Highlights Of Brazil Family Tour

The spectacular setting of Rio de Janeiro presents us with one of the most magnificent city scapes on the planet, with 120 miles of golden beaches and a mountain backdrop that makes it an ideal starting point to this incredible journey. The city’s name derives from the combination of the words for River and January, denoting the auspicious event on January 1st 1502 when Andre Goncalves sailed a Portuguese vessel into the calm waters of Guanabara Bay, beginning Rio’s dramatic ascent from a small colonial outpost to one of the world’s most captivating and eclectic cities. This afternoon is free to relax and unwind from the long flight, or, if you would prefer, your leader can organise a visit to the towering summit of Corcovado, topped by the immense statue of Christ the Redeemer, probably Rio’s most iconic image (optional). Towering some 30m above the surrounding landscape and weighing in at a mighty 1000 tons, a visit to the the statue can present you with some quite spectacular views across the city, bay and outlying areas (weather permitting).

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Swimming available

This morning we take a tour of the city, travelling via the impressive Maracana Stadium, the largest of its kind in the world and capable of holding up to 200,000 people. Originally built to host the 1950 World Cup Finals it saw Brazil lose to Uruguay in the final, before an incredible 199,854 spectators, and even today home matches will regularly see over 100,000 cram into the stadium. In a city and a country obsessed with the ‘Beautiful Game’, this venue is something close to a shrine for Brazilians. We also visit the 17th century Benedictine monastery of Sao Bento, as well as the Baroque and Renaissance edifice of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Candelária, richly decorated throughout with marbled columns and 19th century works by the Brazilian artist João Zeferino. From here we continue to the majestic slopes of Sugar Loaf Mountain, rising out of the waters of Guanabara Bay. A cable car takes us to the summit, from where the views across the city are spectacular, with the famed beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema laid out below us, and the peaks of the Tijuca National Park to our rear. Returning to the hotel there will be time to relax before dinner.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Leaving Rio behind today we fly to Iguaçu, to witness for ourselves perhaps one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the planet and certainly one of the highlights of our journey. Set amidst the lush landscapes of the Parque Nacional do Iguaça Reserve, the falls are one of nature’s true masterpieces, a spectacular cascade of some 275 interconnecting falls that hurtle over high cliffs into a marvellous curved amphitheatre– a breathtaking sight that extends 3km across the Rio Iguaça. This afternoon there is the option to take a helicopter ride over the falls and the surrounding jungle, gaining a wholly unique perspective of a phenomenon that is quite simply awe-inspiring.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

We will spend this morning (when the light is best for photography ) visiting the Falls on the Brazilian side. Viewed from this aspect the Falls present themselves in all their majestic and powerful glory and the noise is tremendous, with huge clouds of soaking mist being churned up by the cascade. The surrounding spray-soaked forest is a rich haven for some spectacular flora and fauna, with over 2,000 plant species and over 400 different types of birds being recorded here, as well as countless mammals, insects and reptiles. The canopy is alive with a rich array of brightly plumaged toucans, parrots, humming birds and colourful butterflies, whilst the forest floor boasts jaguars, mountain lions, tapirs and capuchin monkeys. We aim to visit the bird park during our visit (Parque des Aves), where gigantic aviaries hold a colourful collection of birds and butterflies, all surrounded by the dense jungle that echoes to the sound of distinctive howler monkeys. This afternoon we will pay a visit the the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant, the world’s largest, where we learn about the creation of this huge dam complex and its vast 1350sq km reservoir.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Today we will visit the Argentinean side of the Falls, where we can see an altogether more extensive view of this incredible cascade, with the added bonus of generally fewer tourists. A walk to the churning caldron of the Garganta del Diablo (the Devil’s Throat) presents you with possibly the most powerful waterfall on the planet, where a series of 14 separate falls merge into one, to produce a spectacular torrent. There is also the chance to take a close up view of the falls in a zodiac (optional). This afternoon there are several opportunities for other optional activities with a collection of ‘green’ transport on offer, you can choose to take a train ride through the forest, watching out for toucans and colourful butterflies along the way or you might like to raft along the creek in search of some of the more elusive wildlife. Further exploration of the jungle interior can be carried out courtesy of robust army trucks that bounce along the rough tracks through the forest.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Early this morning we head towards the vast Amazon basin, flying into Manaus on the banks of the Negro River, the vibrant hub of the region. The bustle of an urban community seems almost an almost surreal intrusion in the midst of such vast tracts of pristine jungle, but this once rich and fashionable city, the capital of Amazonas, is now expanding fast as a free trade zone. On arrival we transfer onto a river boat and head upstream to our jungle lodge located in the heart of a preserved jungle setting on the Tarumã River. A major centre for scientific research and education, the lodge is the perfect base from which to explore this unique and fascinating region. Over 6 miles of jungle trails, natural savannahs, creeks and forests afford some spectacular wilderness encounters, and the lodge’s comfortable rustic bungalows offer the ideal combination of charm and modern facilities that will make our stay here a highlight of the journey. After checking in and a chance to freshen up we will visit the nearby Monkey Jungle, an important primate rehabilitation centre, where animals taken from poachers and smugglers are re-introduced back into the wild. After dinner this evening there will be the opportunity to take to the waters in canoes, searching the dark waters for caimans, the Amazon’s reptilian predators, belonging to the same family as alligators and crocodiles. Look out for the telltale glow of their red eyes in the torchlight.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner Swimming available

Over the next two days we enjoy some spectacular encounters and discoveries amidst the pristine jungle wilderness. Following breakfast on our first day we head out to follow some of the trails that radiate from the lodge, searching out some of the less elusive residents of the area. The Amazon rainforest currently holds some 50% of all the known species of animals on the planet, including some 200 different varieties of mammals, nearly 4,000 species of birds and countless numbers of reptiles, insects and amphibians. The canopies around us are filled with primates, sloths, toucans, parrots and colourful songbirds of every shade and hue. The forest floor is a profusion of ferns, fungi and dense jungle that hides jaguar, ocelots and pumas, although sightings of such animals are rare indeed. On our first full day here we also aim to visit a local family, to hopefully learn something of family life in these remote and pristine regions. Our second day sees us taking to the waters for a spot of fishing, before swapping our boat for canoes after lunch to enjoy a gentle paddle along some of the tributaries and backwaters, searching out some of the rich variety of flora and fauna that thrive in these waters. With monkeys calling out from the canopy above we traverse a landscape of quite spectacular natural beauty, whilst the river beneath is filled with all manner of strange and unusual specimens. As well as the prehistoric looking caimans the Amazon is home to turtles, bizarre pink river dolphins, giant otters and even the strange and mysterious manatee, the creature once believed by sailors to be mermaids. Returning to our lodge for lunch and dinner on both days we will hopefully enjoy some exceptional encounters with both the human and animal populations of this fabulous setting during our daily forays.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Swimming available

Checking out of the lodge this morning we take to the river again, travelling along the Rio Negro to the famous ‘Meeting of the Waters’, one of the region’s most incredible natural phenomenon, where the rich dark waters of the Negro meet the lighter shades of the Rio Solimoes and flow side by side for some 4 miles, separated by a unique combination of temperature, density and flow, before they finally merge and become part of the Amazon itself. There will also be the opportunity today to head out in canoes again and try your hand at fishing for piranha. Incredibly there are actually 25 different species of piranha, and not all are voracious killers! Some piranha are even vegetarian. Whilst the reputation of these much-maligned fish is mainly the product of Hollywood, the red-bellied piranha does have something of a reputation as the world’s most dangerous freshwater fish. They have been known to strip a carcass, but not during an average daily feed. These feats of prodigious feasting generally only occur during lean times and with sufficient numbers, but probably best not to dangle your fingers in the water! Our final destination for today is Manaus, where we will overnight, affording us some time before dinner perhaps to explore a little something of the Amazonas capital.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Swimming available

This morning we have some free time in Manaus, where you may wish to visit the world famous Opera House, or relax and enjoy the pool. Later this afternoon we fly to the city of Salvador on Brazil’s Atlantic coast and the spectacular setting of Todos los Santos Bay. On arrival we transfer to the resort town of Praia do Forte, following the coastline northeast and arriving at our hotel sometime later this evening. The resort began its life as a small fishing community, but today its stunning beaches, mangroves and coconut palms afford a spectacular backdrop to an ecotourism resort that is home to some rare tropical wildlife, including four of the planet’s seven species of sea turtle.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

We have two days to enjoy more of this remarkable region, enjoying a free morning to start with, before visiting the TAMAR sea turtle project this afternoon. Set up by the Brazilian environmental agency in 1980, the centre was created in order to attempt to save the turtles form extinction and redress the impact that human interference had had on their natural reproductive cycles. The name derives from the Brazilian Portuguese word for sea turtles – Tartaruga Marinha – and our visit allows us to learn more about the project and see for ourselves some of the turtles in various stages of development. From here we head back to the resort for a relaxing afternoon on the beach. Our second day affords the opportunity to visit Salvador (optional). Salvador is Brazil’s oldest city, containing a stunning colonial heritage that harks back to the city’s time as the capital of the country (a period that spanned over 200 years). Filled with churches, squares and probably some of the most impressive colonial architecture in Brazil, Salvador is an eclectic mix of Indian, Portuguese and African cultures that makes it one of the most engrossing cities in the country. There is also the chance to take an optional boat ride out into the waters of the Atlantic in search of magnificent Humpback whales, which, between June and October return to these offshore depths to breed and calve.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Included meals: Breakfast