13:00 and arrives at around 15:00. At the Salvador airport you will be met by one of our guides and driven to the charming historic hotel Catharina Paraguacu. After checking you may want to relax a bit before having dinner. We suggest dinner at the Lambreta Grill, an award winning seafood café in the Rio Vermelho district.

Day 4

Today you will begin your journey through Salvador visiting the Pelourinho, the historical district of the city, followed by a delicious Bahian lunch. Then you will visit the Mercado Modelo in Cidade Baixa.  The Mercado Modelo is a handcraft market that used to be the merchandise and slave-trading outpost of the city. Here you can buy many handicrafts and local products. Make sure you visit the dungeon below the market where the slaves were kept prior to sale.

Day 5

On the last day of your trip you will check out of the hotel Catharina Paraguacu and be transported by a private vehicle to Praia do Forte. The journey takes roughly an hour and when you arrive you will check into the Pousada Farol das Tartarugas. We suggest having lunch at 'Bar do Souza'; try their delicious and famous 'bolinhos de peixe' (Bahian-style fish cakes) and/or a fish or shrimp moqueca (Bahian stew). After lunch we suggest you visit the TAMAR PROJECT (turtle NGO) Visitor Center and then on to Papa Gente's Natural Pools for snorkeling (times may vary due to the tide). It is now getting dark and you have worked up a hardy appetite so, we suggest having dinner at the Fata Morgana restaurant (Spanish food).

Day 6

On this, your last day in Praia do Forte, we suggest you take the morning to relax by the pool or on the beach and maybe do some last-minute shopping in the village for presents to take back home. After lunch you will check out of the pousada Farol das Tartarugas and say goodbye to Praia do Forte, then be driven in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the airport in Salvador. From here you will travel to Manaus. [Note: flights are not included in this package.  For flight information and reservation please contact us]. Upon arriving at the Manaus Airport you will be met by a private guide who will drive you to the Tropical Manaus Hotel, where you will check in and probably want to go straight to bed, after your long day’s journey.

Day 7

After breakfast you will be taken on a Manaus city tour by one of our private English-speaking guides. You will first visit the Manaus Theater / Opera House and then be taken to either the Indian Museum or the Museum of Natural History (you choose which tour and let your guide know the night before). Afterwards you will be taken on a tour of the port area and the Municipal (a replica of the old Les Halles market in Paris), where you will find a variety of goods, including a wide choice of handicrafts and presents to buy for friends and family back home. We suggest lunch back at your hotel and the afternoon is free to relax and perhaps take a swim in the pool. We suggest the dinner show, which comprises a folkloric music and dance presentation by the pool. Your flight to Tefe leaves early the next day, so a good night´s sleep will help you prepare for the full day coming up next.

Day 8

You will be driven to the Manaus airport early in the morning to catch a flight to Tefe. You will be met at the airport in Tefe by one of the representatives from the Uakari Lodge and taken to the dock area and then in a speed boat to the Lodge. The boat journey lasts about one and a half hours. You will arrive at the Lodge just before lunch and will be given an orientation by the Uakari Lodge manager. After lunch at the Lodge you will have some time to relax and settle in before going on a tour in the afternoon. The tour will be either a walking trail to see wildlife in the flooded forest, or a canoe trip through the small tributaries to see wildlife along the banks of the rivers.

Days 9 and 10

You need to wake up early at around 6.30am to have breakfast at 7am. Your morning tour will set off at roughly 7.30am. This is the best time to see animals and also the temperature is cooler and therefore more amenable to do jungle tours. You will come back for lunch and then have a couple of hours after lunch to rest and prepare for the afternoon tour. There is a book and video library which you may use at liberty. The afternoon tour departs at roughly 3pm and returns at about 6pm. Supper is served in the main dining room and occasionally the researchers from the Mamiraua Institute will join. One of the evenings during your stay at the Lodge you will be shown a presentation of the flooded forest after dinner.

During these 2 days the tours will be a variety of the following:

·         Lake Mamiraua Trip – by motorized canoe to a beautiful lake inside the Reserve, where you will have an opportunity to see a plethora of birds, monkeys, pink dolphins, black caiman and perhaps the pirarucu fish. You will stay at the Lake until sunset and on your way back you will spot nocturnal fauna.  During this night spotting you will be able to see various sized Caymans and if you are lucky small fish attracted by the lights will jump into the boat by the hundreds.

·         Daily Walks along one of the jungle trails in the company of experienced guides, to see capuchin monkeys, howlers, uakaris, squirrel monkeys, three toed sloths and hoatzin birds among many other species.

·         Traditional native Indian harpoon fishing where, depending on how dedicated you are, you can expect to catch a variety of fish.

·         Trip to visit a local riverine ‘Caboclo” village in order to interact and get to know the Amazonian population and way of life.

·         Paddling trips in dugout canoes where you will see a rich variety of birdlife and fauna.

Day 11

On the last day of your trip you will check out of the Uakari Lodge after breakfast and be driven by speed boat to Tefe where you can catch a plane to Manaus. From there you will fly to Campo Grande in the Pantanal. You will be met at the Campo Grande airport and driven to the Hotel Aguas de Bonito (approximately 4 hours by car), where you will check in. You may want to have lunch at your hotel and relax before your afternoon boat tour.  This tour takes you down 7km of the beautiful Formoso River in inflatable boats, with a capacity for a maximum of 13 people per boat. You will pass various waterfalls and rapids and have the opportunity to see many animals and birds, as well as observe the rich vegetation along the riverbank. Stops to swim in the river and waterfalls will be possible. Dinner is included at your hotel.

Day 12

After breakfast you will be taken on a tour of the Blue Lagoon Cave, which is undoubtedly the most beautiful and impressive cave in the region. The stunning blue lake lies 180m below the earth’s surface and is reached by a steep descent. The clear blue color is due to rich deposits of calcium carbonate and magnesium in the lake. It is a truly beautiful and mysterious place. Lunch is back at your hotel, followed by a snorkeling trip to the Sucuri River. This crystal clear river is one of the most transparent in the world. You will float down 2km of river, carried by the current, wearing life-jacket, mask and snorkel. Hundreds of fish live in the river, as well as incredible sub aquatic vegetation. Dinner is included back at your hotel.

Day 13

Today you will check out of Hotel Aguas de Bonito and be driven to the Refugio Ecologico Caiman in the Pantanal (3 hour drive). After checking in and having lunch at the hotel you will have a choice of tour to go on.

On days 13 and 14 of the package at Refugio Ecologico Caiman you will have a choice of the following tours, depending on the different conditions of the trails (due mainly to the weather). All tours are guided by expert, local, English-speaking guides:

·         Walking trails through wetland areas near your pousada to see flora and fauna, animals and the different ecosystems of the Pantanal.

·         Horseback riding tours – this is the best way to really see the Pantanal. The horses are well trained and will take you through rivers, streams and to areas which are impossible to reach by car. This is a great way to see birds, mammals, reptiles and flora.

·         Boat tours. During the wet season (December - March) the rivers and streams flood on to the plains and boat trips are offered through these flooded plains to see reptiles, mammals, water birds, fish, plant life and the famous capybara (the world’s largest rodent). During the dry season (July – October) the water level drops and it is possible to see an abundance of wildlife on the river banks, such as caiman, and beautiful, colorful macaws.

·         Day and night time safari tours in an open-top vehicle to see the rich wildlife and flora of the region. You will have a chance to observe animals such as monkeys, deer, armadillos, anteaters; and birds such as macaws, toucans, eagles, emus and herons.

Day 14

On your second day at Refugio Ecologico Caiman you will go on a morning tour after breakfast. Lunch is back at the hotel and in the afternoon you will be taken on a different tour. Tours will vary according to trail conditions and weather. See options above on day 13. Dinner is back at the hotel.

Day 15

On your last day in the Pantanal you will check out of the Hotel Caiman and be driven to the airport (4 hour drive). 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 Gen 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.