Private Rio & Rainforest

Landing in Rio de Janeiro, our local representative will be waiting for you at the airport to greet you and take you to your hotel. Once you’ve settled into your accommodation in Rio de Janeiro, the rest of the day is free to explore some of our favorite local spots. Stroll along the long boulevards next to the beaches of Ipanema, Leblon and of course Copacabana while humming the song, ‘Girl from Ipanema’. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of huts selling delicious freshly squeezed juices and coconuts which will refresh you as you soak up the breathtaking cityscape of Rio de Janeiro and realize why the city is known as, ‘The Marvelous City’!

Relax and watch the sunset at the beach before going out for dinner at one of the restaurants along the promenade. We recommend trying one of Brazil’s most famous and traditional dishes, feijoada carioca (stew of beans with beef and pork served with white rice and farofa) washed down with a refreshing caipirinha cocktail or a local beer…Brahma and Skol are our favorites! Following dinner, you can go back to your hotel to relax or go to one of the local samba bars to dance the night away!

Meals (X)

Today, you will visit the Tijuca National Park, the world’s largest urban forest. Arriving at the top of Corcovado Mountain you’ll see the world-famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. In 2007, the statue was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and standing at the base of the 124 ft. tall statue, you’ll be treated to some truly amazing views over the city. Enjoy eye-catching views of the forest below and where Rio de Janeiro’s mountains dive into the clear blue water. After visiting the statue and the Tijuca National Park, you’ll head to the Maracanã, where the most important Brazilian football derbies take place, which has also been the setting of historical moments of international football. Monumental events, such as Pelé’s thousandth goal in 1969, also took place on the pitches of the Brazilian football temple.

Inaugurated on June 16, 1950, the stadium hosted World Cup games that year and a few matches of the 2014 World Cup, including the grand finale. It also hosted the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2007 Pan-American Games, and more recently the 2016 Olympic Games and 2019 America’s Cup.

Knowing the backstage of Maracanã and coming close to the sacred pitch of the stage of two World Cup finals and one edition of the Olympic Games is again possible. What seems to be a dream for many spectators has come true thanks to the Maracanã Tour.

At the stadium, you’ll get to know one of the locker rooms, decorated with shirts of clubs that compete for the Brazilian Championship A Series, the warm-up room, and the press conference room. In the locker room, a video with historical football kicks opens the highest point of the journey: the entrance to the pitch. When reaching the edge of the sacred stage, participants can even sit on one of the benches.

In addition to the pitch, you will also see items related to players who have marked their names in the stadium’s history, such as Pelé, Garrincha, and Zico. A shirt No. 7 of Brazil used by Mané in the 1962 FIFA World Cup and the ball and net of the game of the thousandth goal of Pelé (Vasco x Santos, in 1969) are on exhibition.

The Maracanã Tour is a tour for the whole family and a special program for football lovers. Get ready for a universe of dreams that will explore all senses, with videos, sounds, and diverse experiences that will be forever in your memory.

Meals (B)

To understand the history of Brazil there is nothing better than taking a tour of the old city center of Rio. You will visit the impressive Cinelandia Square which was built in honor of the second president of Brazil, Floriano Peixoto, and features important buildings such as the Rio Opera House, the National Library, and the Fine Arts Museum. Continuing your tour through the historic center, you will also visit Rio’s Chamber of Deputies, the former Imperial Palace, and the ornate Candelaria Church.

Having explored the city from the street level, you will head towards Sugarloaf Mountain where you will take the cable car to its summit. Ascending the famous natural landmark of Sugarloaf Mountain you will be able to enjoy stunning 360-degree views across the sprawling city below, Guanabara Bay, Copacabana Beach, and up to Christ the Redeemer Statue.

Brazil is renowned for its lively party culture, rivaling the best in the world. At the heart of this reputation are two essentials: great music and amazing drinks. In this class, you will learn how to make six different Brazilian drinks, perfect for any occasion from parties and celebrations to casual get-togethers and romantic dinners, you’ll craft and taste the ideal drink for each. After spending about two hours in our studio mastering these six drinks, you’ll take a short walk to Ipanema Beach, just two blocks away, where you can enjoy the sunset with a drink in hand and the sand beneath your bare feet.

Meals (B)

Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, an optional visit. It should come as no surprise that a country the size of Brazil, and one with the largest part of the Amazon rainforest within its borders should be home to one of the finest botanical gardens in the world. Here we have access to an immaculate collection of diverse Brazilian and foreign flora. There are around 6,500 species (some endangered) distributed throughout an area of 54 hectares (130 acres) as well as numerous greenhouses. The garden also houses monuments of historical, artistic, and archaeological significance. There is an important research center, which includes the most complete library in the country specializing in botany with over 32,000 volumes.

The first greenhouse at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens was built in 1890. It was made of wood and was an octagonal shape. In the 1930s, the greenhouse was remodeled in glass and iron, more in the style of a traditional English glasshouse. Today the Orchidarium includes the glasshouse and the whole area that surrounds it, and it is home to, amongst other things, an orchid nursery with over 3000 plots of orchids. We have lunch here before transferring you back to your hotel to enjoy the rest of your evening.

Meals (B)

Today a private transfer will take you to the airport in Rio de Janeiro for your flight to Manaus.

The city of Manaus is the entrance and the heart of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. While flying in today, look out the window for your first unforgettable view of the green carpet of rainforest beneath. Depending on the time of your arrival and having settled into your accommodation in Manaus, the rest of your day is free to explore the city.

We recommend exploring the beautiful Amazonas Theater and Opera House and the lively Adolpho Lisboa Market where you can indulge in the sweet fruits of the Amazon. Tonight, head out to one of the local restaurants in Manaus where you can enjoy fresh and locally caught fish straight from the Amazon.

Meals (B)

Embark on a captivating half-day private City Tour, immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of Manaus’ cultural heritage and architectural marvels. The journey commences with a convenient pick-up from your hotel, where your transfer awaits to lead you along an 11-mile scenic route along the picturesque riverfront road of Ponta Negra. As you traverse this enchanting path, you’ll find yourself drawn to the floating port of Manaus, a captivating and truly unique experience that unveils the city’s maritime essence.

A pause at the Rio Negro Palace follows, offering a glimpse into history through its stately presence as an erstwhile governor’s official residence. This architectural gem stands as a testament to the opulent era of rubber, an emblem of the city’s bygone splendor. The next chapter of your exploration unfolds at the Indian Museum, where the vibrant narratives, customs, and traditions of the indigenous communities of the Brazilian Amazon come alive. Gain profound insights into their way of life, forging a deeper connection with the cultural mosaic that defines this region.

Continuing your sojourn, a visit to the Salesian Congregation awaits, further enriching your understanding of indigenous populations. Here, the intricacies of their habits and behaviors are unveiled, painting a vivid picture of their existence within the Amazonian landscape. A momentary pause at the Justice Palace offers a glimpse into the administrative fabric of the city before you arrive at the zenith of today’s journey – the Opera House.

Behold the grandeur of the Opera House, a majestic and resplendent marvel that took center stage in 1896. A symbol of Manaus’ affluence during the era of the rubber boom, this magnificent theater encapsulates the essence of the city’s past and its enduring cultural legacy. As you stand in awe of its opulence, you’ll find yourself transported to a bygone era of elegance and extravagance.

Concluding this enthralling expedition, your transfer gracefully escorts you back to your hotel in Manaus, ensuring your return with a treasure trove of memories and a profound appreciation for the city’s history, architecture, and indigenous heritage. This half-day City Tour is an intimate voyage into the heart of Manaus, a harmonious blend of past and present that promises to leave an indelible mark on your journey.

Meals (B)

AM: Enjoy breakfast in your hotel and spend the morning at your leisure, before meeting us this afternoon at the cruise port, for the beginning of your long-awaited Amazon cruise!

The Captain and his crew welcome you aboard where everything has been planned for your well-being, according to your preferences and choices as they have been previously discussed.

PM: Getting together for lunch (or a collation depending on your hour of arrival) with the Captain, you will learn about security guidelines, the journey program, planned stopovers, regional specificities… Then, next stop, the heart of Anavilhanas nature reserve, the “Três Bocas”, for your first boating day: cozily set up in a deck chair or a hammock, you observe the Rio Negro banks. Watch out for swimming dolphins, the elegant flight of blue aras, macaws, cute sloths, and other hosts with feathers, hair, or scales that inhabit this reserve. You will even get closer to them during a kayak ride or a swimming party in the river.

Depending on the season, the captain will drop anchor in an exclusive area that has been chosen for you (a desert beach or a peaceful bay according to the level of river water) for an enchanting evening under a magnificent starry sky.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM/PM: After a charming breakfast listening to the song of aras, macaws, toucans, and all other singing birds of the forest, you will join the Rio Cuieiras. You will embark upon the dinghy for an even more intimate 1-to-1 with the surroundings, reaching out to “caboclos” that cultivate manioc, a precious staple food in Brazil.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM/PM: You slowly sail down the Rio Negro to Jaraqui where natives will guide you through the jungle for a 1-hour educational trek during which the secrets of medicinal Amazonian plants will be revealed to you. On your way (depending on the possibilities offered by the season), you will be at one with the forest during a magical and refreshing swim in some astonishing cascades that are nestled within an island of luxuriant greenery.

Meals: (B, L, D)

Today we will go in search of the playful pink river dolphins. Probably the most loved of all Amazon river creatures, this is a unique species never joins the sea. You are free to swim with them, and these curious “botos” will welcome you in 30-degree water for a magical, unforgettable encounter. We’ll then visit a “Ribeirinha” community of Acajatuba to learn about their customs and lifestyle.

Afterward, you will disembark in Manaus, ready to head to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals: (B, L)