Welcome to Brazil! Upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro, meet your english-speaking guide and driver at the arrivals lounge, followed by a private transfer to your hotel for the evening.

Today your guide will lead you to the electric sky train as you board and hover over lush vegetation with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Rio from above. Afterwards, your private guide and driver will take you to the bohemian and picturesque Santa Teresa neighborhood for lunch at a local-favorite restaurant. After you satisfy your appetite, continue to the historic city center of Rio to learn interesting historical facts of the region. This day allows you dive right into Rio’s most famous attractions by visiting the Corcovado Mountain and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the 7 Wonder’s of the World!

Take a glimpse into the soul of Rio de Janeiro by exploring the beaches, environment, and culture all in one day. Begin by exploring the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana by bicycle with your private, english-speaking guide before continuing via bike to Rio’s historical Botanical Gardens – recently labeled #1 Botanical Garden in the World by Wanderlust Travel Magazine. Afterwards, visit “Samba City” for an insider private tour of where the Samba schools prepare and practice for next year’s Carnaval. It’s an extraordinary site to see the enormous floats being assembled and the seamstresses creating the costumes (which you can try on for yourself). To end the day, your guide will take you to catch a sunset from the Sugar Loaf before returning to your hotel.

Today you will meet your english-speaking driver at the hotel lobby for a ~4 hr. private transfer to your hotel in Paraty.

This morning, your guide will greet you at the lobby of your hotel and lead you to the nearby pier where you will board a boat for the day to visit Praia Vermelha along with Cotia and Algodão Islands. Along the way, your captain will give you the option to stop and snorkel or swim at destinations such as Saco de Velha. If time and weather allows, you will have the option to visi Saco do Mamanguá, a tropical fjord and a true hidden gem. For those more adventurous, ask your captain to stop at Pão de Acucar hilltop, a 1 hr steep climb to get an all-encompassing look of the Mamangua fjord.

Begin the day with a short Jeep transfer from Paraty to visit the Graúna region waterfalls. After a ~20 min. drive you will arrive at the starting point and begin a short 5-min trek to the first waterfall. The second waterfall is about a 20 min. walk, but well worth it! After visiting the falls, your private guide and driver will take you to Engenho D’ouro cachaça distillery (cachaça is a spirit made in Brazil) where the mill is still powered by a waterwheel. The cachaça is made from the local sugar cane field, harvested, naturally fermented and finally distilled, and stored in oak barrels. After tasting the homemade cachaça, continue to lunch at the restaurant Le Gite, which has an on-site waterfall that you can swim in before or after lunch (as long as you haven’t had too much cachaça). After lunch, you will return to Paraty with a stop at another local-favorite seaside cachaça distillery.

Today you will meet your english-speaking driver at the hotel lobby for a ~4 hr. private transfer to your hotel in São Paulo.

Today your english-speaking guide takes your to the city center to visit important sites such as Patio do Colégio, BOVESPA (the most important stock exchange in Latin America), the Municipal Theater, and others. Afterwards, you will head to Trianon Park, a little tropical oasis next to Paulista Avenue and visit the MASP (Sao Paolo Museum of Art) a building easily recognized by its suspended glass structure supported by two red paralleled beams. From there, you will head to Ibirapuera Park to explore the lush tropical gardens and visit the MAC (contemporary Art Museum). To end the day, your guide will take you to Vila Madalena, famously known as the “Beco do Batman Alley” where you will find amazing street graffiti, contemporary art galleries and charming shops, cafes, and food stops.

At the arranged time, meet your driver at your São Paulo hotel’s lobby for a private transfer to the São Paulo airport. From here, you will catch your flight to Campo Grande Airport. Upon arrival in Pantanal, meet your english-speaking driver at the arrival’s lounge of the airport for a 3.5 hr. private transfer to Caiman Ecological Refuge (if you prefer to get there faster, we can arrange a private, small plane for an additional cost). Pantanal is a unique wildlife gem that compares to Galapagos Islands in the sense that animals are fearless of human interaction. That being said, there are many opportunities for animal sightings here from the jaguar to the blue macaw that won’t disappoint. This region is the true safari area of the continent of South America, so get ready to disconnect from the city and reconnect with nature in southern Brazil’s ecological treasure.

Caiman Ecological Refuge is the first ecotourism operation in Pantanal, part of the Mato Grosso do Sul state in Brazil. This property sits on a vast 53 thousand hectare cattle farm and houses three independent lodges in different architectural and décor styles. Accessible by car all year round and by far the most luxurious hotel option in the Pantanal (although still rustic), Caiman boasts well qualified guides and services with all with the basic perks of a top-end country hotel. Some lodges may be rented out exclusively which is ideal for a family or group of friends, making it perfect for VIPs in addition to the fact that we can add private guides, vehicles and chefs for your group. Enjoy these two days at leisure and partake in the activities/excursions offered by Caiman Ecological Refuge: Photography Safari Walking tour Canadian Canoe tour Night Safari Jeep Safari (4×4 car) Caiman tour

At a previously scheduled time, meet your driver at the Caiman Refuge hotel lobby for a 3.5 hr. drive back to Campo Grande Airport (or we can arrange a small plane for an additional cost) then board your domestic flight to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, depending on the airport for your international flight home.