Day 1. Rio de JaneiroArrival at the international airport of Rio de Janeiro! A driver will be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you to your hotel.
You can admire Rio de Janeiro ‘s green hills, blue sky, turquoise ocean, beautiful bays, and marvelous beaches. At nightfall magnificent Rio is lighted up by the lights of favelas, which are shimmering like precious stones that Brazil is so rich with! You will have a great time between the palm trees, sand and waves of the ocean!
The most popular beaches - Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, are famous for their black and white tiled promenade. Numerous open cafes at the beach will offer you refreshing coconut water, freshly squeezed juices and other drinks. You can fully enjoy all of it as you have arrived in paradise, you are in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful and exotic cities in the world!
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Day 2. Rio de JaneiroAfter breakfast at the hotel you will go to a very special place in Rio with your guide, the Sugarloaf. A cable car ride will take you up to Urca Mountain, the stop between ground level and Sugarloaf. Once arriving at the top of Sugarloaf mountain you will see the captivating beauty of Rio from a different angle. To your left you can see Copacabana beach stretching out into the distance, and on the horizon the faint outlines of Two Brothers and Gávea mountains. Below you is the intimate Red Beach, while to your right you can see across Guanabara Bay to Niterói and, nearer by, Botafogo and central neighborhoods, with the unmistakable silhouette of Christ the Redeemer casting its eternal gaze over the city. From this point we gain a different perspective on Rio, and can truly appreciate its beauty. After descending the mountain by cable car, you will head into the Historical Center with its colonial architecture including many old churches still in use. The cobbled streets and bright colors are a stark contrast to the whitewashed, sunsoaked streets of Ipanema but in many ways are part of the authentic, nearly-forgotten historical Rio, and one can almost feel the hustle and bustle of hundreds of years ago when these streets were filled with merchants and citizens of the Portuguese Empire, locals, immigrants.
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Day 3. Rio de JaneiroCorcovado and Christ the Redeemer Statue
After breakfast we set off on a tour through the city. Arriving at the station, where the environmentally friendly train will take us through the jungle to the top of Corcovado. On either side of the railway you will have spectacular views from Tijuca forest, inhabited by monkeys and other exotic animals and birds. At the top of Corcovado, at an altitude of 700 m above sea level, stands the symbol of Rio - Statue of Christ the Savior (38m), which was built in 1931. A breathtaking panorama view of the metropolis and its surroundings: the Niteroi Bridge, Guanabara Bay, the Botanical Garden, the world's largest Maracana stadium, Sugar Loaf, and more is possible from the top of Corcovado.
After we will have an experience the creation of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival from an insider’s perspective: visit the City of Samba, enter the Grande Rio’s Samba Factory, learn about the history of Samba and Carnival parades, understand the production of floats and costumes, and feel the samba fever with an authentic carnival costume, a samba class, and a Brazilian welcome drink!
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Day 4. Rio de Janeiro - Foz de IguaçuAfter breakfast your driver will drive you to the airport in time for your flight to Foz de Iguacu where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel by a driver.
After that you will go on an adventurous guided tour to visit the amazing falls from the Brazilian side.
Foz de Iguacu Falls are located on the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay – there are over 260 large waterfalls, the widest on earth, tumbling down from the lazy Parana river. The Falls are located in the National Park that formed after a volcanic eruption, and the displacement of the earth plaques. The name Iguazu means "big water" in the local Indian dialect of the Tupi-Guarani tribe. The strongest waterfall is the "Garganta del Diablo" or "Devil's Throat" tumbling down 72 meters into the abyss.
There are two circuits: the Upper and the Lower Circuit.
The Upper circuit, a walk of 1,300 meters, provides a panoramic view above the waterfalls while the Lower Circuit brings you through the Jungle to the impressive Garganta del Diablo fall after walking on the 1.000 mts. footbridge.
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Optional: Macuco SafariYou will go on a tour through the jungle, and then get to a wonderful boat ride. In the jungle you will ride in an open jeep for about 3 kilometers, accompanied by a guide who will tell you a lot of interesting things about the ecology of the region. Then you will go on foot to the banks of the Iguazu River, from where they will take you by motor boat close to the waterfalls. You are expected by splashes and rainbows, the sea of delight and unique photos
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Optional: Bird ParkYou will enter the huge open-air cages, where amazing, fairytale birds of outlandish colors freely fly or walk among the rainforest
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Day 5. IguacuBreakfast at the hotel. A guided tour to the Argentinian side of the Falls.
You will get to the Argentinian Side of the Falls by the bridge Tancredo Neves, built over the Iguazu river. The Argentinian side is different from the Brazilian one - here you will walk directly above and under the falls. The upper walkway lasts for about 1.5 hours and takes you for a walk with the falls directly under your feet (we walk over metallic see-through platforms). You will feel the power of the falling water very close to you and will be able to enjoy the national park around this astonishing beauty.
By a little train the guide takes you to the platforms leading to the birthplace of the “Devil’s Throat”. You can stand for hours without stopping, watching this show and thinking about the magnificence of the universe and eternity.
For the hiking fans we can also walk the 3.5 hour lower walkway for a close-up experience of the falls and the possibility to cross to a little island in the middle of the falls. (subject to weather conditions)
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Day 6. Iguacu – Rio de Janeiro - Visconde de MauaTransfer to the airport in time for your flight to Rio. After arriving in Rio you will meet your driver that will accompany you on your adventure in Visconde de Maua. We drive into the mountains of the spectacular Serra Dos Orgaos national park located above Rio. After a scenic road over the mountain tops our car climbs a little sideroad to our destination.
The village of Visconde de Maua is located in a fertile valley full of fruit trees, vegetable plantations, amazing waterfalls and clean air. We offer you to stay in pousadas, traditional cottages, located in the pure nature of the Atlantic Forest. Pousar in Portuguese means “to land, to relax”.
Pousada Terras Altas is a beautiful chalet complex in Visconde de Mauá´s mountains located 2 km from the Aguas Claras waterfall. It features a pool with fresh river water and a panoramic hot tub. Enjoy bird singing at dawn, swim in the crystal-clear mountain river or just relax!
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Day 7. Visconde de MauaBreakfast at the hotel. The Visconde de Maua region is famous for hiking, beautiful rivers, waterfalls and natural pools with crystal clear water.
The village of Maringa is the main shopping center of the region, and if you want to go to a restaurant or just walk along a noisy street, don’t forget this name.
Vila da Maromba is known as the village of waterfalls, which are the most beautiful and popular in the region.
Our driver is taking us into a natural protected area where we can discover 12 waterfalls in 1 easy hike. This place looks like the Garden of Eden. The beautiful falling water, surrounded by untouched nature and flowers, the amazing trees that form a complicated communication system with their roots and their main mother tree, the softly falling water and birds chirping around create an atmosphere that cleanses and inspires. Brazilians believe that bathing in waterfalls cleanses not only the body but also the soul. You will find moments of solitude with mother nature! You can hike further up to see all 12 waterfalls in this system, and bathe in as many as you like.
The most popular waterfall in the region is Escorrega. In addition to the beautiful natural pool, the waterfall has a natural slide. If you are courageous enough you can experience sliding down or even jumping from a 7-meter cliff, but you can just walk along the bottom of the waterfall with a beautiful natural pool.⠀
Various optional activities can be done in this region: climbing mountains, horseback riding, bathing in a natural pool, hiking and more!
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Day 8. Visconde de Maua -ParatyBreakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Paraty (duration:4 hours). Accommodation in the hotel. After a short rest you will have a guided jeep tour in Paraty.
Enjoy nature and discover the local culture of the city, within the Serra da Bocaina National Park. The route passes through beautiful waterfalls with crystalline waters, great for bathing and easily accessible, through small safe and peaceful trails in the middle of the Atlantic Forest. They will be able to know some of the different species of local fauna and flora. Visit to Pedra Branca Waterfall, Poço do Tarzan Waterfall and Tobogã Waterfall.
We will get to know the process of the famous artisanal cachaça from Paraty and how it was produced in the 18th century, visiting the traditional still, with the right to taste the most varied liqueurs and aged cachaças.
We visit the Ouro Branco House of Flour, where we can learn about all the steps involved in the artisanal manufacture of cassava flour, and enjoy a delicious afternoon coffee made with freshly ground grains and the classic rapadura, a typical Brazilian sweet (tasting optional).
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Day 9. ParatyTrindade is a paradisiacal cove located 27 km from Paraty, with 04 ocean beaches and 01 natural pool in the middle of the sea. Transportation is carried out in vans or minibuses, with guides specialized in the history, ecology and caiçara culture of the region. Arrival at Vila de Trindade after 30 minutes of driving. First stop at Praia do Cepilho – ideal place for photos; Praia dos Ranchos – where it has a bar and restaurant structure; Praia do Meio – great for swimming and at the end of it begins the trail to Praia do Caixa D´aço, which lasts 25 minutes.
The last stop on the tour is the Caixa D´aço Natural Pool, a set of rocks that form a pool in the middle of the sea, a great place for bathing and snorkeling. To get there, it's another 30 minutes along the trail through the Atlantic Forest. You can go to and from the Caixad'aço Natural Pool using an aluminum fisherman's boat that can be hired directly at Praia do Meio - optional/not included. On the way back from visiting the Natural Pool, we stop for lunch at Praia dos Ranchos (optional) at the Vagalume restaurant.
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Day 10. Paraty –Rio de JaneiroBreakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport of Rio de Janeiro.
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