Brazilian Marvels

Day 1 Rio
Meet at airport & taken to your for hotel for check in.

Day 2 Rio (city tour, Sugar Loaf)
After breakfast, a half day tour of the city and Sugar Loaf. With Corcovado Mountai, Sugar Loaf is one of Rio’s most emblematic landmarks. Two cable cars rise 396m above Rio, the first to the top of Urca Hill with its great view of Guanabara Bay and the winding coastline. The second cable car goes up to the peak. Rio lies at our feet, and we are offered visual proof that the city deserves its nickname ‘Cidade Maravilhosa’ (Marvellous City). The afternoon is free.

Day 3 Rio (Corcovado mountain, Tijuca Forest)
After breakfast, a half day tour by jeep of Corcovado & Tijuca Forest. Corcovado, topped by the 32m statue of Christ the Redeemer, is the most famous image of Rio and the views are simply stunning. Corcovado is in the Tijuca Atlantic Forest, the world´s largest urban forest. The jeep takes you through this, stopping for a walk in a forest trail up to Cascatinha Fall. The afternoon is free.

Day 4 Rio - Iguassu (Brazilian falls) 
 After breakfast, morning flight to Iguassu. After check in, a walking tour of the famous Brazilian falls. The Brazilian side offers a superb panoramic view of the immense waterfall and one of the best views of the most spectacular section of the falls. A catwalk, reached by a winding foot trail and an elevator, provides more intimate views. Next stop, the national park`s Macuco Trail. A jeep is the best way to explore the rain forest with its 2,000 species of subtropical plants in different layers from the forest floor to high tree canopies. After 3km we start walking a hiking trail leading to the beautiful Macuco Falls. By boat head towards the Iguassu Canyon for close-up views of the waterfalls crashing down from the cliffs high above.

Day 5 Iguassu (Argentine falls)
The Argentine falls are noted for close-up views of the individual falls and the forest. We leave the hotel and cross the frontier at the Tancredo Neves Bridge. On the Argentine side a scenic highway leads up to the Argentine Iguassu Park. The park covers an area of 55,000 hectares; its fauna includes jaguars, tapirs, brown capuchin monkeys, along with a huge variety of birds and butterflies. We have ample time to visit the upper Argentine Falls and look behind the falls as well as at the San Martin Falls.

Day 6 Iguassu - Salvador
Buffet breakfast at hotel, then transfer to airport for flight to Salvador and check in at your hotel. Afternoon free.

Day 7 Salvador (city tour)
After breakfast, a tour around the city. This not only pays tribute to the historic and well-reserved part of Salvador, but also features Salvador´s modern face. First stop is Barra with the best and liveliest city beaches, bars, restaurants and nightlife. It lies at the tip of a long shoreline of beaches, most shaded by palms and with grassy areas. We then proceed to the historic centre of Salvador. Here the Portuguese built a fortified city that became Brazil`s first capital and is now one of the most important examples of colonial architecture in the Americas.

Pelourinho, meaning ´whipping post´, was once the site of a pillory where slaves were publicly tortured and sold. Carefully restored in 1993, it is perhaps the finest example of Portuguese colonial architecture in the world. Enroute to the Cathedral is the Lacerda Elevator linking the Upper City with the Lower City. The Cathedral was built in 1692 and served as a Jesuit center until the order was expelled in 1759. We encounter a further masterpiece of colonial sacred art: São Francisco church. Its simple facade belies the treasure inside. It is not surprising that the historic center of Salvador is protected by UNESCO.

Day 8 Salvador
A free day to relax and see Salvador at your leisure. In the evening a show illustrating why Salvador is the most African city in the Western Hemisphere. The influence of African traditions can be seen in food and music. After a dinner-buffet featuring Bahian specialities we ``look into the soul`` of Brazil through music and dance. Brazilian music draws heavily on African roots and features brought by African slaves. Most of Bahia´s traditional dances are art forms not found outside Brazil. A highlight will be Capoeira, meaning ``wild grass cut short`` in Tupi-Guaraní. It, is an incredible display of acrobatics, breathtaking kicks and self-defense tactics performed to special music of drums and an ancient stringed bow-like instrument.

Day 9 Salvador - Rio
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Check out & transfer to airport.

Note: if no availability at the hotels quoted, we will offer similar ones with similar prices.