Day 1 – Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
Welcome to Rio de Janeiro – a city of golden beaches, jungle-covered peaks, colourful neighbourhoods and lively beach culture. You’ll be met at the airport by a local guide who will take you through your itinerary and answer any questions. It’s about an hour transfer to your comfortable hotel close to Copacabana beach. Spend your first evening like a Carioca: stroll the famous promenade, sip a caipirinha and watch the sun dip behind Rio’s iconic skyline.
Day 2 – Sightseeing in Rio
This morning, you’ll head out with your private guide and driver to discover Rio at your own pace. There’s no fixed itinerary, so whether you want to visit iconic landmarks like Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain or explore the colourful neighbourhoods such as Santa Teresa, the day is tailored to you. Entrance fees aren’t included, as it’s usually cheaper to buy tickets locally and your guide can often help you avoid the longest queues. Along the way, you’ll gain a real feel for the city and pick up plenty of local tips for the rest of your stay. When the tour ends, the choice is yours: return to your hotel or be dropped at the beach. The rest of the day is free to relax on the sand, enjoy Rio’s buzzing bars and restaurants, or tick off anything you haven’t yet seen.
Day 3 – Free time in Rio
Today is yours to explore Rio at your own pace. Perhaps there’s a neighbourhood you’d like to return to or a sight you didn’t have time to visit yesterday. If you’d prefer another guided experience, we can offer plenty of options. Join a small-group bike tour to discover the city on two wheels, or learn the secrets of Brazilian cuisine during a hands-on cooking class. Your Travel Specialist will be happy to recommend the best experience to suit your interests.
Day 4 – Fly to Foz Do Iguazu
This morning, we’ll arrange your transfer to the airport for your two-hour domestic flight to Foz do Iguaçu. Your domestic flights within Brazil will be booked alongside your international flights for a seamless journey. On arrival, your driver will be waiting to take you on the short 10-minute transfer to your comfortable hotel. Spend the rest of the day unwinding by the pool, enjoying dinner at the restaurant or simply relaxing before exploring the mighty Iguazu Falls tomorrow.
Day 5 – Excursion to Argentinian & Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls
Today you will experience the mighty Iguazu Falls from both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides, as each offers a different perspective of the landscape and the waterfalls. In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the Argentine side, crossing the border on the way. Once inside the park, you’ll walk around the many tracks, through the trees, spotting capuchin monkeys and coatis. The sound of rushing water is ever present and there are several viewing platforms along the way.
Then, head back over the border to the park on the Brazilian side. The Brazilians are known for saying: ‘Argentina may have the falls, but we have the view!’ The walking trail runs beside the river so you have a constant view of the falls, and there are plenty of places to stop for photo opportunities. The final section of the walk takes you across a platform over the water for a full view of the Devil’s Throat. Prepare to get a little wet as the raging waterfalls gush down in front of you. But it’s an unforgettable sight. Afterwards you will return to your hotel.
Day 6 – Fly to Manaus – gateway to the Amazon
After breakfast you’ll be transferred back to the airport in time to catch your domestic flight to Manaus, the gateway to the Amazon. Manaus is a large trade city and transit port for products originating from the Amazon. You’ll stay overnight here as most flights arrive too late to continue your journey into the rainforest. On arrival your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your Manaus hotel. The famous Opera House is within walking distance and is worth a look if you have a chance – its ornate roof is pretty impressive.
Day 7 – Journey into the Amazon
Time to tick an iconic destination off the bucket list! The Amazon is the largest and most species-rich stretch of tropical rainforest in the world and is known as the ‘lungs of the world’.
After breakfast, you’ll travel to your Amazon lodge by road and boat, together with any other guests arriving today. As you leave the city behind, the scenery gradually changes, with the rainforest becoming ever denser. After around two to two-and-a-half hours, you’ll reach a small riverside jetty where you’ll board a boat for the final stretch, gliding deeper into the heart of the Amazon.
Your lodge is small-scale, eco-friendly and run in partnership with the local community, providing employment for nearby families. You’ll stay in a comfortable wooden cabin surrounded by rainforest, with all meals included and freshly prepared using local ingredients. There’s hot water and electricity too… most of the time, anyway – this is the Amazon after all.
Days 8 & 9 – Exploring the Amazon
Spend the next couple of days discovering the Amazon, waking each morning to the sounds of the rainforest all around you. No two days in the Amazon are the same, so your activities will be shaped by the season, the weather and where wildlife has been spotted. Accompanied by an experienced local guide, you might head into the jungle on foot, search for pink river dolphins by boat, try your hand at piranha fishing or venture out after dark to look for caiman. Along the way, you’ll learn about life in the rainforest and meet some of the communities who have called the Amazon home for generations.
Day 10 – Fly to Salvador de Bahia
This morning, you’ll leave the Amazon behind and transfer back to Manaus Airport for your domestic flight to Salvador de Bahia. The flights are indirect and your Travel Specialist will be able to advise the best options for you. Overall, your flight time today is around 6 hours. On arrival, your driver will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in the heart of the atmospheric Pelourinho district.
Salvador is unlike anywhere else in Brazil. Colourful colonial buildings line cobbled streets, church bells mingle with the beat of Afro-Brazilian drums, and daily life spills out onto lively squares. Shaped by Indigenous, Portuguese and African influences, the city is renowned for its rich culture, distinctive cuisine and musical heritage. Over the next few days, you’ll have plenty of time to soak up its unique character at your own pace.
Day 11 – Walking tour of the Pelourinho
Today, you’ll explore Salvador’s historic heart with a local guide on a relaxed walking tour through the colourful streets of Pelourinho. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, this atmospheric neighbourhood is a fascinating blend of colonial architecture, Afro-Brazilian culture and centuries of history.
As you wander past ornate churches, pastel-coloured buildings and lively squares, your guide will share stories of Salvador’s past, from the impact of the slave trade to the way African traditions, religions and Portuguese influences have shaped the unique Bahian culture you see today. Along the way, you’ll discover the music, flavours and traditions that make Pelourinho such a special part of Brazil.
If you’d like to explore further afield, we can also extend your tour to discover more of the area surrounding Salvador. Ask your Travel Specialist for more details.
Extend your stay in Salvador?
If you have more time, you may wish to extend you stay in Salvador and discover more of this colourful city. If you’d like to dive deeper into Bahia’s culture and history, ask us about our Mystic Bahia experience — an immersive tour that explores the traditions and beliefs shaped by the transatlantic slave trade and still very much alive today. Or, if you’re a foodie, you can join a half-day cooking experience and get to the heart of Bahian cuisine by learning to make its most famous dish: moqueca.
Day 12 – Travel to the beach at Itacimirim
Today, you’ll leave Salvador behind and travel north along the coast to Itacimirim, a peaceful beach village around an hour away. This is the perfect place to slow the pace, with time to relax on the wide sandy beaches of Praia das Ondas or unwind at your colourful pousada. Set among tropical gardens, the comfortable bungalows each have air conditioning and a private terrace with a hammock – ideal for enjoying a lazy afternoon. Take a dip in the pool, enjoy a drink at the bar or follow the garden path down to the beach for a stroll along the sand.
Days 13 & 14 – Time to relax
Your time here is free to spend as you wish. Relax by the pool with a good book or stroll along the beach. If you’re in the mood for something a little more active, you can hire a bike and go sightseeing in the area. If you would like to explore further, Praia do Forte is just 10 minutes away by taxi. This tourist town has a pedestrian centre lined with trees, souvenir shops and a variety of cafes, bars and restaurants with a pretty seafront to amble along.
The only activity we will arrange during your stay is a cocktail making class where you will learn to make your own caipirinha. The bartender of your hotel will explain to you the proportions with which you make the best caipirinha. In addition to the well-known cocktail with lime, you will also learn about other fruit combinations such as passion fruit or pineapple and you will create your favourite flavour combination. Of course, this has to be tasted. You will receive the recipe so that you can enjoy it at home.
On your final day we’ll pre-arrange the 90 minute transfer to take you back to Salvador airport.
Day 15 – Depart Brazil
Sadly, it’s time to say goodbye to Brazil. After breakfast, we’ll arrange your 90-minute transfer back to Salvador Airport for your journey home. If you’re not quite ready to leave the beach behind, just let your Travel Specialist know – we can easily add an extra night or two in Itacimirim so you have more time to relax by the sea before flying home.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
A Taste of Brazil - In Style accommodation
If you’d like to add a little extra comfort to your trip, we also offer alternative accommodation options in each destination. Our In Style stays have been carefully selected for their special touches – whether that’s a unique setting, extra comfort or a memorable experience – while still keeping that local feel we love. Choose our In Style option below if you’d like to upgrade your accommodation throughout your itinerary.