According to indexdotcom, this great adventure trip in Brazil takes you on an expedition along the Amazon River where you meet Native American tribes and spend the night in hammocks to the Jew of the Amazon rainforest. From Manaus fort, the journey continues to stunning Rio de Janeiro, charming Paraty, the paradise island of Ilha Grande and Iguazu’s iconic waterfalls.
Our great adventure trip in Brazil takes you on an expedition along the Amazon River, where you meet Native American tribes, fish for piranhas, experience the Amazon’s fascinating wildlife, see freshwater dolphins and spend the night in a hammock to the sound of the Amazon rainforest.
From here, the trip goes to Rio de Janeiro’s diversity, where you can experience life in one of the city’s favelas, enjoy the view from the Sugarloaf Mountain or just relax on one of the city’s legendary beaches.
From Rio, the journey goes to the picturesque little town of Paraty, which offers white buildings with colorful exterior doors and cozy cobbled streets. The city is in colonial style and is considered one of the world’s most important examples of Portuguese colonial architecture. Outside the city you will find fantastic hiking trails and beautiful beaches.
By boat, the journey continues to the paradise island of Ilha Grande. Enjoy the many beautiful beaches or an icy caipirinha in your hammock. For the active, there is also the opportunity to explore the beautiful coastline in a kayak.
The journey ends at the iconic Iguazú Falls, which consist of 275 waterfalls, some of which are over 80 meters high. Here you will meet the Guarani Indians and learn about how they live in harmony with nature and also experience a traditional ceremony in the middle of the rainforest. A truly unique experience and a perfect end to a fantastic journey.
Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia
You leave Scandinavia and arrive the next day in Manaus.
Day 2: Arrival in Manaus
You land today in a completely different world, far away from Scandinavia. After a long flight, it is always nice to be able to get to your hotel easily and quickly and therefore we have arranged the first night in a cozy boutique hotel in the center of Manaus. The rest of the day is on its own, so if you are quite alert after the flight, you can visit the city or just and simply relax in the hotel’s cozy surroundings.
Day 3: Discover Manaus
Enjoy your day in Manaus on your own. Manaus is the capital of the state of Amazonas and is one of the world’s most isolated cities. The Amazon rainforest stretches in all directions around Manaus. Even if you have traveled to Manaus to explore the Amazon rainforest, there is every reason to spend a few days taking a closer look at the city itself. This huge city in the middle of the Amazon is completely its own. Experience the atmosphere of the city market Mercado Municipal and the impressive Teatro Amazonas, built in the 19th century. ( F )
Day 4: Expedition on the Amazon River
Today, the expedition begins in the Amazon jungle along the river. You leave Manaus with your local guide and helper in a private boat that is also your home for the next few days. The first stop is Encontro das Águas, which is the place where the waters of Rio Negro and Rio Solimões meet without mixing, which can be seen by the color difference in the water. You then continue along the river on a log raft, where you have the opportunity to fish for piraya. In addition, you also get plenty of opportunities to see the Brazilian caiman, a reptile in the alligator family. Like any true adventurer, you sleep in a hammock on the boat to the sound of the Amazon rainforest. ( F , L , M )
Day 5: Expedition on the Amazon River
Today the journey continues along the river Rio Negro. You spend most of the day with two visits to the isolated Amazon. You meet the locals and get to know their traditions. In the afternoon, there will be paddling with your guide to discover the wildlife of the Amazon. Dinner is enjoyed on an isolated beach in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. ( F , L , M )
Day 6: Expedition on the Amazon River
Start the day by enjoying a swim in the river after breakfast. After the bath you visit the caboclo people. You will also have the opportunity to swim with the very special pink freshwater dolphins. Afterwards, it’s time for a survival trip in the jungle. Together with your guide, you walk through the rainforest and learn various skills, such as extracting water from the trees, practicing primitive hunting techniques and utilizing medical resources from various plants. When darkness falls, you camp and cook over an open fire. ( F , L , M )
Day 7: End of the Amazon Expedition with flights to Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast, the camp will be packed up and you will then return to the boat, where you have the opportunity to take one last swim in the river before returning to Manaus. Along the way, there will be a stop at a rubber tree museum, where you will get an insight into the treatment of this material and its applications. At the pier in Manaus, you say goodbye to the ship’s crew and your guide after a four-day expedition in the Amazon. Then you will be taken back to your hotel in Manaus where you can take a bath and relax. In the morning you drive to the airport and fly to Rio de Janeiro. ( F , L )
Day 8: Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
Upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro you will be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel in Copacabana. The rest of the day is on its own. ( F )
Day 9-10: Discover Rio
Welcome to Rio! This is the city you can not miss on every trip to Brazil. Rio is the country’s second largest city (after Sao Paulo) and offers a variety of wonderful experiences, from Copacabana beach to Corcovado mountain with the large statue of Christ. Do not miss a dinner at a real Brazilian steakhouse, a churrascaria (we can help you with recommendations for some of the best in town). It is possible to buy day trips to make the most of your time in the city: City tour to the city’s most classic highlights, including the Santa Teresa district, the colorful staircase in Selarón and not least the Sugar Loaf and Corcovado. When you are in Rio, it is also well worth a visit to some of the city’s many favela areas. It is a good eye opener with such a tour because it gives you a more nuanced picture of the million city of Rio de Janeiro. You will discover that there is “a city within a city” here. You can also take a local guided bike ride to Rio’s unknown beaches. (F )
Day 11: From Rio to charming Paraty
From the big city of Rio, the journey now goes to the picturesque little town of Paraty, which offers white buildings with colorful exterior doors and cozy cobbled streets. The city is in colonial style and is considered one of the world’s most important examples of Portuguese colonial architecture. Paraty is about a four-hour drive south of Rio de Janeiro. Here you spend the night in one of the city’s charming pousadors. ( F )
Day 12: Relaxation and culture in charming Paraty
Spend the day exploring the city. You can choose kayaking from Paraty Bay or hike in the jungle-covered mountains. ( F )
Day 13: Paraty to Ilha Grande
Today the journey continues to the tropical island of Ilha Grande. From Paraty, a ferry to Ilha Grande is booked. Here you will meet your guide when you arrive in Vila do Abraao, the only city on the island. There are no cars on the island, so you continue on foot to your pousada. ( F )
Day 14-15. day: Relaxation and beach holiday at Ilha Grande
The days are at your disposal. Ilha Grande is a nature reserve with 130 km of coastline and over 100 beaches with plenty of opportunity for a few genuinely relaxing days. Among other things, you can visit the famous Lopes Mendes beach which is known for being one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, take a boat trip around the island, snorkel, trek, kayak, surf and much more. ( F )
Day 16: Ilha Grande to Iguazú
Enjoy your morning at Ilha Grande before being picked up and taken back to Rio de Janeiro Airport. Here you fly directly to Iguazú and your cozy pousada. Here you can enjoy a dip in the pool or explore the city on your own. ( F )
Day 17: On an adventure at Iguazú Falls
The rushing river Iguazú crosses the state of Paraná in southern Brazil from east to west. A few kilometers before the river Iguazú crosses the river Paraná, it forms one of the most magnificently scenic places in the world, the Iguazú Falls. About three kilometers long and with an average flow of 1750 cubic meters per second, this wonder is located in a very special place, where the contrast between green vegetation and the dark colors of the rocks with water swirling out of the 72 meter high mountain can only be described as magical! In Iguazú there are a total of 275 waterfalls, some of which are over 80 meters high, which means that these waterfalls are wider than Victoria Falls and higher than Niagara Falls. It therefore came as no surprise when UNESCO named the region a World Heritage Site in 1986. The waterfalls were “discovered” originally 1541 by the Spaniard Alvar Nuñez. He called them Saltos de Santa María. The name we use today means “big water” in the tupí-guaraní language. The waterfalls are protected by two national parks, one in Brazil and one in Argentina. The tours take place via paths and footbridges that are adapted to the landscape in the area and here it is easy to hike regardless of age. Guided tours of the complex take place several times a day. The best time of year to visit the place is from August to November. During the rainy season from May to July, there is a risk of flooding that can prevent you from getting close to the falls via the walkways. You have two days on your own. It is possible to buy day trips and bike rides from home or on site. (F )
Day 18: On an adventure at Iguazú and meeting with the guaraniers
You have the whole day on your own to explore Iguazú. You can also look forward to an exciting evening with the Guarani Indians, an Indian tribe whose members spread across southern Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. The Guarani Indians live in close harmony with nature, which they believe has been assigned to them by their gods. During the evening you get an insight into their traditions and participate in a ceremony with traditional dance and song as well as ancient rituals and stories of the chief. It all happens in the middle of the rainforest and it ends with everyone eating together. Come with an open mind and ask many questions and you will surely have a truly unique experience. ( F , M )
Day 19: Departure from Brazil
Time to say “goodbye” to Brazil and set course for Scandinavia. You take yourself to the airport and begin your return journey. ( F )
Day 20: Return to Scandinavia
Overnight stays
Three nights at a boutique hotel in Manaus
Three nights in a hammock at the Amazon Expedition
Three nights at a tourist class hotel in Rio de Janerio
Two nights at a pousada in Paraty
Three nights at a pousada in Ilha Grande
Three nights at a pousada in Iguazú