Rio de Janeiro is green hills, blue sky, rocky mountains, bays, islands and beaches: the second most populous city in Brazil and one of the most beautiful in the world, with hotels beside the famous black-and-white mosaic promenades of Copacabana, Leblon and Ipanema.
The circuit continues on Ilha Grande, off Angra dos Reis, an island of clear turquoise water ideal for discovering its beaches and its Blue Lagoon, and ends in Paraty, a historic town founded in 1667, with cobblestone streets and churches, famed for its cachaça and for its pedestrian colonial centre, with the four beaches of Trindade close by.
Highlights
Sugarloaf by cable car via Urca Mountain, with views over Rio, Copacabana and the bay
Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer statue by cog train through the Tijuca rainforest
Ferry from Angra dos Reis to the tropical island of Ilha Grande
The Blue Lagoon (lagoa azul) and the beaches of Ilha Grande
The historic colonial centre of Paraty, with its cobblestone streets
The four beaches of Trindade
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1
Day 1: Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
Welcome to Brazil! After arriving at the international airport in Rio de Janeiro, your driver waits for you and transfers you to the hotel.
Day2
Day 2: City tour and Sugarloaf Mountain
After breakfast, a half-day excursion (4 hours) to Sugarloaf. The first stop is on Urca Mountain, with a wide viewing area, restaurant and bar. From the summit of Sugarloaf you have a beautiful view of Rio, Copacabana beach, the bay, the surrounding mountains, the islands in the ocean, the Niterói bridge and the statue of Christ on Corcovado. Then you continue by car through the central regions of old Rio, past old churches, monasteries, the main cathedral and buildings in colonial style.
Day3
Day 3: Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer
After breakfast, an excursion to Corcovado. An environmentally friendly train climbs to the summit through the Tijuca forest, inhabited by monkeys and other exotic animals and birds. At the top of Corcovado, at 700 m altitude, stands the symbol of Rio, the 38 m statue of Christ the Redeemer, built in 1931, with a panoramic view of the Niterói bridge, Guanabara Bay, the Botanical Garden, the Maracanã stadium and Sugarloaf.
Day4
Day 4: Rio de Janeiro – Ilha Grande
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande. From the pier of Angra dos Reis you take the ferry to Ilha Grande; the crossing takes around 1 hour. On arrival at the hotel, time to relax on the beaches, discover the island or choose from the optional tours.
Day5
Day 5: Ilha Grande — the Blue Lagoon
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you set off on a journey to the Blue Lagoon (lagoa azul) and the surrounding beaches. The Blue Lagoon is a paradise of calm, shallow water in various shades of blue, home to many small, colourful fish.
Day6
Day 6: Ilha Grande – Paraty
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy your last hours on Ilha Grande at the beach or take an optional tour. In the afternoon you are transferred back to the pier and take the ferry back to the mainland at Angra dos Reis. From Angra dos Reis you are brought to Paraty and check in at your hotel.
Day7
Day 7: Paraty — the beaches of Trindade
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we offer you an adventure to the four beautiful beaches of Trindade: hike the beaches from the first to the fourth, or take a little boat to the magic circle of rocks in the water, surrounded by lush green jungle.
Day8
Day 8: Paraty – Rio de Janeiro — Homeward
Paraty is one of Brazil's most appealing and best-preserved historic towns: its colonial centre is remarkable not only for its centuries-old architecture but also for its lack of vehicles, with cobblestone streets closed to traffic that make it a delightful place to stroll among elegant white buildings with colourful borders. City tour (4 hours) and transfer to Rio de Janeiro international airport for your flight home.
Suggested hotels
Arena Leme
Superior
Rio de Janeiro
Listed hotel in Rio de Janeiro (3 nights).
Asalem Hotel
Superior
Ilha Grande
Listed hotel on Ilha Grande (2 nights).
Sandi Hotel
Superior
Paraty
Listed hotel in Paraty (2 nights).
Essential, Premium and Luxury categories available. Final accommodation is confirmed by date and availability.
What's included
Included: Accommodation in the mentioned hotels with breakfast (7 nights)
Included: Private tours in Rio de Janeiro and Paraty with English-speaking guide
Included: Group (seat-in-bus) tours and transfers on Ilha Grande, without guide
Included: Private transfers, driver only
Included: Entrance tickets for Corcovado and Sugarloaf
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 and gratuities
Not included: Personal expenses and optional services
Not included: Travel insurance
Not included: Anything not expressly mentioned as included
Optional services
Optional, at extra cost:
Lopes Mendes beach (Ilha Grande) — Excursion to Lopes Mendes beach, the most famous on Ilha Grande and one of the most beautiful on the entire Brazilian coast: three kilometres of fine sand and crystal-clear water in many shades of blue, in beautiful natural surroundings.
Optional, at extra cost:
Boat to the Trindade circle of rocks — Boat ride to the magic circle of rocks in the water at Trindade, surrounded by lush green jungle.