Welcome to Brazil! Upon arrival at the Rio de Janeiro Airport, you will be greeted by a local representative and transferred directly to your hotel. Check into your room, get settled and spend the first evening of your adventure as you wish! (This service is on a private basis.)

Welcome Dinner

This evening, we have arranged for a special welcome dinner at the delicious and stylish Zazá Bistrô restaurant. The perfect way to kick off your trip!

Rio de Janeiro

The inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro call it the “Marvelous City.” Located on the Bay of Guanabara, Rio has a mountainous landscape that contrasts with an intensely blue sea. Here, the skyscrapers, colonial buildings and narrow streets meld in perfect harmony. Although the city is a reflection of the social inequalities of the country, Rio de Janeiro has great style and is internationally renowned for its Christ Corcovado, Pao d’Açúcar, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, and the warm and lively inhabitants of the city, the cariocas.

Vida Carioca Experience

During this half day excursion, you will have the chance to catch a glimpse of the authentic lifestyle of the "Cariocas", the people who call Rio their home. Your tour will begin with a walk to the nearest metro station, where you will take the subway and travel for 15 minutes. As you walk along the bustling streets, you will visit the historic and commercial center of Rio, highlighting the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian and the Saara neighborhood. You will have the opportunity to observe the customs, commerce and joy of the Carioca people. Stop along the way to try a delicious natural juice made with tropical fruits, the perfect refreshment as you explore.

Included in today's tour will be a tasty lunch at Confeitaria Colombo, which is one of the oldest and most historic restaurants in all of Brazil. You will be returned to your hotel, via another local subway ride. (This service is on a private basis.)

Carnival Experience

Nothing is more representative of Brazil, than the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. This is a massive event and celebration that takes place every year, bringing people from all over the world to join in the festivities. The vibrant colors, the catchy music and glitzy costumes parade before your eyes spreading the joy and warmth of the Brazilian people. During today's half day experience, you will visit Acadêmicos da Grande Rio, one of the major samba schools in the city. Here, you will learn about the history of samba and the carnival parades. You will also have an opportunity to try on the costumes, capture photos and enjoy a welcome caipirinha! Cheers! (This service is on a private basis.)

Golden Lion Tamarin Project

Located two hours away from the city of Rio de Janeiro, lies one of the best known rainforest conservation efforts in Brazil - the Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project. The Golden Lion Tamarin is a strikingly beautiful squirrel-sized primate that exists only in the lowland Atlantic Rainforest of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is considered to be one of the most endangered primate species on earth. All of the approximately 1,000 remaining wild primates are found in the Poco das Antas Biological Reserve and the surrounding private land.

Today, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the reserve for an unforgettable day admiring these creatures. Upon arrival at the institute, you will be welcomed by the project technical staff and provided a briefing of the project. From there, you will continue on a trek through the forest to observe the animals in reintegration within their natural habitat. (This service is on a private basis.)

Today, you will be picked up at your hotel in 4:00PM and transferred to the airport in good time to board your domestic flight to 4:00PM. Upon arrival in 4:00PM, you will be greeted at the airport by your driver and transferred to the Pantanal via the Transpantaneira highway. (This service is on a private basis.)

This zone has the greatest plant life concentration in all of Latin America, so the ride is sure to offer incredible views. In Pantanal, you will be staying in a fazenda, a traditional farm, where you will spend the next few nights surrounded by nature.

North Pantanal

The Pantanal is the world’s largest continental wetland. The area covers approximately a vast 210,000 km2, which is divided into north and south over territories of Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. Most of this flat land lies in Brazil. The North Pantanal is a privileged region, concentrating a massive variety of landscapes that make up its ecosystem. The natural beauty and the rich biodiversity of this part of the Pantanal provides a unique, but incredible setting. It's scenery offers picturesque views formed by the hills, savannas, rivers, corixos, and huge flooded areas, some temporary and others permanent.

Lodge Activities

Throughout your stay at the Araras Ecolodge, you will have the opportunity to take part in various activities within the Pantanal region. Make the most of your days immersing in the nature and embracing the adventure. The resident wildlife and the unique characteristics of the landscapes, are the perfect platform for exploration. From sunrise, until after dark, you will have the chance to truly understand and make contact with the nature around you.

The activities include photography safaris on a four-wheel vehicle, canoe trips along the river, observation of the caimans, horseback riding excursions and admiring the breathtaking sunset of the Pantanal. Once the sun goes down, a whole new world comes to life, and you will even have the option of going on a night safari to see the nocturnal wildlife with the help of a long range lens. As the animals are out searching for food, your chances for sightings are likely and exciting!

Your adventures in the Pantanal will continue today, as you make your way to the Southern part of the region. You will be picked up at your accommodation in Northern Pantanal and transferred to the airport in Cuiabá, in good time to board your domestic flight to Campo Grande. Upon arrival in Campo Grande, you will be greeted at the airport by your driver and transferred to the Pantanal of Aquidauana. (This service is on a private basis.)

South Pantanal

For those who enjoy a traditional farm environment, with food cooked on a wooden stove and a lot of surrounding nature, then South Pantanal is the ideal place for you! Due to its geological profile that creates a natural water flow, the Pantanal has two distinct annual seasons, the dry season and the full season. It is considered one of the richest places in biodiversity throughout the entire world. This ecosystem specifically, has the highest density of wildlife in the Americas, being compared only to the savannas of Africa. Considered an open sky zoo without boundaries, the tours, lodging, and meals of this region showcase the best of Pantanal nature and culture, sure to delight all tastes!

Lodge Activities

Throughout your stay at the Barra Mansa Lodge, you will have the opportunity to take part in various activities within the Pantanal region, along the banks of the Negro River. The Negro River's Pantanal is one of the most superb sites in the world to watch wildlife. This is not only because of the extraordinary pulsating life of its fauna, but also because the vegetation is widely open for observation. It is an ecosystem that is in constant transformation. At the lodge, you will have an exclusive guide take you around to explore the area. You are welcome to choose what you want to do, what time to leave and what time to return. All tours and activities are organized according to your preference.

The activities include canoe trips down the river, horseback riding through the wetlands, wildlife safaris on 4x4 customized vehicles and even lessons on how to rope, catch and broad cattle! With a farm on site, you can try your hands at milking cows and helping the cooks make cheese and sweet caramel!

Spend this morning making the most of the activities at the Barra Mansa or exploring deeper into the wonders of the Pantanal region, before heading to the next part of your adventure. In the mid afternoon, you will be transferred to Bonito, a small town famous for ecotourism worldwide. Its main attractions are the magnificent natural landscapes, especially water, with pristine rivers and a great variety of wildlife. (This service is on a private basis.)

Check into the Pousada and spend the remainder of the day as you wish!

Bonito

Nestled in the paradise of the South Mato Grosso state, lies Bonito, which quite literally can be translated to mean "beautiful". This nomenclature correlates perfectly with what you will find in this small town. An unforgettable destination, nature lovers can enjoy a variety of sights, sounds and experiences, guaranteed to satisfy all of your senses. Swimming beside the colorful species of fish, walking along the scenic trails, observing the animals in their natural habitat, rappelling down caves, riding horses, taking a refreshing bath in natural waterfalls and admiring the amazing landscapes, are only some of the activities that await you in town. You will be surprised by the amount of attractions in such a small space!

Snorkel Rio da Prata

Today, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the trail head at Recanto Ecologico do Rio da Prata for an exciting snorkeling adventure. Geared up with all of the necessary snorkeling equipment, you will start floating down the picturesque turquoise river. Surrounded by crystal clear water and lush forest greenery, this peaceful journey will lead you to Vulcao Olho d’Agua, where you will stop for snorkeling. Discover the wonders of the underwater world and learn about the surrounding nature from your guide, before the route meets back up with the Rio da Prata. Depending on the current, you will either board a boat or continue floating down the final stretch of the river. At the end of your tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)

Cachaça Liquor Factory Tour

Best known for its role in the Caipirinha, "cachaça" is a spicy, sweet and fruity clear liquor, distilled from fermented sugarcane juice and must, by law, be produced in Brazil. Today, you will have the opportunity to visit the factory of Taboa, the most famous brand of “cachaça” in the region. During this one hour tour, you will learn about the history, the techniques of mixing the spirits and the bottling process. When you first get to the Fábrica de Encantos (Charms Factory), you will be taught more about the city of Bonito itself, and how the famous Taboa Bar first began, as you explore the replica that has been created from 1996. Afterwards, you will continue on to visit more of the factory through covered walkways with views of the pond, where the Taboa grass is planted. Breathe in the smell of the herbs used in the mixture, observe the process of assembling the straw coated bottles, the labeling techniques and ultimately, enjoy a tasting of the delicious Taboa beverage. Cheers! (This service is on a private basis.)

Sadly, your adventure through Brazil must come to an end today. However, you will be leaving with new and unforgettable memories and experiences! After checking out of the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport in Campo Grande in good time to board your departure flight. (This service is on a private basis.)

We hope you had a truly amazing trip and we wish you safe and pleasant travels onward!