Special 3: Tropical Paradise

• Pickup at the Sao Paolo airport and transfer to your comfortable Paraty hotel. See our list of fabulous Paraty hotels.

• After breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken on a full day schooner tour of the Paraty islands. During this tour we will sail to several of the beautiful islands with dense rainforests and marvelous beaches in the bay of Paraty.
• After a leisurely sail along the beautiful waters, the schooner makes three stops for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling.

• You will take a bus to Angra dos Reis where you will be transferred by boat to your relaxing hotel on Ilha Grande. Check out our great selection of comfortable Ilha Grande hotels.

• Today we will set sail again on a boat tour of Ilha Grande where we will explore the magnificent ‘Big Island’, filled with white sand and surrounded by sparkling waters.
• The tour will also include a hike to Lopes Mendes, famous for being among Brazil’s most pristine beaches.

• You will return by boat to to Angra dos Reis where you will be transferred by bus to your comfortable hotel in Rio de Janeiro. See our wonderful selection of recommended Rio de Janeiro Hotels.

• You will ride along the famous beaches of Rio to the Sugarloaf cable car. Ride first to the "Morro da Urca" mountain at 270 meters (886 feet) above sea level and then continue to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, 395 meters above sea level. After Sugarloaf, you will continue on with a city tour during which you will visit the cathedral, the Samba Stadium (Sambodromo), the historical center of Rio, and the Maracana football stadium.
• After a delicious lunch, you will ascend the 2,460ft mountain peak of Corcovado (Hunchback), famous for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and Rio's most famous landmark. A train ride through the forest will lead you to the top of the Corcovado Mountain.
• After descending by train, the tour continues through the "Rebouzas" to Barra da Tijuca, Rio’s most recently developed beach area. The tour returns via the beaches of Sao Conrado, Vidigal, Leblon and Ipanema to Copacabana.
• See our Rio de Janeiro Guide that includes recommended Rio de Janeiro Restaurants and other interesting and useful information about this Brazilian gem.

• After breakfast at the hotel you will have the entire day to explore the ‘Marvelous City’ at your leisure. Find out more about Rio de Janeiro attractions and Rio de Janeiro shopping, and the Top 5 Events to Catch on a Brazil Vacation.

• You will be taken by bus to the beautiful beach town of Buzios. Browse our selection of beautiful Buzios hotels.

• Today you will be taken on a full-day catamaran tour of the picturesque islands and beaches of Buzios. During this tour we will visit numerous tropical locales that will present multiple diving opportunities.

• You will have the entire day to enjoy the beautiful sandy paradise of Buzios at your leisure or take one of our optional tours for further guided exploration.
• Along the main street – Rua das Pedras – you will find bars, bikini boutiques and restaurants. Buzios has 25 beaches, some of which are Ossos (most famous and close to the center), Ferradura (calm waters) and Geribá.

• You will enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then take a transfer to the Rio de Janeiro Airport for your flight out, or you may extend your trip to other destinations.

Hotel prices during Reveillon (Brazil’s New Year’s Eve festivities) and Carnival increase. Please ask a Travel Advisor how prices for your Brazil Vacation may differ during this time.

• 10 nights at comfortable hotels based on US standards.
• Guided visits with English speaking tour guides.
• All transfers and entrance fees.
• All breakfasts. 4-star and up hotels offer breakfast buffets.
• Lunch on the Sugarloaf and Corcovado tour.

PLEASE NOTE:

A tourist visa is required upon entry to Brazil for citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Travelers not within this group are advised to check with the Brazilian consulate where they reside for visa requirements and inquiries. For more information on obtaining a Brazil tourist visa, please visit our Latin America For Less Travel Blog.

During this tour we will walk with a local guide through the historical center of Paraty. This guided tour through the old part of town will take you through the history and formation of this city.

• Included: Professional English speaking guide
• Time: 2 hours

Journey to the charming little fishing village of Trinidade. First we travel to the beach near the village of Ranchos and make a guided trek of roughly forty minutes, passing through beautiful forested mountains. At the end of the trek we arrive at a natural swimming pool, where you can snorkel and swim in the crystal clear water. Later on we will travel to the village of Trindade, where we can have lunch (not included).

This tour begins with a stroll along the beautiful beaches of Rio. Afterwards, enjoy a spectacular Brazilian samba show and experience the rhythm that pulses through the veins of Brazilians. Samba, like the country where it originated, has its roots in African and European rhythms. The music and dance are now synonymous with Brazil’s world famous Carnival celebrations.

Take a beautiful trip to Petropolis climbing the "Orgaos" Mountains. Each curve will bring you different spectacular sight of lush subtropical vegetation and mountain views. In Petropolis, the famed summer resort city, you will visit the former Palace of the Emperor, Dom Pedro II, today the Imperial Museum. There you will be able to admire the beauty of the antique furniture, jewelry and tapestries of an age of splendor. After this visit, we will see the best example of Gothic Cathedral called Sao Pedro de Alcantara, built in honor of the Emperor of Brazil, where you will be able to see the tombs of the Imperial Family. Our lunch will be served at the Quitandinha Palace that was opened in 1944 to be the gambling capital of the country and had its glamour as a Hotel and Casino until 1946 when gambling was prohibited in Brazil. It is now a Convention and Tourist Center, keeping the old architecture with ballrooms, galleries, theater, convention center, balconies, etc.

This trip has been acclaimed as one of the most charming attractions in the entire Rio area. Drive by 1 1/2 hour through numerous fields, banana plantations and villages along the way to the small fishing village of Itacurussa. Embark on a "Saveiro" (schooner from the northeast of Brazil) for a leisure cruise in the calm waters of the Sepetiba Bay. Stop for swim on a deserted island, and then continue to a private island to enjoy a tantalizing buffet luncheon served in a tranquil and rustic atmosphere. After the meal, guests will be free to explore the island's charm by strolling along the beach, swimming or just working on their Rio tan. Special features can be arranged to enhance the day even more: treasure hunt, beach Olympic games, snorkeling, water skiing, etc. The return cruise to Itacurussa is refreshing and allows guests to appreciate the view of the bay and mountains at sunset.

Buzios has become a popular dive destination among Brazilians. You will be transferred to a famous spot reachable by boat only, João Fernandinho, a little island where you are sure to encounter crystal clear and calm waters with plenty of corals and fish such as monkfish, jewfish, anchovies, and barracudas. This tour is designed for beginner as well as veteran divers. On board you will receive all equipment and instructions for diving while you will be accompanied by an instructor who will give you support and orientation during your dive.

Relax on this full day tour as you visit 3 islands and various beaches where you may choose to snorkel, fish, kayak, or swim. The onboard bar offers caipirinhas, sodas, spring water and tropical fruits.