A twelve-day journey combining city, waterfalls and beach across three Brazilian destinations.
The circuit opens with four nights in Rio de Janeiro, with a city tour and Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar) by cable car, a tour to Corcovado, where the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooks Guanabara Bay, and a free day. It continues with two nights at the Iguazu Falls, visited from the Brazilian side with the Bird Park and from the Argentine side with the Devil's Throat. It closes with five nights at Búzios, a fishing village with more than twenty beaches. Accommodation is offered in 4- and 5-star categories.
Highlights
Rio city tour and Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar) by cable car
Corcovado and the Christ the Redeemer statue
Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side and the Bird Park
Iguazu Falls from the Argentine side, with the Devil's Throat
Five nights on the beach at Búzios
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1
Day 1: Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
Arrival at Rio de Janeiro airport, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for first impressions of the city and its beaches — Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon.
Day2
Day 2: City tour and Sugarloaf
After breakfast, a half-day tour (about 4 hours) to Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar). The first stop is on Morro da Urca, with a wide viewing area; a cable car then rises to the summit of Sugarloaf, with views over Rio, Copacabana beach, the bay, the surrounding hills and islands, the Rio–Niterói Bridge and the Christ statue on Corcovado. The tour continues by car through central old Rio, past old churches and monasteries, the main cathedral and colonial-style buildings. Lunch of local cuisine with the guide.
Day3
Day 3: Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer
After breakfast, a half-day tour (about 4 hours) to Corcovado. A train climbs through the Tijuca forest to the summit at 700 m, where the 38 m statue of Christ the Redeemer (built in 1931) overlooks the city — the Rio–Niterói Bridge, Guanabara Bay, the Botanical Garden, the Maracanã stadium and Sugarloaf.
Day4
Day 4: Free day in Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast, a free day to explore the city independently or take optional excursions.
Day5
Day 5: Rio de Janeiro – Iguazu Falls (Brazilian side)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Foz do Iguaçu, where you are met and taken to the Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls. Set in a national park on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, the falls comprise 275 cascades dropping from a height of 72 m into the Devil's Throat canyon. The visit continues at the Bird Park next to the national park, with its large walk-through aviaries. Transfer back to the hotel.
Day6
Day 6: Iguazu Falls — Argentine side
After breakfast, a full day on the Argentine side of the Iguazu National Park. Three trails lead through the park: the Lower Circuit (1,700 m), among the Dos Hermanas, Chico and Ramírez falls; the Upper Circuit (1,300 m), of elevated walkways along the line of the falls; and the Devil's Throat, reached by ecological train and a 1,000 m walk to the great cascade.
Day7
Day 7: Iguazu Falls – Rio de Janeiro – Búzios
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and flight to Rio de Janeiro. On arrival, transfer by road to your hotel in Búzios.
Day8
Day 8: Búzios
Free days at Búzios, a fishing village 105 miles from Rio de Janeiro, with more than twenty beaches of clear water and exotic vegetation, cobbled streets, boutiques and restaurants.
Day9
Day 9: Búzios
Free day in Búzios.
Day10
Day 10: Búzios
Free day in Búzios.
Day11
Day 11: Búzios
Free day in Búzios.
Day12
Day 12: Búzios – Rio de Janeiro (departure)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your international flight.
Suggested hotels
Arena Leme
Superior
Rio de Janeiro
4-star option in Rio de Janeiro (4 nights).
Vivaz Cataratas
Superior
Foz do Iguaçu
4-star option at the Iguazu Falls (2 nights).
Rio Buzios Beach
Superior
Búzios
4-star option in Búzios (5 nights).
Miramar by Windsor
Luxury
Rio de Janeiro
5-star option in Rio de Janeiro (4 nights).
DoubleTree by Hilton Foz do Iguaçu
Luxury
Foz do Iguaçu
5-star option at the Iguazu Falls (2 nights).
Rio Buzios Boutique Deluxe sea view
Luxury
Búzios
5-star option in Búzios (5 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, with breakfast (11 nights: 4 in Rio de Janeiro, 2 at the Iguazu Falls, 5 in Búzios)
Included: Private transfers as per the programme
Included: Rio de Janeiro – Búzios – Rio de Janeiro transfer with driver only
Included: Excursions as per the programme
Included: Meals as per the programme
What's not included
Not included: International airfare
Not included: Domestic flights Rio de Janeiro – Foz do Iguaçu – Rio de Janeiro
Not included: Airport and tourism taxes and visa fees
Not included: Meals and drinks 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:
Botanical Garden — About a 4-hour visit to the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, over two centuries old, with its avenue of imperial palms and thousands of plant species, among orchids, bromeliads, cacti and bamboos.
Optional, at extra cost:
Tropical Islands — About an 8-hour excursion to Itacuruça, in Mangaratiba, crossing Sepetiba Bay by Saveiro schooner among tropical islands. A swim in the sea, lunch on the island and time to walk or swim before the return.
Optional, at extra cost:
Rio by night: samba and capoeira show — An evening with hotel pick-up and a show of samba and capoeira performed by professional dancers, with the option of dinner during the show and a transfer back to the hotel. About 4 hours.
Optional, at extra cost:
Imperial Petrópolis — Excursion to Petrópolis, a historic town in the mountains 60 km from Rio de Janeiro, with German-style architecture. Visit to the Imperial Museum in the former summer palace and to the Gothic cathedral where Pedro II, his wife and Princess Isabel are buried.
Optional, at extra cost:
Helicopter flight over Rio — Scenic helicopter flight from Sugarloaf, with views of the beaches, the Christ statue and the Botanical Garden. Duration of 8 to 9 minutes.
Optional, at extra cost:
Macuco Safari — An open jeep ride of about 3 km through the jungle with a guide, followed by a walk down to the Iguazu River and a motorboat ride close to the falls. Add-on to the Brazilian-side visit.