A seven-day journey linking Rio de Janeiro with the green coast south of the city.
The circuit opens with three nights in Rio de Janeiro, with a tour to Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer statue by train through the Tijuca rainforest, and a city tour taking in Sugarloaf, Urca Mountain and the churches and colonial buildings of old Rio. It continues along the coast at Angra dos Reis, with a boat tour among green islets and clear waters where dolphins, sea turtles and stingrays may be seen. It closes with three nights in the historic town of Paraty, founded in 1667 on the old gold route: a jeep tour through the Serra da Bocaina National Park to the Pedra Branca, Poço do Tarzan and Tobogã waterfalls, a traditional cachaça still, and a day at Saco de Mamanguá, often called Brazil's only tropical fjord.
Highlights
Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado, reached by train through the Tijuca rainforest
Sugarloaf and a city tour of old colonial Rio
Boat tour of the islands and beaches of Angra dos Reis
Jeep tour of Paraty in the Serra da Bocaina National Park, with its waterfalls
The artisanal cachaça and historic centre of Paraty
Saco de Mamanguá, a tropical fjord (ria)
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
Arrival at Rio de Janeiro international airport, where your driver meets you and transfers you to the hotel. On the way you pass colonial-style buildings and the world-famous beachfront. The rest of the day is at leisure along Copacabana.
Day 2: Corcovado & Christ the Redeemer
After breakfast, a guided tour to the Christ the Redeemer statue at the top of Corcovado Mountain. A train climbs through the Tijuca rainforest to the summit at 700 m, where the 38 m statue stands above a panoramic view of the city: Guanabara Bay, the Maracanã stadium, Sugarloaf, Copacabana, Ipanema and Gávea Mountain.
Day 3: City tour & Sugarloaf
City tour and Sugarloaf. The first stop is Urca Mountain, with a panoramic view. From Sugarloaf there are views of Rio, Copacabana beach, the bay, the surrounding mountains, the islands in the ocean, the Niterói bridge and Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado. The tour then continues by car through central old Rio, past churches, monasteries, the city cathedral and colonial-style buildings.
Day 4: Rio de Janeiro – Angra dos Reis – Paraty
Transfer to Angra dos Reis for a boat tour of its best beaches and islands. Cruising among green islets in calm, clear waters, with the chance to see dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays and sometimes whales, and to swim. Lunch on one of the islands is optional (not included). After the tour, continue by bus to Paraty.
Day 5: Paraty jeep tour
Jeep tour in Paraty, within the Serra da Bocaina National Park. The route runs through the Atlantic Forest along quiet trails to waterfalls with crystalline waters, good for bathing: the Pedra Branca Waterfall, the Poço do Tarzan and the Tobogã Waterfall. Visit to a traditional still to learn how Paraty's famous artisanal cachaça was produced in the 18th century, with a tasting of liqueurs and aged cachaças, and to the Ouro Branco House of Flour, where cassava flour is made by hand, followed by an afternoon coffee with rapadura (tasting optional). Evening free to explore the town's restaurants.
Day 6: Paraty – Saco de Mamanguá
Day at Saco de Mamanguá, often called Brazil's only tropical fjord, though technically a ria: a coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of a river valley. Forested mountains, clear waters and traditional communities, with beaches that have served as film locations.
Day 7: Departure from Paraty
Transfer to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo for your outbound flight (about 4 hours to Rio and 5.5 hours to São Paulo).
Suggested hotels
Rio de Janeiro
4-star option in Rio de Janeiro (3 nights).
Pousada do Sandi
Superior
Paraty
4-star option in Paraty (3 nights).
Fairmont Copacabana
Luxury
Rio de Janeiro
5-star option in Rio de Janeiro (3 nights).
Paraty
5-star option in Paraty (3 nights).
Essential, Premium and Luxury categories available. Final accommodation is confirmed by date and availability.
What's included
Included: Accommodation in the listed hotels or similar (6 nights: 3 in Rio de Janeiro and 3 in Paraty)
Included: Transfers with driver
Included: Guided tours according to the programme
What's not included
Not included: International and domestic airfare
Not included: Airport and tourism taxes and visa fees
Not included: Meals not mentioned in the programme
Not included: Drinks unless explicitly stated
Not included: Tips to guides and drivers
Not included: Personal expenses and optional excursions
Not included: Travel insurance
Not included: Anything not expressly mentioned as included
