Brazil for Families

(9 days / 8 nights)

Rio De Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Pantanal

Price: from £1730 per person*
Departure Dates:Now - 28 Dec 2011

Itinerary
Day 1: Rio de Janeiro
Met on arrival for your transfer to your hotel. Bike tour along Ipanema & Leblon beaches - A pleasant tour along the most famous beach in the world. You will have the chance to feel how the cariocas enjoy theirs beaches, running, playing soccer and cycling along the seashore. During the bike tour 1 stop will be made for coconut water (great to avoid dehydration), mineral water or soft drink. Stay the rest of the morning on the beach. Overnight at Caesar Park Ipanema (B)

Day 2: Rio de Janeiro
Morning tour to Corcovado with Tijuca Forest in jeeps followed by lunch and in the afternoon you have a tour to Sugar Loaf Rio de Janeiro has two landmarks which are instantly recognizable the world over: Sugar Loaf and the Statue of Christ. This tour combines a visit to the Statue of Christ and the Tijuca National Forest. Boarding the jeeps tour will proceed with our tour to visit the Tijuca Rainforest. You will enjoy a delicious picnic inside the Tijuca Forest. After lunch, you will visit one of the most famous of Rio’s postcard views. Sugar Loaf. This visit is made in two stages by cable car. The first cable car takes passengers to Urca Hill, which is 215 meters high from where one has a beautiful view of Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio- Niterói Bridge and Corcovado hill. From this stage, a second cable car will be taken up to the top (395 meters) to see a splendid view of Copacabana beach, the Santa Cruz fortress and some of the beaches of Niterói. The afternoon part of the tour is provide in car or van. In the evening, you will be taken to Porcão Rios. Located at the biggest urban park in Latin America, Aterro do Flamengo between the city centre and the south zone. You will have a real gastronomic experience of the Brazilian Barbecue. Overnight at hotel (B, L, D)

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro
This morning you will depart for your boat trip through the Guanabara Bay. An amazing adventure tour on a high-performance boat providing stunning views which far surpass any postcard picture. We embark at 9am from Marina da Gloria and will visit the Cagarras Archipelago and Redonda Island, a trip featuring rich biodiversity of local sea fauna, as well as an array of sea birds. Throughout the tour passengers can enjoy mineral water, coconut water and cereal bars at their disposal. Get to know a Rio juice bar, which can be found on street corners all over the city, are colourful celebrations of fruits you've probably never heard of, like acerola, caqui or mamao. Choose one. Try an ‘acai’, a purple Amazonian fruit high in antioxidants that is said to be good for energy. Afterwards head to Botanical Garden where a very beautiful and exotic orchidarium will be visited. Each of the 141 hectares of Rio's Botanical Gardens shelters outstanding examples of plantlife from Brazil and all over the world. The Imperial Palms are among its most spectacular
attractions, planted in 1809 by Prince Regent D. Joao VI. Huge trees decked with orchids contrast with giant victoria-regia, lilies, bromeliads, royal poincianas and tropical foliage, making the Botanical Gardens a favorite hideaway for nature-lovers, sweethearts and all those seeking peace and tranquility. Overnight at hotel (B, L)

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls
Fly this morning to the Brazil/Argentine border and transfer your hotel overlooking this unforgettable scene. Iguassu National Park is natural wonder of tropical nature, vistas, and 275 thundering cascades. Then set out on an escorted walking tour on the Brazilian side to strategic overlooks at a variety of levels. You will be taken to the Macuco Trail in the Iguaçu National Park, to board jeeps. Jeeps are the best form of transport in this rain forest because the road is unpaved but accessible year round. On this trip, passengers will get to know several different species of sub-tropical plants and trees, including orchids and the heart-of-palm, which grows in abundance at the park. With luck, animals and some of the beautiful birds of the region may be sighted. After a 3-km jeep ride, a 600-metre walking trek passing by the picturesque Macuco Falls, hidden in the forested canyon. The trail brings one to the banks of the Iguaçu River, where passengers will board a twinengine boat (seating capacity: 25), specially designed for this river’s sailing conditions. Cruise up into the Iguassu Canyon, shooting several rapids and arrive at the very base of the majestic waterfalls. As the experienced pilot maneuvers in the midst of the falls themselves, passengers will have a completely different view and experience a thrill never forgotten. Overnight at Das Cataratas (B)

Day 5: Iguassu Falls / Argentinean Falls
Today, visit Iguassu from the Argentine side for a more extensive experience of the falls and surrounding rainforest. Departure from hotel, cross the border and the Tancredo Neves Bridge over the Iguassu River, which forms the border between Argentina and Brazil. Once in Argentina, tour takes a scenic highway up to the Argentine Iguazu Park. To visit the Devil Throat we will take a electric train for a visit through the park with 2 stops until the trail where the walking tour begins to the visit the upper walkways which allows a different and more intimate contact with the falls and the rainforest.. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the suspended platform at the very brink of the abysmal Devil’s Throat – largest of the waterfalls. Return always by train to visit the upper Argentinean falls, including the San Martin Falls. If weather and time allows, a brief stop at the 3 Borders point, where Paraná and Iguassu Rivers as well as the borders or Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay encounter. Lunch at local restaurant. This afternoon you have a tour to the Bird Park. The park is situated in 4 hectares of native sub tropical forest. It offers the opportunity to enter huge 8-metre high forest aviaries to study and photograph birds in their natural surroundings without the restriction of netting and cages. There are over 500 birds, indigenous and from other continents. Return to the hotel. Overnight at Das Cataratas (B)

Day 6 : Iguassu Falls – Pantanal
You will take a morning flight to Pantanal, where you see the wildlife in Brazil. The Indiana Jonesstyle wildlife experience together with the environment of the Pantanal, will create memorable moments. The Pousada Mutum combines the adventure and relaxation. Along with the Amazon Basis, the Pantanal is one of the last virgin areas on the face of earth. Arrival in Cuiaba and transfer to Pousada do Rio Mutum passing through the small village of Mimoso, where Mal. Candido Rondon was born. On the way, observation of many kind of birds, small mammals and typical landscapes. After check-in, introduction to the lodge and area around it. In the evening a delicious piranha soup is served just before dinner. After dinner, introduction to the activities of the following days.

Day 7 : Pantanal
After breakfast, horseback trail riding in the jungle, up to the edge of the Siá Mariana bay. During the whole year, a big variety of birds, animals and reptiles can be observed. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, boat ride for a photographic safari in Mutum River. In its crystal clear water it is possible to see giant otters, stingrays and shoals of small fish. At the Mutum riverbanks, a large variety of birds can be observed. Return to the lodge for dinner, then nocturnal animal spotting by jeep in the lodge surrounding area.

Day 8: Pantanal
After breakfast, ecological walk through the jungle and open fields to observe animals and birds. Having the largest diversity of bird species in the world, the Pantanal is especially interesting for bird watching. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, boat trip down the Mutum river banks, Siá Mariana bay and Chacororé bay. Return by boat to the lodge, stopping to see the sunset at the Siá Mariana bay and do piranha fishing. In the evening, cayman feeding with the piranhas fished from Siá Mariana bay and nocturnal animals spotting. Dinner.

Day 9 : Pantanal
4:30am – Canoeing in the Mutum river to observe the sunrise and the beauty of wildlife at the break of dawn in the Pantanal. Return to the lodge, breakfast and check-out. Transfer to the Cuiabá airport to connect with your flight back home or to your next destination.

What is included:
• 8 nights with breakfasts, Rio Mutum lodge full board
• Private transfers except for Rio Mutum
• Seat in bus sightseeing tours

Price does not include any international or domestic flights.

Vegetarian meals are available with all our tour packages

*Please note that prices are per person based on twin share in a standard room and are subject to availability and change. Terms and conditions apply.

For more information on any of our packages featured or to book, please call us on: 0207 312 1742