Itinerary

Day 1: UK to Rio de Janeiro

Known as the "Marvellous City", Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most beautiful cities. A beauty that comes from its natural tropical environment where mountains, forests, beaches, lagoons, vegetation and the South Atlantic blend to form one dramatic back-drop as this incredible landscape rises from the sea. With its warm climate, it is the perfect destination throughout the year.

Rio de Janeiro lies between mountains and the sea and is renowned for its stunning geography and luscious tropical vegetation and climate. The centre of Rio on the coast is a series of curving bays and beaches - Copacabana, Ipanema, Flamingo and Leblon - where you can find the best hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Famous over the years for the development of samba and other world-famous Brazilian rhythms and songs, favourite sightseeing routes include taking the train to the top of Corcovado, the Statue of Christ that overlooks Rio, the cable car to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain, a city tour to appreciate the history and colonial past of Rio and day trips to the tropical islands and beaches near the city or to the former capital of Petropolis just one hour from Rio up in the cool of the mountains.

Day 2: Rio de Janeiro

On arrival, and after immigration procedures, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Royal Rio for a 3 night stay. The Royal Rio is located a short distance from Copacabana beach, close to restaurants and entertainment. Facilities include 2 rooftop swimming pools and a steam and dry sauna. The hotel offers 234 rooms including 127 deluxe rooms, 28 super deluxe rooms and 4 presidential suites.

In the afternoon, visit Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio's famous landmark overlooks the entrance of Guanabara Bay. Board the cable car at the foot of the mountain for the first stage of the ride up to Urca Hill where a second cable car continues to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Both cable car rides take 3 minutes displaying a superb panorama at two distinct heights.

The view from the top is a breathtaking 360º panorama of endless beaches, lush Atlantic rainforest, skyscrapers and glistening water.

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, enjoy a tour to Corcovado, famous for its with its iconic giant statue of Christ the Redeemer standing on the mountain's summit. The tour to Corcovado begins with a drive from the hotel through the traditional suburbs of Cosmo Velho with its historic mansions to the cogwheel train station. A photo stop can be made at Largo do Boticario, a tiny colonial square lovingly restored to its original state. The summit of Corcovado is reached from the train station via the cogwheel railway that was built in 1884. The 3-mile ascent to the train station at the top takes 20 minutes as you pass steeply through thick vegetation past beautiful butterflies and birds and of course there are the delightful views of the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon below.

Comfortable shoes are a must to climb the steps up to the 122-foot tall Christ Statue with the entire city spread at its feet. Alternatively, there is also an elevator and escalator service. Here, at 2300 feet above sea level the view is breathtaking. All around you can see the city of Rio, Guanabara Bay, the mountains, Sugar Loaf, the nine-mile long Rio-Niteroi Bridge, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon and the wonderful expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.

Tonight, dinner is included at Churrascaria Carretao which is walking distance from your hotel

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, a Colonial tour of Rio
Most of Rio's colonial buildings are located downtown, making this tour a voyage in time through four centuries of architecture. Architectural gems include Glória Church (the imperial chapel) and the nearby Lapa Arches, the aqueduct built in the 18th century. Today the tramway linking downtown Rio and the district of Santa Teresa runs along the aqueduct construction. Pass by Rio's modern cathedral on the way to 15th November square - the very heart of Rio - where the palace of the viceroys stands. A fine example of baroque art and usually unnoticed is the São Bento Monastery where visitors are always surprised by its beauty and tranquillity. Just some of the other sights to see along the way include Mauá Square - Rio's pier; Presidente Vargas Avenue and the majestic Candelaria church; the Sambadrome and Rio Branco Avenue and its 19th century landscaping, a replica of Hausmann's Paris; the Municipal Theatre, a scaled down copy of Opera Garnier in Paris; the Fine Arts Museum and the National Library.

Tonight, dinner is included at restaurant Peixe Vivo which is walking distance from your hotel

Day 5: Rio de Janeiro to Campo Grande to Pantanal

After breakfast, check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Campo Grande. On arrival transfer (3 hours) to Sao Francisco Lodge in the heart of the southern Pantanal region for a 3-night stay in one of the richest regions of biodiversity in the world.

The Pantanal is the largest floodable area in the world and this makes it an excellent place for observing wildlife, especially birds, and even jaguars in their habitat along with alligators and other river life.

During your stay, you will have full board and a daily excursion programme which is led by qualified guides to explain this unique part of Brazil.

TOURS FROM SAO FRANCISCO LODGE

Boat Tour on Corixo São Domingos A typical boat of the Pantanal, known as Chalana, is used in this trip realized on the Corixo São Domingos - an arm of the Miranda River. On this tour you can see the birds that inhabit the river margins like kingfishers, cormorants, egrets, herons, hawks, jacamars and many others. Caimans are often seen very close. With luck, giant river otters, southern river otters and even an anteater can cross in front of the boat. On this tour you can also do sport fishing for piranhas and visit the Centennial Fig Tree. During the dry season, it is possible to walk along a trail in the gallery forest of the Corixo where you get to know the typical vegetation of this forest. Trees like strangling fig tree, white fig tree, acuri palm tree, piuva, angico, and also several lianas can be seen. Duration: approximately two-and-a-half-hours.

Photo Safari in Open Car - is done in the area of forest reserve and rice fields of the farm. On this tour it is possible to see local fauna like marsh deers, capybaras, caimans and many birds such as the jabiru stork - bird symbol of the Pantanal. With luck you might see anteaters, tapirs and even the majestic jaguar. During the safari you will be able to walk along a suspended trail built in the gallery forest of Miranda River. This walk lasts around 20 minutes. It is possible to visualize the encounter of the waters of Corixo São Domingos and the Miranda River. Duration: approximately three hours

Night Expedition in Search for Wildlife - you can find in the Pantanal great diversity of animals with nocturnal feeding habits. Animals like crab-eating foxes, ocelots, tapirs, caimans, capybaras, deers, owls, nighthawks, and the beautiful jaguar. During the night, the strong light used to spot the animals reflects in their eyes. We present the visitors with the possibility of encountering some of these animals during this night trip. The tour starts at the headquarters of Fazenda San Francisco and lasts about 2 hours and a half. We travel through the rice fields (good place to spot mammals) and the forested areas. During the dry season (usually between June and October) it is possible to traverse the beautiful area of Corixo Seco, which has an intact and tight forest. Our cars, called Jaguaretê (Jaguar) and Jaguatirica (Ocelot), were specially built for this trip. They are mounted in Toyota Pick-ups equipped with seats in three different levels to facilitate the sighting of animals by everyone in the car. The guides that take you on this tour are very well trained to search for animals at night. Duration: approximately two hours.

Interpretative Walk on the Vazante Trail with a Watch Tower - In the morning you will leave at 7h00 and in the afternoon at 15h30 in a car to start the interpretative walk along the Vazante Trail. We traverse areas of vazantes (drainage of the water in the wet season) and reserve forests of the farm. The trail is built on stilts so one can use it all year long. Many birds, marsh deer, anacondas and other animals can show up during the walk. At the end of this runway there is a watch tower 10 m high (30 feet) where you can have a nice view of the beautiful landscape. Duration: approximately three hours.

Horseback Riding - The horseback riding is one of our most interesting tours because you can get to know the Pantanal like the pantaneiro (local people) do, from the top of a horse! Our horses are tame and used to the easy pace of the trip that aims to search for animals. On this tour, the pantaneiros guides, carry in their saddlebag the tereré - typical drink of the region - similar to hot mate, but with cold water. There are different places where one can ride in the farm. Savannah, wetlands (depending on the season) and also you might join the work of the cowboys (available according to the type of work they are doing). Duration: approximately two-and-a-half-hours.

Canoeing in Corixo São Domingos - For those who undertake the canoe trip there is a very special feeling - silence, tranquility and peace. The tour starts at the headquarters of the Fazenda with the choice of your paddle and the proper lifejacket for you. After that, you walk along the Little Hill trail to get to the Corixo's deck where you will get into a canoe. The guides are trained to give you all the information you need to have a nice and safe trip. After the instructions, you just have to relax and enjoy paddling along the calm waters of the Corixo. There is no need for any special training to take this trip. Duration: approximately two-and-a-half-hours.

Day 6: Rio de Janeiro to Campo Grande to Pantanal

A selection of Tours and excursions at the Fazenda.

Day 7: Rio de Janeiro - Campo Grande - Pantanal

A selection of Tours and excursions at the Fazenda.

Day 8: Pantanal to Campo Grande to Iguazu

After breakfast, check-out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to Iguazu The Iguazu Falls are one of South America's most renowned landmarks and one of the great natural highlights of the world. Situated in the Iguazu National Park where the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet, the falls are formed by rapids by the confluence of the Iguazu River and the Alto Parana River. Thirty-five rivers from the principal basin with two hundred rapids covering several miles finally join to form one of nature's most surprising spectacles, Cataratas del Iguazu.
The main falls are 20 metres higher than Niagara Falls and about half as wide again. Above the impact of the fall of the water on the basalt rocks below there is usually a 30 metre-high cloud of spray. The falls are part of a natural reserve that has been declared a National Park. The lush and wild tropical vegetation has an abundance of extraordinarily colourful fauna, including parrots, toucans, jaguars and tapirs -- all sharing this orchid-rich national park that stretches for two miles into the jungle.

The town on the Argentine side of the falls is called Puerto Iguazu and offers a good choice of hotels, restaurants and other facilities. On the Brazilian side the town is called Foz do Iguaçu. Larger than Puerto Iguazu, Foz do Iguaçu is more commercial and also has a good range of hotels and restaurants. There are two airports - one on the Argentine side and the other on the Brazilian side. The national parks on both sides of the Falls offer a wonderful range of tropical flora and fauna. There are many species of animals, including the black howler monkey, capybara, jaguar and puma.

On arrival in Iguazu, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the Hotel San Martin for a 2-night stay.

San Martin Hotel (3.5*)

Recently refurbished, this hotel is located right at the entrance to the national park between the city of Foz and Iguassu Falls, 5 minutes away from the airport. It offers 135 air-conditioned rooms equipped with mini bar, TV and telephone. The hotel grounds are spacious with a large swimming pool, restaurant and bar.

In the afternoon there will be a Walking tour of the Brazilian side of the Falls.
This tour offers fabulous opportunities to enjoy the panoramic view of the falls only seen from the Brazilian side. It is a 1½ km walk which runs part of the way down the cliff near the rim of the falls, giving a stupendous view of the whole Argentine side of the Falls. There are walkways along the banks which take you almost under the powerful Floriano Falls. From here an elevator carries visitors to the top of the Floriano Falls and to a path leading to Puerto Canoas. There are also smaller access paths for those who prefer to walk. Guests staying at Hotel das Cataratas can start the walk from the hotel as there is a 1500m path through the gardens which then follows the rim of the falls as far as the Devil's Throat. This whole area is now a Unesco World Heritage Site and the incredible humidity generated by the falls creates the perfect environment in which the lush vegetation and fauna thrive in this subtropical rainforest.

This evening, dinner is included at the hotel.

Day 9: Iguazu

After breakfast, a walking tour of the Argentinean side of the Falls.
A fascinating half-day walking tour of the Argentine side of the Falls along the lower and upper paths takes in a closer view of this breathtaking marvel. At the entrance to the park the group will divide into smaller groups to visit the park. Guests walk down the well-maintained paths with stops at selected points along the way where the guides will be able to explain about the Falls and the eco-system of the area. There will be plenty of opportunities to take photos. At all times guests can enjoy different views and aspects of the Falls and the amazing views across to the Brazilian side. This tour is entirely on foot and is suitable for all levels of walkers.
You will also visit the Devil's Throat. Iguazu Falls are in fact divided into separate waterfalls by a number of different islands. One of the most spectacular is Devil's Throat. As part of the tour of the Argentine side of the falls, the group will board the small train which runs to Devil's Throat Station where there is a suspended walkway with spectacular views.

The afternoon is at leisure followed by dinner at the hotel.

Day 10: Iguazu to Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, at the due time, transfer to the airport for the flight to Rio de Janeiro. On arrival, meet, greet and transfer to Hotel Royal Rio for a 1-night stay.

The afternoon is at leisure, followed by dinner at the hotel.

Day 11: Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, at the due time, transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK

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