Follow in the footsteps of Blu and his family!

Breakfast at the hotel. You start the day with a half-day excursion to the Sugar Loaf mountain. Your guide will take you to Praia Vermelha (Red Beach), a more intimate and tranquil beach than some of the others that seems to be from some ancient world when you look to your left and see the otherworldly shape of the Sugarloaf Mountain next to you. A thrilling cable car ride will take you up to the top of the mountain where a spectacular view of the city comes into focus. It is as if you are looking inwards from the ocean, and you can see everything that Rio has to offer: Christ the Redeemer to the North, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches curving towards the Two Brothers’ Mountain to the West, Botafogo beach and the Financial District to the East. It is truly a sight to behold. Keep an eye out for mischievous monkeys up to no good on the mountainside. 

Today you can choose to enjoy a free day or to go on one of the optional tours below. Botanical Garden The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens is a magnificent 137 hectare garden over 200 years old featuring over 7000 different species of plants. Some of the most beautiful exotic plants in the world such as orchids, bromeliads, cacti and giant bamboo are on display here, in the shadow of the Corcovado mountain. The botanical pond, featuring the giant waterlilies, is a favourite spot for the local wildlife, particularly capivara families which can be seen playing in the shallow waters. Duration: 4 hours Tropical Islands The town of Itacuruça, situated on an island just a short drive from Rio de Janeiro, is a sleepy fishing town that has been revitalized in recent years by a burgeoning tourism scene. The low-rise fishermen’s houses give the village an intimate feel. You can enjoy the breathtaking views of the tropical islands dotting the horizon. A journey out into the ocean may provide a chance to see dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays and sometimes even whales, and you can take a swim in the crystal clear waters. After the boat trip, you can have lunch on the island, take a walk around the island, swim in the tranquil bay, and get ready for your return to Rio. Duration: 8 hours Rio Night: Samba Show Samba Show Rio provides an unforgettable night of Brazilian music and dance. You will experience authentic Latin culture as world class performers sing and dance to the sounds of samba and capoeira. Dinner is provided during the show, after which you will be taken back to your hotel. Duration: 4 hours Royal Petropólis Petropolis is one of the most historically important towns in Brazil, located in the mountains 60km away from Rio de Janeiro city. Dom Pedro II bought the land in 1830 to build a summer palace in the cooler mountain climate away from the scorching heat of Rio. You can still see the perfectly-preserved German-style architecture dotted around the town, transporting you to a world far away from tropical Rio de Janeiro. The Royal Palace still contains many treasures of the Portuguese royal family, such as the royal crown decorated with diamonds and pearls, now on display in the museum. You can also visit the Cathedral where Dom Pedro II and his wife are buried. Duration: 8 hours Helicopter flight over Rio This special trip begins at Sugarloaf mountain or Lagoa. Rio is always best seen from up on high, and you will get an unobstructed view of the Marvellous City from the skies, with the Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugarloaf mountain, Two Brothers mountain, and the golden curves of Copacabana and Ipanema down below. Flight duration: 8-9 minutes. 

After a delicious jungle breakfast at your hotel, get ready for a tour of the Brazilian side of the Falls. A tranquil and calming walk along the edge of the falls provides the most spectacular view you have ever seen; over 250 overflowing with millions of gallons of water racing furiously down straight from the Amazon River. The sunlight flashing off the water has the mesmerising effect of creating hundreds of rainbows as far as the eye can see. It is almost hard to believe, such is the breathtaking beauty of the rainforest paradise. After taking in the incredible views, the path takes you to the eye of the storm, the largest waterfall in the park, The Devil’s Throat. Water crashes off an 80m cliff edge into the Iguazu River, but you have the chance to meet the water via a walkway that leads you into the heart of the waterfall. Feel the power of the water as it surrounds you from all sides, before heading up a stairway to look down from above on the mother of all waterfalls. You will also have the chance to take a “Makuko safari” jeep tour through the jungle. Clearing a path through the undergrowth, you will travel by jeep, giving you a chance to see the exotic wonders of the Brazilian rainforest from up close. Toucans, anteaters, all manner of colourful birds and several varieties of monkeys can be spotted. Following this, you will hop in a speedboat and prepare for the ride of your life! At top speed, you will sail right up to the falling water. Children will love the thrill of the top speed ride and the drenching from the powerful waterfall! Finally, you will walk through the Iguazu bird park, home to thousands of species of tropical birds that fill the rainforest canopy with vivid colour and enchanting birdsong. At the end of the tour, your guide will drop you off at your hotel. 

 After breakfast in the hotel, you will embark on a breathtaking tour of an Igapó – a flooded rainforest. Heavy rains transform the landscape and turn the jungle into an enormous lake, submerging the ground completely. Incredible, unique species of aquatic plants (not to mention thousands of different water-based animals) are on display here as you pass through by boat. Your guide will then take you to a clearing. The silence is almost deafening, and the stillness on top of the water betrays what lies below. You will be handed a fishing rod and shown how to catch the deadly piranha fish that swim below the surface, razor-sharp teeth ready to tear whatever they find to shreds. Just don’t get too close to the water! Your guide will then lead you through the jungle to a Caboclo community, an indigenous-European community that lives in the jungle and is steeped in the history of the rainforest. Here you will learn about the origins of the community, watch the process of preparing mandioc flour, and even learn how to prepare poison arrows! Children should pay very close attention when learning how to distinguish the poisonous from the non-poisonous plants.

This fishing village, 177 km north of Rio de Janeiro, is one of the most beautiful and little-known beach resorts in the world. The intimate feel, mild climate, exotic vegetation and picture-perfect beaches give this place a unique charm. The golden sands and crystal clear oceans offer incredible vistas of green mountains and rocky cliffs, with each beach boasting a truly stunning sunset, As well as relaxing by the sea, surfing, scuba diving, water skiing and kayaking are all popular activities here. The many piers leading onto the water are the perfect place to relax with great food and some cold beer and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of Búzios. One unmissable activity is to take a trip out to sea with a fisherman and witness the jawdropping amount of marine wildlife underwater, such as turtles, tropical fish and even whales. Chic restaurants and stylish bars open their doors as the sun goes down and the cobbled streets fill up with people enjoying their evening. This seaside town is the perfect family location to unwind after your Brazilian journey.