Wonders of Brazil: Rio, Iguassu, Pantanal and Paraty

15 day tour of Brazil that packs remarkable diversity of all that Brazil has to offer. As almost always, start your tour in Rio, enjoy the must-see Corovado and Sugar Loaf  tours, which never disappoint, in the evening proceed on Rio by Night with BBQ dinner. From Rio fly to Foz Do Iguassu to tour the unforgettable Iguazu National Park; visit the Brazil side of the falls as well as the Argentina side of the falls, including the abysmal Devil’s Throat, the largest of the waterfalls, drop by the Three- Borders point, where Parana and Iguassu Rivers meet as well as the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Then it”s off to the magic of Pantanal, one of the world’s premier biodiversity sites for birdwatching. marvel at the beauty of wildlife at the break of dawn in the Pantanal, at the astounding variety of birds, animals and reptiles, go piranha fishing, feed the caimans. Last traverse back to the Atlantic coast to the old Portuguese port of Paraty. Visit the fishing village of Trindade, and finally take a schooner cruise around scores of stunning islands, fjords and remote beaches in the bay of Paraty.

Victoria Regia Water Lily and Lily Pads

iguassu-falls

paraty

rio

 

November 5 – November 20, 2010

Sa Nov 6th Arrive GIG airport. P/up by driver guide

Sa Nov 6th Rio – Check into Porto Bay Hotel

Sa Nov 6th Rio by Night BBQ dinner
p/up at 7:30pm, exact time confirmed upon arrival.

Dinner will be at the barbecue house, a favorite place of “cariocas”. The show is a display of the Brazilian music tradition and tour members will have the opportunity to have a glimpse of the rich Carnival costumes and the contagious sound of the drums.

Tu Nov 7th Day free at your own leisure

M Nov 8th Corcovado & Sugar Loaf Tour
p/up between 8 – 9 am depending on hotel location. Exact pick up time to be advised.

This is a combination package including the Corovado and Sugar Loaf Tours, adding lunch. After pick up, tour will take the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (lagoon) will reach the Reboucas tunnel, a 2.6 km long complex that links the southern and northern parts of the city cut in half by the Tijuca ridge that makes Rio the only city in the world to have a Nationa Park 5 minutes from downtown. Reaching the Cosme Velho district, tour members will take a cogwheel train of Swiss manufacture that climbs the mountain from its base at 15 mts to its summit at almost 670 mts. The very top is reached by climbing a flight of steps reaching the base of Christ the Redeemer statue. The statue covered with a mosaic of soapstone is one of Rio’s finest Art Nouveau monuments. The view, from this vantage point, with the surrounding Tijuca National Forest spreading below and a circle of mountains closing the horizon at the very back of Guanabara Bay. Guide will take around 40 minutes to show the city and the statue to passengers. After this, returning to the train, and descending to Cosme Velho to board the bus to visit Sao Conrado and Pepino Beach, where the hang gliders soar. Lunch will be served in a seafood restaurant.

In the afternoon, tour will continue visiting downtown Rio and the highlights of a city that has been the capital of Colonial Brazil, the capital of the Portugal and Brazil Empire and now a Republic, passing by the Sambodrome, the Metropolitan Cathedral, in pyramid form, with internal diameter of 96 meters and height of 80 meters. Get to know the traditional Cinelandia square with the historical buildings, the Municipal Theater, the National Library and the National Museum of Fine Arts. By taking the Aterro do Flamengo, you will be taken to the neighborhood of Urca where one of the largest symbols of the city is located: The Sugar Loaf. This visit is made in two steps by cable car. The first cable car takes passengers to Urca Hill which is 215 meters high and from where one can have a beautiful view from the Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Nitero Bridge and Corcovado Hill.

Tu Nov 9th Porto Bay Hotel P/up driver guide to airport

Tu Nov 9th GOL Linhas Aereas Flight #1850
Rio – Foz Do Iguassu 10:10a – 13:30p (no plane change)

Tu Nov 9th Iguassu Falls – Check into Continental Hotel (daily breakfast included)
(Hotel contact info?)

Tu Nov 9th Iguassu Falls/Brazil side

Our trip begins at the Iguazu National Park where we drive through the lush, subtropical vegetation of the park en route to the falls. Trail winds towards the falls from the area in front of the hotel, populated by Contis, long-tailed raccoon-like creatures with a well-developed sense of tourists feeding habits. At its end, an elevator provides speedier access to a viewing platform at the foot of the falls.

W Nov 10th Iguassu Falls/visit Argentina side  of the falls

Departure from hotel, cross the border and the Tancredo Neves Bridge the Iguassu River, which forms the border between Argentina and Brazil. To visit the Devil’s Throat we will take an electric train for a visit through the park with 2 stops until the trail where the walking tour begins to the visit the upper walkways which allows a different and more intimate contact with the falls and the rainforest. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the suspended platform at the very brink of the abysmal Devil’s Throat largest of the waterfalls. Return always by train to visit the upper Argentinean falls, including the San Martin Falls. If weather and time allows, a brief stop at the 3 Borders point, where Parana and Iguassu Rivers as well as the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay encounter.

Th Nov 11th Continental Hotel p/up driver guide to airport

Th Nov 11th GOL Linhas Aereas
Foz Do Iguassu 6:00a – Curitiba 6:57a Flight # 1630
Curitiba 9:30a – 11:40a Flight # 1725

Th Nov 11th Check into Pousada do Rio Mutum (meals included)

Reception upon arrival at the Cuiaba airport by a bilingual guide. Transfer to Pousada do Rio Mutum passing through the small village of Mimoso, where Candido Rondon was born. On the way, observation of may kinds of birds, small mammals and typical landscapes. The transfer takes about 3 hours and a half. After check in, introduction to the lodge and area around it. In the evening, a delicious piranha soup is served just before dinner. After dinner, introduction to the activities of the following days.

Fr Nov 12th Pousada Do Rio Mutum

After breakfast, ecological walk through the woods and open fields to observe animals and birds.

Undeniably, Pantanal is one of the world’s best hot spots for birdwatching. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, boat ride for a photographic safari in the pristine Mutum River, where it’s possible to see giant otters, stingrays and huge schools of small fish. At the Mutum River banks, a large variet of birds can be observed. Return to the lodge for dinner, then nocturnal animal spotting by jeep in the lodge surrounding the area.

Sa Nov 13th Pousada Do Rio Mutum

4:30am canoeing in the Mutum river to observe the sunrise and the beauty of wildlife at the break of dawn in the Pantanal. Return for breakfast, then boat ride to Cuiaba Mirim, a small fishermen’s village located at the Cuiaba river banks. Return for lunch. In the afternoon, jeep ride through a road to observe birds and animals, where there is a great chance to observe many macaws. On the way back, spotting of animals. Dinner.

Su Nov 14th Pousada Do Rio Mutum

After breakfast, horseback trail riding through the wood, up to the edge of the Sia Mariana bay. During the whole year, a big variety of birds, animals and reptiles can be observed. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, boat trip down the Mutum river banks. Sia Mariana bay and Chacorore bay. Return by boat to the lodge, stopping to see the sunset at the Sia Mariana bay and do piranha fishing (forbidden in Nov). In the evening, caiman feeding with the piranhas fished from Sia Mariana bay and nocturnal animal spotting. Dinner.

M Nov 15th Pantanal/Cuiaba airport

Walking through the area around the lodge at the sunrise, then breakfast and check out. Transfer to Cuiaba airport.

M Nov 15th TAM Linhas Aereas (plane change)
Cuiaba – Sao Paolo 14:55p –18:02p Flight # 4737
Sao Paolo – Rio 19:54p – 21:01p Flight #3250

M Nov 15th Bus transfer from Rio airport to Paraty

M Nov 15th Check into Paraty Sandi Pousada (breakfast included)

Tu Nov 16th Day on own

W Nov 17th Trinidade Ecological Tour

You will be taken to the charming little fishing village of Trindade. We will visit four beaches and a natural swimming pool – “Caixa d’Aco”. First, we travel to the beach near the village “Ranchos” and take a guided trek before arriving at the swimming pool. This trip takes forty minutes where we pass through beautiful natural mountain forests and glades. At Caixa d’Aco we will be able to swim in the crystal clear water. Afterwords, we will go to the main village of Trindade where we have the possibility of having lunch at a local restaurant (not included in the price). Ecological guide has basic English knowledge only. To hire an English speaking guide, additional charges apply.

Th Nov 18th Day on own

Fr Nov 19th Schooner Cruise (without lunch)

The schooner sails to several of the most beautiful beaches and islands in the bay of Paraty, all surrounded by dense rainforest. After sailing for roughly forty minutes, the schooner makes three stops of around one hour each for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling. Although the exact locations tend to vary with each tour, depending on weather. Conditions and to avoid the crowds, the islands included are: Comprida, Algodao, Cotia, Praia Vermelha and also the beaches of Lulas, Saco da Velha amongst many others.

*each tour starting time is re-confirmed on arrival at your hotel

Sa Nov 20th Private transfer with Guide
Paraty town – Rio de Janeiro

The transfer pick up will be after check out, 12:30 – 14:00. The driver-guide will reconfirm direct or through hotel front desk.

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