An eight-day, seven-night circuit that links Brazil's best-known city with its rainforest and its greatest waterfalls, connected by domestic flights.
It opens with two days in Rio de Janeiro: a guided tour of Sugar Loaf, the old city centre and Corcovado, where a train climbs through the Tijuca rainforest to the Christ the Redeemer statue. A flight then reaches Manaus and a jungle lodge in the Amazon, with a guided walk, a visit to a caboclo's house and Acajatuba Village, and night caiman spotting on the river. A further flight leads to Foz do Iguaçu, where the Iguaçu Falls are visited from the Argentine side, with the train to the Devil's Throat, and from the Brazilian side. Accommodation is offered in a 4-star category, and optional excursions are available at each stop.
Highlights
Sugar Loaf with views over Rio and Guanabara Bay
Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer statue, by train through the Tijuca rainforest
Amazon jungle lodge near Manaus: jungle walk, Acajatuba Village and night caiman spotting
Iguaçu Falls from the Argentine side, with the train to the Devil's Throat
Iguaçu Falls from the Brazilian side
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1
Day 1: Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
Arrival at Rio de Janeiro airport, where a driver meets you and transfers you to the hotel. Remainder of the day free for first impressions of the city.
Day2
Day 2: Sugar Loaf and Corcovado
After breakfast, a half-day guided tour (about 6 hours). The first stop is on Urca hill, with a wide viewing area; from Sugar Loaf there are views over Rio, Copacabana beach, the bay, the surrounding mountains, the islands, the Niterói bridge and Christ on Corcovado. The tour continues by car through the old city centre, past churches, monasteries, the cathedral and colonial-style buildings, with a lunch of local cuisine. Afterwards, up to Corcovado: a train climbs through the Tijuca rainforest to the 38 m Christ the Redeemer statue at 700 m, with panoramic views over the city.
Day3
Day 3: Rio de Janeiro – Manaus
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Manaus. On arrival, meet your guide at the airport and transfer to the port. From there, transfer to the jungle lodge, where dinner is served.
Day4
Day 4: Manaus — jungle lodge
Breakfast. A jungle walk and a visit to a caboclo's house, learning about the preparation of manioc flour. Visit to Acajatuba Village, whose people live from manioc plantations, fishing, fruit such as tucumã, cupuaçu and açaí, rubber and Brazil-nut trees, and from crafts made with jungle seeds. After dinner, explore the river's edge with searchlights to see caimans and, at times, night-hawks, snakes and frogs.
Day5
Day 5: Manaus – Foz do Iguaçu
Breakfast and free morning to swim or rest. Departure from the lodge by speed boat to the pier and transfer to Manaus airport. Flight to Iguaçu and, on arrival, transfer to the hotel.
Day6
Day 6: Foz do Iguaçu — Argentine side
After breakfast, visit to the Argentine side of the falls. Walkways among the falls let you come close to the falling water within a 55,500-hectare nature park; inside the park, a train reaches the Devil's Throat, the strongest of all the falls.
Day7
Day 7: Foz do Iguaçu — Brazilian side
After breakfast, a full-day excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls. A path along the edge of the falls offers wide panoramic views and leads to the Devil's Throat, the largest fall in the park, with a walkway that reaches into the water. At the end, the guide transfers you to the hotel.
Day8
Day 8: Rio de Janeiro
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport.
Suggested hotels
Arena Leme
Superior
Rio de Janeiro
4-star option in Rio de Janeiro (3 nights).
Evolução Ecolodge
Superior
Manaus
Amazon jungle lodge for the Manaus stay, within the 4-star package (2 nights).
Vivaz Cataratas
Superior
Foz do Iguaçu
4-star option in Foz do Iguaçu (2 nights).
Essential, Premium and Luxury categories available. Final accommodation is confirmed by date and availability.
What's included
Included: Accommodation with breakfast (7 nights): Arena Leme, Rio de Janeiro (3 nights); Evolução Ecolodge, in the Amazon near Manaus (2 nights); Vivaz Cataratas, Foz do Iguaçu (2 nights)
Included: Individual airport and hotel transfers as per the programme (transfers to and from the Amazon lodge operate on a group basis)
Included: Half-day guided tour to Sugar Loaf and Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer) in Rio de Janeiro, with an English-speaking guide
Included: Guided excursion to the Argentine side of the Iguaçu Falls, with the train to the Devil's Throat, with an English-speaking guide
Included: Guided excursion to the Brazilian side of the Iguaçu Falls, with an English-speaking guide
Included: Amazon lodge programme near Manaus (group basis): guided jungle walk, a visit to a caboclo's house with the preparation of manioc flour, Acajatuba Village and night caiman spotting
What's not included
Not included: International airfare
Not included: Domestic flights (Rio de Janeiro – Manaus – Foz do Iguaçu)
Not included: Airport and tourism taxes and visa fees
Not included: Meals not mentioned in the programme, and food and drinks during transfers
Not included: Drinks unless explicitly stated
Not included: Tips and gratuities
Not included: Personal expenses and optional excursions
Not included: Travel insurance
Not included: Anything not expressly mentioned as included
Optional services
Optional, at extra cost:
Rio beaches bike tour — Bike ride through Rio's Zona Sul: Copacabana, Ipanema with the Arpoador rock, Leblon and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.
Optional, at extra cost:
Helicopter flight over Rio — Helicopter tour from Sugar Loaf, with views over the city, its beaches and the Christ statue. Duration 10 to 30 minutes.
Optional, at extra cost:
Meeting of the Waters and Victoria Regia — On the way to the lodge, the Meeting of the Waters, where the dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the Amazon River without mixing, and the giant Victoria Regia water lilies of the Amazon.
Optional, at extra cost:
Great Adventure boat tour — Open-jeep ride of about 3 km through the jungle with a guide, then a motorboat ride on the Iguaçu River close to the falls.
Optional, at extra cost:
Bird Park — Visit to the Bird Park next to the falls, with large open-air aviaries where tropical birds fly amid the rainforest.