Day 1: 30/12 Rio de JaneiroArrival in Rio de Janeiro. Transfer to the hotel.
Take in the breathtaking view as your plane descends upon Rio de Janeiro – the 'Marvellous City' where rolling green hills, turqoise ocean, sandy beaches and high-rise urban development is all packed together in a unique blend of life and humanity. Your driver will take you from the airport to the hotel, during which time you can get a different perspective of the city, passing through the colonial style buildings and along the world-famous beachfront. The natural beauty of Rio is almost transcendental and gives you a taste of the Amazon rainforest while still retaining everything that is so incredible about a Latin American city. A walk along the mosaic tiles of Copacabana reveals much about the life of a 'carioca' (Rio local) – a refreshing caipirinha as the waves lap against the shore, a fiercely competitive game of foot volleyball, and thousands of beachgoers sunning themselves on the white sands. You have truly arrived in paradise.
|
Day 2: 31/12 Rio de JaneiroCorcovado tour (4 hours)
After a delicious tropical breakfast in your hotel, you will head out on a trip to see the world-famous Christ the Saviour statue on top of Corcovado Mountain. A specially designed train will take you from the foot of the mountain along a winding road through the magical Tijuca rainforest where you will see some of the enchanting tropical wildlife on constant display in Rio, such as toucans, monkeys and armadillos. At the summit of Corcovado, 700m above sea level, proudly stands the iconic image seen around the world – a 38m high statue of Christ the Saviour. But that is not the only breathtaking thing about this place – when up close to the statue you will be overwhelmed by the stunning panoramic view of the city, so high up it seems as though you are truly flying with the birds around you. From the far reaches of Guanabara Bay, to the Maracanã Stadium, all along to Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana, Ipanema and Gávea Mountain, you can see the whole of Rio de Janeiro.
Your driver will take you back to your hotel for a rest before you begin the New Year festivities. Walking onto Copacabana beach you will experience a New Year’s party like no other. A huge stage occupies one section of the beach, while millions (yes, millions!) of partygoers take to the sands dressed all in white to witness a spectacular fireworks display, and tributes are paid to the water goddess Lemanjá and sent into the ocean on small boats. The magical party atmosphere, it goes without saying, continues long into the night.
* * * If you wish, you can book a New Year dinner or a ticket for a party in one of the hotels in Copacabana. Prices available on request ***( from 350 USD)
|
Day 3: 01/01 Rio de JaneiroCity tour and Sugarloaf (4 hours)
After breakfast in your hotel you will be taken to the mythical Sugarloaf mountain, protruding abruptly from out of the ground like an asteroid just fallen from space. A magnificent cable car ride will take you up to Urca Mountain, the stop off between ground level and Sugarloaf. From there you can enjoy a smooth cocktail or sample some of Brazil’s many signature dishes. Once arriving to 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 off into the distance, and on the horizon the faint outlines of Two Brothers and Gávea mountains. Below you is the quaint and intimate Red Beach, while to your right you can see across Guanabara Bay to Niterói and, closer in, Rio’s Botafogo and central neighborhoods, with the unmistakeable silhouette of Christ the Saviour casting its eternal gaze over the city. This trip is essential to gain a different perspective on Rio, and to truly understand its beauty.
After descending the mountain by cable car, you will head into the Old Town and Centre, where colonial architecture still remains and many old churches such as the Candelária are still in use. The cobbled streets and bright colours are a stark contrast to the whitewashed, sunsoaked streets of Ipanema but in many ways are part of the authentic, nearly-forgotten Rio of old, 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.
*Due to the heavy traffic at New Year holidays, the route of the city tour may be adjusted.
*Optionally: You can take a hiking tour to Pedro de Telegrafa. (160 USD/person, min 2 people)
Do you want to be in a completely different place, but not far from Rio de Janeiro? Just an hour's drive from Copacabana is Guaratiba, an amazing place where you can have a nice walk with your family and take good photos among the beautiful landscapes with amazing sunsets.
In Guaratiba, in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, there are a lot of natural beauties, but you have to climb the trail to the most attractive place for about an hour. The route runs through a tropical forest, where you can meet monkeys, feed them with bananas, and do not forget to take photos.
And at last we get to the famous stone, where everyone is trying to take cool photos! From here you can enjoy an incredibly beautiful view of Rio de Janeiro, a breathtaking landscape for incredible photos.
|
Day 4: 02/01- Rio de Janeiro - Foz de IguacuAfter breakfast in your hotel your driver will take you to the airport where it is time to say goodbye to the Marvelous City. However with the next stop being one of the natural wonders of the world, there is no time for tears. Board your flight to Iguazu Falls, arrival and transfer to the hotel.
|
Day 5: 03/01- Foz de IguacuAfter breakfast in the hotel you will explore the Brazilian side of the National Park. 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. At the end of the tour, your guide will drop you off at your hotel (entrance ticket included).
Optionally: Bird Park (USD 60 P/P).
You will enter the huge open-air cages, where amazing, fairytale birds of outlandish colors freely fly or walk in the rainforest.
Macuco Safari (USD 130 P/P)
You will go on a jeep tour through the jungle, and then take 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 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 a motorboat takes you at full speed to the waterfalls. You can expect to be completely wet with splashes, surrounded by rainbows, and feel a sea of delight and adrenaline.
|
Day 6: 04/01 Foz de IguacuWake up and have breakfast in your beautiful hotel. Today’s tour will take you through the Argentinian side of the National Park. Often referred to as like being on stage compared to sitting in the audience from the Brazilian side, the Argentinian side allows you to fully interact with the falls as you walk across a spectacular maze of walkways over 3km long across two levels over the rushing water. Combined with the myriad rainbows, you are given the feeling of walking on water as you encounter the many waterfalls on display.
It all starts with the Lower Circuit: At a length of 1700m, wooden walkways penetrate the lush jungle to carry you to the edge of the twin beauty of the Salto Dos Hermanas (Two Sisters Falls), then the serene intimacy of Saltos Chico and Ramirez. The next stop on this magical spectacle of water is the gaping yawn of Salto Bosetti, followed by the tall and narrow but furiously powerful Saltos Alvar Nuñez, Elenita and Lanusse, all the while accompanied by the song of tropical birds, the howling of monkeys and the occasional amber flash of a toucan’s beak.
The second half of the day takes you to the Upper Circuit: make the quick journey upwards from the Lower Circuit to bring you up to another walkway, this time from an elevated height which allows you to walk right up to the edge of the waterfalls and observe this incredible sight from above via a series of smaller falls, eventually reaching the gargantuan Salto San Martin, which seems to stretch on endlessly. The ominous rumble of the Devil’s Throat can be heard in the distance.
The tour culminates in awe-inspiring Devil's Throat, this time seen from the top of the fall. To reach it, you take a scenic train ride through the rainforest, passing by the indigenous coati, armadillo and innumerable bird species. The cascade of flying mist can be seen from afar. It seems almost apocalyptic; however once you arrive at the Devil’s Throat you cannot help but be struck by the beauty as the spray crashes against your face. Water pours in a 150m-long horseshoe shape down an 80m drop, to the very place you were standing in yesterday. The sheer amount of water falling away each second is simply mind-boggling.
|
Day 7: 05/01 Foz de IguacuBreakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight.
|