Natural Wonders of Brazil

A fascinating tour highlighting the best of Brazil’s natural wonders, this 2-week tour is a must for nature lovers. After visiting the unforgettable Rio de Janeiro, one of the most geographically beautiful cities in the world, this itinerary continues with a visit to the thundering Iguassu Falls, possible the planet’s most impressive waterfalls. Four days in a remote Amazon Jungle lodge are followed by a visit to the Pantanal, the world’s larges wetlands, teeming with wildlife.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Brazil (-)

Upon arrival at Rio de Janeiro’s international airport you will be warmly welcomed by a Blue World Journeys representative and escorted to your hotel on Copacabana Beach by private car. You will have the rest of the day to enjoy at your leisure, exploring the area around your hotel. Copacabana is home to many great restaurants, bars and nightlife and is a great introduction to this great city.

Day 2 - Rio de Janeiro Tour (B)

This morning you will be met by your guide and escorted on a private tour of the city. Beginning in the downtown area you will first visit the city’s contemporary Metropolitan Cathedral, with it’s huge stained glass windows and nearby Aterro de Flamenco, a peaceful park offering views over the city. Next you will visit the historic Urca neighborhood on the way to the iconic Sugar Loaf mountain, where you will ascend to the top by cable car to enjoy spectacular panoramic views over the city. This is an unforgettable experience, as you will marvel at the incredible scenery of the city, 1200 feet below you.

This afternoon return to your hotel and enjoy some free time, exploring the Copacabana neighborhood at your leisure, perhaps sampling a caipirinha cocktail or dinner in one of Brazil’s famous churrascarias (steak houses).

Day 3 - Rio de Janeiro Tour (B)

After a leisurely breakfast in your hotel, your tour of Rio will continue to Corcovado Mountain, home of the world-famous Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue and an even more incredible view over the city. After taking a 20 minute inclined railway to the top of the mountain through the lush Tijuca forest, you will reach the base of the statue, one of the world’s most famous monuments. The views from here, of one of the most geographically beautiful cities in the world will impress even the most jaded traveler.

You can either return to your hotel to enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure or take part in other optional tours including a fascinating favela (slum) tour, or for the more adventurous, hang-gliding or paragliding from a mountain, flying over the city and landing directly on the beach.

Day 4 - Iguassu Falls (B)

After breakfast you will be escorted to Rio’s airport for your flight to Iguassu, on Brazil’s border with Argentina. Upon arrival you will be escorted to your hotel before beginning a visit to the Brazilian side of the falls. The falls are one of the most spectacular natural wonders on the entire continent, and the national park has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by lush, tropical vegetation, there are 275 separate falls here. From the visitor’s center you will drive to the falls themselves, where you will continue on foot along a walkway leading to incredible panoramic viewpoints.

DDay 5 - Iguassu Falls Argentinian Side (B)

This morning you will enjoy a half day tour to the Argentinian side of the falls. On the way you will have lovely views over the beautiful IguaçuCanyon. Here you will visit the upper walkways, which offer an unforgettable bird’s-eye view over the cascades. Saving the best for last, you will visit the ‘Devil’s Throat’. A catwalk begins just upstream from the falls, passing a number of islands before reaching a point where you can witness the river dramatically plunge as much as 500,000 cubic feet of water every second over a 270 foot vertical drop around a horseshoe shaped canyon - a truly amazing sight!

Day 6 - Fly to Manaus (B)

This morning you will be met by your guide and escorted to Iguassu’s airport for your flight to Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon. This city of 2 million people is located on the banks of the mighty Amazon River, 1000 miles from its mouth. The city was founded in 1660, when Portuguese colonizers built a fortress close by. It remained a sleepy backwater until the late 1800s when the rubber boom brought in huge amounts of money. The city became a home for the rich, who built an opera house, brought in piece by piece from France and was the second city in the country to have electricity, after Rio.

Although you’ll fell far from the jungle in the city, the Amazon jungle you’ve imagined isn’t far away, as you’ll discover tomorrow.

Day 7 - Amazon Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

This morning you will be escorted to the Ceasa river port, from where a 20 minute ferry ride will take you across the Amazon River, passing the famous ‘meeting of the waters’, where the muddy waters of the Solimões River meet the black waters of the Rio Negro, and run side by side without mixing. A 40 minute drive will then take you to the AraçaRiver, where you will board a speedboat for a scenic 2 hour ride to your jungle lodge. Here you will feel like the city of Manaus is a million miles away, as you are surrounded by rich, tropical jungle.

This afternoon you will experience a fascinating canoe trip for an up-close exploration of small creeks and flooded forest, where you may be lucky enough to encounter the region’s unique pink river dolphins. After dinner at the lodge this evening, you will go on a nighttime jungle walk with a guide to observe frogs, birds and caymans for a completely different experience than in the daytime.

Day 8 - Amazon Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

An early morning departure from the lodge will ensure that you will experience the magnificent sunrise over the jungle, while listening to the sounds of waking birds. An educational jungle hike follows, during which your guide will explain the different plants that are used for medicinal purposes by the local indigenous people. This afternoon you will have the unique opportunity for fish for the infamous piranha in the river, as well as learning more about the fragile ecosystem of the jungle.

Dinner this evening will be provided by the fish that you caught earlier in the afternoon. Following dinner, one of the lodge’s native guides will give an informal lecture about everyday life for the people living in the Amazon and the traditions, legends and culture of the region.

Day 9 - Amazon Jungle Lodge (B,L,D)

Another fascinating day in the Amazon awaits. Today, after breakfast you will depart the lodge for a short hike on one of the trails. These trails are constantly changing to allow for regrowth and to prevent overuse. You will stop in a clearing in the forest to enjoy a lunch of regional cuisine baked over a fire.

This afternoon you will visit a traditional native house and learn more about the fascinating culture of the indigenous people of the region through a local translator. They will share their knowledge of medicinal plants, as well as give a demonstration of how to prepare manioc flour, a very important resource in this area.

Day 10 - Return to Manaus, fly to Cuiabá (B)

Reversing the journey back to Manaus, you will have the opportunity to stop at the Pirarucu Floating Dock, in order to see the river’s giant Pirarucu fish, some of which can reach over 9 feet long and almost 450lbs. Upon arrival in Manaus you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuiabá, where you will have the evening at your leisure.

Day 11 - Pantanal (B,L,D)

This morning, after breakfast in your hotel you will be met by your guide and escorted to your ecolodge in the Pantanal wetlands. Passing the village of Mimosa, you will learn about the famous Brazilian explorer MarechalCandidoRondon, who was born here and explore the area.

While the Amazon receives all the fame, it’s difficult to see large animals there as they hide in the dense foliage. The Pantanal is an ecological paradise and protected area filled with wildlife that’s visible to even the most casual observer. The region has the greatest concentration of wildlife in the Americas and is an unforgettable place to visit.

Day 12 - Pantanal (B,L,D)

After an al-fresco breakfast overlooking the beautiful natural surroundings of your hotel, you will enjoy a guided hike, escorted by a local Pantaneiroto learn a little about the area, as well as see how local people live in this region. After lunch you will have a motorized canoe tour along the Mutum River and Siá Maria Bay to observe wildlife and the spectacular sunset the area is known for, stopping to view alligators on the way back to the lodge.

Day 13 - Pantanal (B,L,D)

Today you will see the area from a different perspective - on horseback. This gives you the advantage of getting closer to the wildlife as there is no motorized engine noise to frighten the animals. This afternoon you can enjoy some free time at your leisure, or borrow one of the lodge’s canoes and paddle the wetlands fishing for piranhas.

Day 14 - Transfer to Cuiabá, fly home (B)

This morning after a leisurely breakfast you will travel back to Cuiabá to catch your flight home.

Hotels listed below are given as suggestions only to illustrate the standard of hotels used.

Rio De Janeiro - Luxury - Arena Copacabana

This four-star hotel is situated in the heart of Copacabana Beach. With 123 modern rooms it is a great choice for a luxury Rio hotel. The rooftop pool terrace and open air bar is a great place to enjoy a panoramic view of this world-famous beach. The recently refurbished, modern rooms feature flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, minibar, soundproofed windows and laptop safes.

 

Rio De Janeiro - Deluxe - Belmond Copacabana Palace

This iconic hotel is one of Rio de Janeiro’s most famous landmarks and one of the city’s finest hotels. Opening in 1923, this historic hotel has beautifully decorated, stylish rooms featuring English antique furnishings and original artwork. All rooms have either city or beach views, and feature all the luxuries and services you would expect from a world-class five star, luxury hotel.

 

Iguassu - Luxury - San Martin

Located mere steps from the main entrance of Iguassu National Par, the San Martin is perfectly situated for visiting the falls. The hotel’s 135 rooms and suites are of a high standard and the public areas of the hotels feature a large pool area, bar, restaurant and immaculate lush, tropical gardens with nature trails where you can enjoy an educational stroll through the natural ecosystem.

 

Iguassu - Deluxe - Belmond Das Cataratas

Belmond’s Das Cataratas hotel is the only hotel that is situated within Iguassu National Park, a short walk from the spectacular falls. This is of particular note in the evenings when the park is closed to non-hotel guests. The hotel’s rooms are decorated in a classic Portuguese style featuring beautiful furnishings and decor. The hotel prides itself on its service and is the finest property in the area.

 

Manaus - Luxury - Tropical Manaus Eco-resort - Deluxe Room
Manaus - Deluxe - Tropical Manaus Eco-resort - Junior Suite

The Tropical Manaus Eco-resort is one of the region’s finest five star hotels. Located in a spectacular setting on the banks of the Rio Negro, about 10 miles from the center of Manaus, the hotel offers a wide range of facilities. Rooms are stylish and modern and have been recently refurbished. Suites feature an additional sitting room and upgraded toiletries and furnishings.

 

Amazon Jungle - Luxury - Juma Lodge

This excellent sustainably built lodge has just 20 intimate bungalows that are seamlessly built into the surroundings of the forest. The entire lodge is built on stilts, 50 feet up, in order to accommodate the rising water levels of the annual floods in the wet season. A great advantage of this is that you’ll get a bird’s eye canopy view of the jungle. All bungalows have private bathrooms, ceiling fans, and parches with hammocks.

 

Amazon Jungle - Deluxe - Anavilhanas Lodge

This beautiful lodge is located on the banks of the Rio Negro in Anavilhanas National Park and is one of the finest jungle lodges in the entire country. Responsibly constructed with local sustainable wood, the lodge features 22 luxurious bungalows and cottages furnished with fine linens and modern bathrooms. Unusually for a jungle lodge, all rooms have air-conditioning and flat screen TVs, as well as floor to ceiling glass walls for spectacular views of the surrounding jungle.

 

Cuiabá - Luxury - Golden Tulip Pantanal

This comfortable and modern hotel is located near the center of town and features 104 recently updated rooms spread over 7 floors. Rooms are elegantly furnished and feature work desks, minibars and safes as well as air conditioning and modern bathrooms. The hotel also has a restaurant offering 24-hour room service.

 

Cuiabá - Deluxe - Deville Prime Cuiabá

One of the leading luxury hotels in Cuiabá, the Deville Prime is a modern hotel located a short walk from the center of town. The hotel’s 174 rooms are stylish and bright, featuring all the luxuries one would expect including flat screen TVs, minibars, free WiFi and 24-hour room service. An outdoor pool and spa and fitness center are available for guests as well as 24-hour room service from the hotel’s gourmet restaurant.

 

Pantanal – Luxury and Deluxe – Pousada do Rio Mutum

This impressive ecolodge is located in one of the most spectacular settings of the Pantanal. Visitors are fully immersed in the natural beauty of the area and have great opportunities to experience the wildlife and amazing biodiversity of the region. The hotel offers 22 modern chalets spread over a 7-acre area, all with ceiling fan and air conditioning. Varied regional cuisine is served in the hotel’s buffet-style restaurant.

 

Pricing

Price FromUS$5195 per person (Luxury Hotels), or US$6355 per person (Deluxe Hotels), for a private tour based on two people traveling in low season sharing a room.

Hotels listed on the Hotels Tab are given as suggestions only to illustrate the standard of hotels used.

Price Includes:

Hotels as described in the itinerary
Services of a Blue World Journeys representative while in Brazil
All transportation and tours as described in the itinerary in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver/guide
Domestic flights Rio - Iguassu - Manaus - Cuiabá
Sightseeing and entrance fees
Meals as described in the itinerary

Price Excludes:

International flights
Travel insurance
Meals other than those listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides and drivers
Sightseeing other than described in the itinerary
Additional room charges of a personal nature in hotels (eg: room service, laundry, phone calls, etc.)