22
DAYS

  Rio de Janeiro will be your entrance to South America. Rio is located between the sea and the mountains, producing a spectacular sight. It is a fantastic and an alive city that has inspired musicians and poets.  It has white sandy beaches, promenades and sites such as the Christ statue that looks over the city. 
Rio is also alive at night with many bars, restaurants and night-clubs.  Ride to the top of Corcovado Mountain by train. Panoramic view of the city.  Tijuca Forest with it’s exuberance and beauty. Visit Taunay Falls. Drive by Barra de Tijuca and southern Rio Beaches.  Lunch at typical Brazilian barbecue.  Visit the metropolitan cathedral and see the architectural monuments of Rio.  Pass by the Maracana Soccer Stadium.  Return by the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.  Go up to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain.  From Rio You will travel to Manaus, which has been nicknamed “The Paris of the Jungle”.  Enter the Amazon Forest, one of the natural wonders of the world with the sounds and colors of pure nature.  It is an amazing and special destination that basically unexplored.  Huge ancient trees and endless waterways harbor the world’s most complex ecosystem, with more than 500,000 described species of plants and animals.  The exotic wildlife of the Amazon is explored on boats, guided walks, photo safaris or even from the windows of your Jungle Lodge in the heart of the Rain forest.  Weather you interest is nature or adventure it’s all about exploring the heart of the jungle whilst being safely cared for by local guides.  Crocodile capture and release at night, piranha fishing and guided walks are part of the Amazon experience. From Manaus take a flight to Salvador.  In Salvador tour the most important historical sites, such as the Fortress and Lighthouse da Barra and the famous Castro Alves Theater.  Visit the Church of Gold and the square where the slaves used to be punished. 
 Explore the Pelourinho, the best-preserved collection of colonial architecture in the from the 17th and 18th centuries. Then travel to Argentina and the Paraguay border and view the Iguaçu Falls, an unforgettable spectacle being one of the largest groups of fall and hydroelectric dam in the world.  A National Park that has a good diversity of wild life surrounds the falls. Our next stop will be Pantanal, considered to be one of the most beautiful and important ecological sanctuaries on the planet and is also the largest wetland area in the world.
In Refúgio Ecológico Caimam, you will enjoy horseback riding, photo safaris on adapted vehicles, motor and rowboat rides, alligator spotting and trekking.

ITINERARY

 Day 01: Flight from San Juan to Miami (USA) and/or from Miami to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 Day 02: Rio de Janeiro Arrive in Rio de Janeiro, transfer to hotel. Rest of day free.

Day 03: Rio de Janeiro Half-day city tour including ride to the top of Corcovado Mountain by train to see the panoramic views of the city and the famous statue of Christ. Then visit the exuberant forest of Tijuca and the beautiful Tauney waterfall. The tour ends with a drive through Barra de Tijuca and the southern beaches. Lunch included. Afternoon city tour starting after lunch – including going up the cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain to see the panoramic view of Rio and the Corcovado. Ride through Flamengo park and down town Rio.  Visit  the Metropolitan Cathedral, historical architectural sites, Maracana Soccer Stadium and the location for the carnival Parade. Return to the hotel via the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. 

Day 04: Rio de Janeiro Full-day tour to Angra dos Ries, with cruise and lunch, starting at about 8:30 am. You will drive down to the Angra Port where you will get on board a boat to cruise around the Angra Bay. Ocean bathing is included so be prepared (only available on Thursdays).

Day 05:  Rio de Janeiro Full day tour to Buzios which is located north of Rio. The tour takes in the city tour and a cruise by sailing boat. This is a beautiful area known as the Sun Coast (only available on Fridays).

Day 06: Rio de Janeiro Full day tour to Ilhas Tropicais with cruise and lunch starting at 8:30 am. You will drive down to Itacuruca where you will board a boat to cruise around the Sepetiba Bay. Once again ocean bathing included so, be prepared.

Day 07: Rio / Manaus  Transfer to airport and fly to Manaus. Transfer to hotel. Rest of day free. 

Day 08: Manaus / Jungle Lodge Transfer to Jungle lodge stopping at the Ariau Jungle Towers. On arrival at the Lodge you will be shown to your rooms and then have lunch. After lunch you will visit the ecological reserve that surrounds the Lodge. At about 5 pm you will return to the hotel to have a snack and time for swimming in the floating pool and for other sports. Dinner. There is an area for football, volleyball.

Day 09: Jungle Lodge Breakfast. Morning tour by canoe into the flooded areas. Lunch at the Lodge. Afternoon tour to a local village to see how villages live. Return to the lodge for an afternoon snack and horseback riding, sports and swimming. Dinner. At night an alligator spotting tour.

Day 10: Jungle Lodge Six am sunrise to see the birds in the morning. Breakfast. Walk in the forest exploring the wildlife. Lunch at the Lodge. Afternoon tour either to the forest by boat, or piranha fishing, depending on the group. Dinner. Night free

Day 11: Jungle / Salvador  After breakfast, transfer back to Manaus airport for your flight to Salvador. Transfer to Hotel. Rest of day free.

Day 12: Salvador Half day historical city tour of Salvador including Forte of Santo Antonio da Barra (Farol da Barra), Cidade Alta, passing the Corredor da Vitoria, Praça 2 de julho, Castro Alves theatre, Forte of São Pedro, praça da Piedade, Praca Castro Alves and the conjunto of pelourinho considered by UNESCO as the most important conjunto of the XVII & XVIII centuries. Also you will visit the Sao Francisco de Assisi church. Afternoon free. At night a panoramic tour of the beaches around Salvador.

Day 13: Salvador Historical tour to Cachoeira, exploring the major sites associeted with history of the slaves and settlers in Brazil and Bahia. Lunch included.

Day 14: Salvador Praia do Forte with lunch. You will be exploring the Coconut coast with its beautiful beaches and nature. There will be stops on the way at a small village and to the Tamar Project. Finally you will stop for lunch and for swimming in the sea.

Day 15: Salvador / Iguassu  Falls Transfer to airport for flight to Iguassu Falls.

Day 16: Iguassu Falls Tour to the Argentinian side of the waterfalls. - You will be crossing the border into Argentina to see the falls from the very edge of the largest of the falls. Afternoon tour to the Brazilian side of the falls. You will again be visiting the falls but this time from the Brazilian side where you have a view from below up into the falls.

Day 17: Iguassu Falls Tour to the butterfly and bird park in the morning and the Itaipu hydroelectric dam in the afternoon.

Day 18: Iguassu Falls/ Pantanal   Transfer to airport to fly to Campo Grande. Transfer to hotel in Pantanal by land (5 hours). Rest of day free to take walks or relax around the Lodge.

Day 19: Pantanal Morning tour by boat on the River Miranda. Lunch at the Lodge. Afternoon photo safari to the Estrada Parque. Dinner at Lodge.

Day 20: PantanalFull day nature safari around São João. Lunch included. Return to the Lodge for dinner.

Day 21: Pantanal A full day Safari in open car with lunch.

Day 22: Pantanal / Rio Depending on flight times, you can fish for Piranha fishing in the morning and then return to Campo Grande for the flight to Rio de Janeiro, then a homeward flight.

TERRESTRIAL TOUR ONLY: $3,295.00 (DOES NOT INCLUDE AIR TICKET)

Trip Date (Air Fare Included)

Code

Miami

Code

Puerto Rico/Dom. Rep.*

May 24  to June 14

BZ02

$3,795

BZ01

$4,295

June 21 to July 13

BZ04$3,795BZ03$4,295
July 12  to August 03BZ06$3,795BZ05$4,295

Includes international flight from San Juan/Santo Domingo* or Miami*, domestic flights in Brazil, private land transportation, bilingual tour guide, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, all the activities described in the program. Double and triple accommodation at all hotels. 

*Cost of international flights could change after March 15.
* From Dominican Republic add $200.00