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Rio, Costa Verde & Iguazu Falls | Brazil Tours & Travel

Experience the beauty and many facets of Brazil during these nine days of scenic tours

Duration: 9 days
Cost: $3,505/Person (2+ travelers on fixed departure dates)
*Please note – Prices will increase if traveling during Brazilian holidays*
For those who love the beach but not sunbathing, here are some ideal active beach tours for your Brazil travel. You’ll spend three days south of Rio along the Costa Verde where the country’s most beautiful beaches are located, in and around the picturesque town of Paraty. Here waterfalls and gorgeous white sand beaches are the scenery for your hiking and biking adventures intermingled with relaxing swims and snorkeling. You’ll also take in one of the most breathtaking sights in all of South America, Iguaçu Falls. These 275 extraordinary waterfalls stretch into Argentina and are surrounded by a lush subtropical rainforest. Plus you’ll spend three glorious days in Rio de Janeiro, cosmopolitan mecca for the glamour set because of its magnificent seaside setting, white sand beaches, cultural riches, divine cuisine and vibrant nightlife. Experience the extreme beauty and many facets of this fascinating country in these nine days of scenic Brazil tours.
Private Departures can be arranged. Please regarding details and private departure costs.

ABOUT BRAZIL TRAVELING TO BRAZIL BRAZIL WEATHER

WHEN TO VISIT BRAZIL
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Rio, Costa Verde & Iguazu Falls Itinerary

Note: Changes in weather or road conditions and other safety factors may necessitate modifications to the itinerary.
Day 1 ARRIVE RIO / CORCOVADO View Rio de Janeiro accommodations picture gallery When you arrive, you will be met at Rio de Janeiro’s international airport by an English-speaking guide and transported to your hotel. To begin your Brazil tours, after check-in, you’ll visit the city’s most famous landmark, the 124-ft Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain. On the return, you’ll be dropped off at a pleasant lunch spot and spend the remainder of the day and evening becoming acquainted with this mesmerizing city before a restful night at your hotel.
View Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extension Active Rio Options For those who desire a more active itinerary option, we offer Active Rio which substitutes walking and hiking during some segments of your Rio de Janeiro tours.
Active Option: ARRIVE RIO / CORCOVADO MOUNTAIN, TIJUCA RAINFOREST
When you arrive, you will be met at Rio de Janeiro’s international airport by an English-speaking guide and be driven to your hotel. After check-in, you’ll begin your Brazil tours with a 2½-hour hike accompanied by your bilingual guide to the top of Rio’s highest peak. This is the world’s largest urban forest, a restored mountainous landscape of lush Atlantic forest vegetation. You’ll pass the scenic Tounay waterfall and stunning viewpoints before reaching the summit where more spectacular views of the city and the coastline await. After a peaceful rest at the summit of 3,350-ft Tijuca Peak, you’ll hike back down and then take a short car ride to reach Corcovado Mountain on the edge of the park. To reach the base of the famed 124-ft Christ the Redeemer statue, visitors may go by conveyance or walk up the 222 steps. You may enjoy an optional lunch in the artsy Santa Teresa neighborhood or be dropped off in the Ipanema neighborhood for lunch on your own. You’ll spend the rest of the day and evening becoming acquainted with this mesmerizing city before a restful night at your hotel.
View Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extension
Day 2 SUGAR LOAF / RIO AT NIGHT View Rio de Janeiro accommodations picture gallery You’ll have until early afternoon to relax or sightsee on your own. At 2 PM, your driver and English-speaking guide will pick you up at the hotel for your excursion to Sugar Loaf. You’ll drive through the beach neighborhood of Urca and artsy Santa Teresa to reach today’s must-see destination during travel to Brazil. You’ll ascend to the summit of Sugar Loaf and return by cable car, take in the breathtaking scenery and then be returned to your hotel. For your evening of Brazil tours, you’ll be escorted by a night-guide. The setting is the atmospheric hot spot, Rio Scenarium, a local favorite because of its three floors of entertainment with live bands playing Brazil’s popular music genres, samba and chorinho, and a DJ who plays a variety of Brazilian music upstairs. After a delicious dinner and a fabulous samba floor show, you’ll be able to dance (or people-watch) the night away. Overnight at your pleasant hotel. (B)
Active Option: After a free morning, you’ll visit another of Rio’s most famous sites, a must-see location during travel to Brazil. You will be picked up at the hotel after lunch, taking a route through the scenic shoreline neighborhood of Urca. While most tourists arrive at the summit of Sugar Loaf by aerial cable car, you’ll get there on foot, accompanied by your bilingual guide. The hike begins with a stroll along a scenic shoreline path before a steep hike ascent, offering views of Guanabara Bay, followed by a short and very safe rock-climb to reach the top. After taking in the scenery, you’ll return to Urca Mountain by cable car and hike downhill the last thirty minutes before being returned to your hotel. Later, you’ll be met by a night-guide for an evening of Brazilian music and dance. Tonight’s setting for your Brazil tours is the atmospheric hot spot, Rio Scenarium, a local favorite because of its three floors of entertainment with live bands playing Brazil’s popular music genres, samba and chorinho, and a DJ who plays a variety of Brazilian music upstairs. After a delicious dinner and a fabulous samba floor show, you’ll be able to dance (or people-watch) the night away. Overnight at your pleasant hotel. (B)
Day 3 RIO FREE DAY AND NIGHT View Rio de Janeiro accommodations picture gallery You’ll spend your final day and evening on Rio de Janeiro tours of your own, exploring neighborhoods, touring museums and sampling more cuisine. Another night at the hotel. (B)
Day 4 ARRIVE PARATY View Paraty accommodations picture gallery

Paraty is a serene seaside hamlet of exquisitely preserved Portuguese colonial buildings dating from its history as an important port during Brazil’s 18th century gold cycle

You will be picked up early at your hotel for the four-hour drive south to the site of your next Brazil tours, the famed Costa Verde. When you arrive in the serene seaside hamlet of Paraty, you will be delivered to your lodgings to check in followed by lunch on your own. On this afternoon’s walking tour, you’ll explore some of Paraty’s exquisitely preserved Portuguese colonial buildings, learning about the city’s history as an important port during Brazil’s 18th century gold cycle. On this afternoon’s bicycle tour, you’ll choose from options ranging from 2k to 10k with beaches or waterfalls as your destinations. You’ll be on your own for the evening in this city of fine dining before returning to your hotel for a leisurely night. (B)
Day 5 PARATY View Paraty accommodations picture gallery After breakfast, you’ll take a forty-minute drive to Laranjeiras, a significant colonial town when sugar was king. From there, it’s a two-hour hike to Gaietas beach, along the way stopping for snacks and crossing the white sand beaches of Sono, Antigos and Antiguinhos to swim. After lunch and a stroll at Gaietas, you’ll take a swim at its namesake waterfall followed by a short hike to Ponta Negra beach. You’ll return to Laranjeiras by boat and go the rest of the way back to Paraty by car. You’ll be on your own again for the evening. Overnight at your Paraty hotel. (B)
Day 6 PARATY - RIO View Rio de Janeiro accommodations picture gallery After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll spend the morning island-hopping, stopping to swim or snorkel, returning to Paraty for a final lunch on your own before being driven back to Rio de Janeiro. You’ll arrive about 9 PM and check in to your hotel for your last night here. (B)
Day 7 RIO – FOZ DO IGUACU / IGUAZU FALLS / Brazil side View Iguazu accommodations picture gallery

A short easy hike gets you to your first full view of the falls for a close encounter with the Devil’s Throat

In the morning, you’ll be taken to the airport for your flight to Foz do Iguaçu. There you’ll be met by your English-speaking guide and driven to your hotel. After check-in and optional lunch on your own, you’ll be picked up to begin your Iguazu Falls tours. The highlight of the day is an exciting boat trip offering a spectacular close-up view of the falls. Visitors begin the day at the interpretive center at the entrance to the park which houses exhibits that provide an introduction to this astonishing sight. From there it’s a short easy hike to get your first full view of the falls and have a close encounter with the colossal cascade, Devil’s Throat. The upper falls are reached via a panoramic elevator. Visitors may follow a trail as far as the Espaço Porto Canoas (The Port Canoas Space) for a scenic view of the upper Iguaçu River. The site has a restaurant, snack bars and shops. At the end of the day, you will be returned to the hotel for a free evening. (B)
Day 8 IGUAZU FALLS / Argentina side View Iguazu accommodations picture gallery Today is spent on Iguazu Falls tours viewed from Argentina. In the morning, you’ll be picked up at your hotel and taken across the border into Iguazu National Park. You’ll stop at the park’s interpretive center where exhibits explain the important biodiversity of the area’s ecosystem, subtropical humid forest. You’ll spend time on the upper circuit of trails for a full view of the falls before taking an hour-long lower circuit route to get close-up views plus a ninety-minute Iguazu Falls tour to the lookout at Devil’s Throat, going part way by train if you choose. After your quick travel to Argentina, you’ll be taken back to your lodgings, and later will be picked up for a delicious buffet dinner and a show of Latin American music and dance before being returned to your hotel for the night. (B,D)
Day 9 DEPARTURE FOZ DO IGUAZU – RIO DE JANEIRO After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Rio, ending your Brazil tours with Southern Explorations. (B) View Optional Post-Itinerary Tour Extension
Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner

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2012 SCHEDULED TRIP DATES

TBD Departures
2 person minimum / 8 maximum

Private Departures can be arranged. Please regarding private departure costs.

INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS

Included in tour cost: Meals as indicated; All hotel accommodations (twin/double shared basis); All airport/hotel transfers; Entrance fees for all scheduled tours and archaeological sites; English speaking certified guides; Southern Explorations pre departure services
Excluded in tour cost: International round - trip airfare to and from Brazil; Internal Airfare: Rio - Foz do Iguaçu - Rio
$300 – Subject to Change; Airport taxes international and local; Tips and gratuities; Travel insurance; Continental breakfasts are included at all hotels. All other meals are not included unless specified in the itinerary.

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

BRAZIL ACCOMMODATION

Rio, Costa Verde & Iguazu Falls:: 8 nights hotels

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Additional $: Single Supplement is the additional cost of a single traveler not sharing a room in double occupancy. We will match you with another same gender traveler unless you request single accommodations.

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