Experience vibrant Brazil on this 12-day tour of must-see destinations. Begin your explorations in Rio de Janeiro, a city shaped by historical events, a diversity of cultures, and a dramatically beautiful landscape. From there fly to one of the great wonders of the world, Iguazu Falls. Spend three days exploring this stunning network of 275 cascades both on foot and by boat. Next head to Manaus and set off to discover the Amazon from the comfort of your private room in a rainforest lodge. Select from a variety of activities, such as canoeing, fishing for piranhas, or visiting local villages. Your highlights tour of Brazil concludes in Salvador, the cradle of Afro-Brazilian culture. Visit the historic downtown and attend a dance performance by the Companhia de Balé Folclórico da Bahia.
Highlights
Experience the lifestyle of the cariocas as you explore Rio de Janeiro
Brave the rapids of the Iguazu River and take in stunning views of the falls
Stay at an Amazon rainforest lodge offering a variety of optional activities
Tour historic Salvador and celebrate Afro-Brazilian dance & traditions
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive to Rio de Janeiro and transfer to your hotel.One of Brazil's main tourist destinations, Rio de Janeiro offers a wide variety of attractions, including popular beaches, famous landmarks such as the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado mountain, the Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) cable car, and world-recognized cultural traditions including the musical genre samba and the Carnival festival. A city shaped by historical events, a diversity of cultures, and a dramatically beautiful landscape, part of Rio is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Spend the day exploring the iconic sites and landscapes of Rio de Janeiro. Take the train through Parque Nacional de Tijuca up to the Christ the Redeemer/Cristo Redentor statue, elected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Located 710 meters above sea level on Corcovado Mountain, this must-see monument offers spectacular views of the city. The statue is 30 meters (98 ft) tall, with an 8-meter (26 foot) base and arms outstretched 28 meters (92 feet). Next head to the Sugarloaf Mountain viewpoint, reaching the 396 m/1299 ft summit with dramatic panoramic views via a cable railway. Rising straight from the water's edge, the mountain is said to resemble the shape of the conical molds that were used for ocean transportation of sugar in the 16th century. Return to your hotel this evening.
Today you have the opportunity to learn about and experience the lifestyle of the cariocas, the name for the natives of Rio. Begin the day with a walk to the subway station for a 15-minute ride to the historic and commercial center of Rio. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral of São Sebastião, a modern Catholic cathedral built in a cone shape inspired by Mayan pyramids and with beautiful 60-meter-high stained glass windows. Stroll the streets of the busy SAARA neighborhood, a popular market district in the old downtown with narrow streets, more than 600 shops, and vibrant culture. Sample a delicious juice made from tropical fruits and enjoy lunch at the Confeitaria Colombo, one of Brazil's oldest and most historic restaurants. Return to the subway station and disembark within walking distance of your hotel.
Transfer to the Rio de Janeiro airport for your flight to Iguaçu airport. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel with free time to rest or explore on your own.
On the border between Argentina and Brazil, Iguaçu Falls (Iguaçu in Portuguese, Iguazu in Spanish) has earned the accolade of the largest waterfall system in the world. Translated from the native Guarani or Tupi language to mean "big water", the falls and river of the same name are comprised of over 275 cascades occupying an area more than 3km wide and 80m tall. The immense falls are almost twice as tall as Niagara Falls and nearly three times as wide! Surrounding the falls are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and national parks on both sides of the border, areas of lush rainforest teeming with biodiversity.
Recognized among the seven natural wonders of the world, the Iguaçu Falls are the most visited natural attraction in the province of Misiones and one of the most impressive of Argentina and the world. Walking paths with different gateways offered by the Park may have a different view of the falls’ amazing scenery. The lower circuit allows more contact with nature, while the upper circuit gives an overview of all the jumps and the delta islands, and the impressive view of the Graganta del Diablo, where you'll feel the fury of water falling in many horseshoe shaped falls.
Still in the Argentinean side, combine the essence of the Iguaçu National Park: jungle and falls in a single ride. This 5km car ride ends at the forest base Puerto Macuco. Going 100 meters down, arrive at the dock where you will meet the boats that lead you six kilometers through the canyon of the lower Iguaçu river towards the waterfalls while enjoying the rapids. You will reach the peak of emotion when facing the incomparable Salto San Martín, second on the scale and the largest approachable jump by boat. Finally, return to the dock located in front of San Martin Island, where you will return to the runway system, through the Lower Circuit.
Day 6: Foz de Iguaçu | Manaus
1 Breakfast
Transfer to Iguaçu airport for your flight to Manaus airport, the capital of the Brazilian Amazon, and the central point for all excursions into the Amazon jungle. You will stop at your hotel and have free time to rest or take an optional tour to visit the Amazon Theatre, the Market and the Port of Manaus.
Day 7: Manaust to Amazon Lodge
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, transfer along the Amazon River to the Lodge, a hotel located in the Amazon rainforest. You’ll be welcomed with a natural juice made of fruit from the Amazon region. After lunch, the regular program of activities will start. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 8: Amazon Lodge
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your lodge provides a launching point for Amazon experiences and activities. Visit a riverside community, trek through the jungle and discover medicinal plants and hunting techniques, canoe the river during the day and night in search of wildlife, and fish for pirahnas. Visit the "encontro das águas", a confluence of the Negro River and the Solimões River which eventually merge to form the Amazonas River. Remarkably, the warmer, slower waters of the Negro River and the muddy brown waters of the Solimões flow adjacent to each other for about 6 km/3.7 miles before mixing.
Day 9: Return to Manaus
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today you can continue to participate in a variety of lodge activities before transferring back to the city of Manaus. After lunch, your transfer ends at your hotel.
Transfer to the Manaus airport for your flight to Salvador. Salvador is the capital city of Bahia and was founded as the first capital of Brazil by the Portuguese in 1549. Its important historical center is known as the Pelourinho (pillory) neighborhood, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring 17th- and 18th-century churches and old mansions. From the airport transfer to your accommodation for two nights located near the Pelourinho.
An authentic cultural melting pot, Salvador is particularly celebrated for its African cultural influences resulting from its history as the first slave port in the Americas. Visitors can feel the pulsating energy of the city, known for its dance-like martial art form of capoeira, huge Carnival celebration, art, and cuisine using African ingredients such as palm oil and coconut milk. Its gorgeous coastline is one of the longest in Brazil.
In the morning set out on a walking tour of the historic downtown. Free time is scheduled for the afternoon, allowing you to take part in optional activities such as a panoramic city tour. This evening a special treat is in store - a performance by the Companhia de Balé Folclórico da Bahia at the Miguel Santana Theatre in Pelourinho. This folk dance company celebrates Afro-Brazilian traditions, with a decidedly New World influence. Among the performances you see, watch the aerial acrobatics of the capoeira artists, the gaiety of the samba de roda dancers demonstrating a version of Brazil's national dance, and the rhythms of the maculelê circle as its performers strike their sticks together in mock combat. At the end of the show enjoy an included farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.
Day 12: Salvador
1 Breakfast
Transfer to the Salvador airport for your flight on to your next destination.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
