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Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu Falls - Anavilhanas Archipelago, Amazon - Salvador da Bahia

Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel

 

Iguazu Falls, Southern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

Brazil's most emblematic places…

 

Experience four world-heritage sites -- the "marvelous city" of Rio de Janeiro, the thundering cataracts of Iguazu Falls, the Amazon's Anavilhanas Archipelago and the colonial charm of Salvador da Bahia. From a deluxe beach view room in one of the world's legendary hotels, the Copacabana Palace, to a deluxe falls' view room in Hotel das Cataratas, a bungalow at the Anavilhanas Lodge and a junior suite in the four-century-old Convento do Carmo, our Brazil: Land of Marvels showcases Brazil's most emblematic places. With Inkas at your side, you can count on the unsurpassed luxury of a masterly itinerary, private guides with chauffeurs, regal accommodations and gourmet cuisine.

 

Land Price (14 days/13 nights)

De Luxe US$ 13,095 per person

The land price includes escorted transfers, private excursions (except boating excursion on Day 5, Anavilhanas excursion and boating excursion on Day 11), professional guides and chauffeurs, entrance fees, selected category of accommodations, gourmet cuisine (except drinks), all land and water transportation (except boating excursions on Day 5 and Day 11), and travel insurance for guests through the age of 59 years (over that age, there is a supplementary fee). All prices are per person based on two people sharing a guest room. For a detailed description of our services, see Opulent Itineraries. Visitors from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand need a visa to enter Brazil. We recommend arrival on a Friday to avoid changes in the itinerary due to museum or restaurant closures.

 

Intra-Tour Flights & Fares

Air fares are in addition to the land price.

Rio - Foz do Iguaçu, Foz do Iguaçu - Manus, Manus - Salvador da Bahia & Salvador da Bahia - Rio

 

 

Samba dancer, Plataforma, Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Highlights

Rio de Janeiro

Day 1: International arrival in Rio de Janeiro. Arrival in Rio, reception and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at Cipriani. Overnight in the Copacabana Palace by Orient-Express -- Deluxe Beach View Room -- King Bed.

Day 2: Rio de Janeiro (Sugarloaf & Botanical Garden). The morning tour proceeds through the old Urca neighborhood towards the Sugarloaf, where a cable-car starts the steep, exhilarating 215-meter climb up Morro da Urca. From here, the cable-car travels high above the rugged, vegetated terrain to the Sugarloaf's 395-meter summit. Visitors can enjoy wonderful panoramic views over Rio de Janeiro from the top. Lunch at the Confeitaria Colombo, the oldest coffee shop in Rio de Janeiro, opened as a meeting point for intellectuals and aristocrats. Afternoon tour of the most impressive of Latin America's botanical gardens and one of the finest in the world, the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. Laid out during the 19th century in the heart of the city, these lush, spacious gardens are an oasis of calm in the middle of a buzzing metropolis. Visitors are met with an astounding array of native and foreign plant species (about 6,200 in all), some of which grow to gigantic proportions in this ecological paradise. Tonight, dinner and music at Rio Scenarium. Overnight in the Copacabana Palace by Orient-Express -- Deluxe Beach View Room -- King Bed.

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro (Old Rio & Corcovado). Rio is one of the world's most historically and culturally significant cities, its rich heritage being reflected in the countless monuments within the metropolitan area. Among those included in the afternoon tour of Old Rio is the Mosteiro de São Bento, a World Heritage Monument and probably the most beautiful example of Brazilian Baroque and Rococo architecture. After lunch at Riso, Galería de Arte e Bistrô, the tour continues on to Corcovado. Perched atop the mountain, the statue of Christ the Redeemer is one of the world's best-known and most-visited monuments, one that offers breathtaking views of the city. In the evening, gourmet French cuisine at Chef Claude Troisgros' Olympe. After dinner, a taste of Carnival, with Samba school drummers and dancers in lavish costume, presenting the best of Brazil in an alluring, glittering show at Plataforma. Overnight in the Copacabana Palace by Orient-Express -- Deluxe Beach View Room -- King Bed.

Iguazu Falls

Intra-tour flight Rio de Janeiro - Foz do Iguaçu, Day 4, 10:10 am - 12:10 am, G31460

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu Falls (Brazilian Side). Transfer to the airport. Flight to Iguazu Falls, reception and drive to La Rueda for lunch. Arrival at Iguazu Falls, considered by many the most spectacular waterfall in the world, perhaps because of the more than 270 streams that suddenly appear from the rainforest to form a myriad of cataracts, large and small, which mingle and blend so graciously with the surrounding vegetation. For this reason, the falls have been declared a World Heritage Site. Just a short stroll away is your hotel, the beautiful Portuguese-colonial style Hotel das Cataratas by Orient-Express. Afternoon walking excursion on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Dinner on the veranda of the hotel's Itaipu Restaurant or adjacent to the pool in the Ipê Grill. Overnight in Hotel das Cataratas by Orient-Express -- De Luxe Room with Falls View -- King Bed.

Day 5: Iguazu Falls (Argentine Side). Full-day visit of the Argentine side of Iguazu National Park. Walking with a naturalist guide on the Yacaratia Trail, guests will observe the incredible diversity of plants and animals as well as the many beautiful cataracts. Lunch at Garganta del Diablo. In addition to the walk, there will be a shared navigation to reach the falls. Dinner and overnight in Hotel das Cataratas by Orient-Express -- De Luxe Room with Falls View -- King Bed.

Anavilhanas Archipelago, Amazon

Intra-tour flight Foz do Iguaçu - São Paulo, Day 6, 6:00 am - 7:45 am, TAM Airlines JJ3556

Intra-tour flight São Paulo - Manaus, Day 6, 9:25 am - 12:33 pm, TAM Airlines JJ3748

Day 6: Iguazu Falls - Manaus. 4:00 am transfer to the airport for your flight to São Paulo and connection to Manaus. Arrival in the capital of the Amazon. Lunch of Amazonian cuisine at Banzeiro, Afterward, walk to the city's amazing opera house. The imposing and ornate Teatro Amazonas heralds the glory of a bygone era of opulence during the peak of the rubber trade in the late 1800s and early 1900s. After taking in this curiously-located tribute to European culture, transfer to the dock for a boating excursion to the Meeting-of-the-Waters, where the Amazon River meets the Rio Negro. Dinner at Bistrô Mon Plaisir. Overnight in the Tropical Manaus Eco Resort -- De Luxe Colonial Room -- King Bed.

Day 7: Manaus - Anavilhanas Lodge. Guests will be picked up by the staff of Anavilhanas Lodge, one of the most exclusive lodges in the Amazon, and drive three hours to the lodge. Beautifully located alongside the Rio Negro and close to the Anavilhanas Archipelago, within the Central Amazon Conservation Complex world-heritage site. In the midst of pristine rainforest, the lodge has comfortable bungalows and knowledgeable guides. Tour the Anavilhanas islands in a riverboat this afternoon and spot alligators in the evening. Full board and overnight in the Anavilhanas Lodge -- Bunglow -- King Bed.

Day 8: Anavilhanas Lodge. Amazon excursions in a small group (maximum of 14 guests), including a forest hike, a visit to Amazonian dolphins, piranha fishing and a lecture on the Amazon and Anavilhanas. Full board and overnight in the Anavilhanas Lodge -- Bungalow -- King Bed.

Day 9: Anavilhanas Lodge. Sunrise contemplation, followed by private Amazon excursions, including bird watching, a visit to handcraft studios and the appreciation of local habits at regional houses in the Tiririca community. Full board and overnight in the Anavilhanas Lodge -- Bungalow -- King Bed.

Salvador da Bahia

Intra-tour flight Manaus - Brasilia, Day 10, 2:20 pm - 5:59 pm, TAM Airlines JJ3609

Intra-tour flight Brasilia - Salvador da Bahia, Day 10, 7:37 pm - 9:28 pm, TAM Airlines JJ3305

Day 10: Anavilhanas Lodge - Salvador da Bahia. Return to Manaus to board your flight to Sáo Paulo and connection to Salvador da Bahia. Reception and transfer to the Convento do Carmo, a former convent that dates back to 1586. Overnight in the Convento do Carmo -- Junior Suite-- King Bed. Please note that lunch and dinner are not included this day due to the flight schedule. Guests will be able to purchase lunch at the airport and order from room service at the hotel.

Day 11: Salvador da Bahia (Colonial Quarter & Folkloric Show). Full-day historical and panoramic tour of Salvador. By far the most significant site visited during the excursion is the cobblestoned Pelourinho district -- the heart of Salvador’s Old Town. This World Heritage Site is considered by Unesco a highlight of XVII and XVIII century colonial architecture. Lunch at Amado. In the afternoon, the excursion proceeds to offer to guests various beautiful panoramic views of the city. Visitors then go to the Mercado Modelo, Bahia's largest arts and crafts center. Tonight, an impressive folkloric show by the renowned Balé Folclórico da Bahia. In Salvador, the dances and musical styles are more traditional, religious, mystical and African, in contrast to the show in Rio, which is focused on the Samba. After the show, a dinner at María Mata Mouro. Overnight in the Convento do Carmo -- Junior Suite-- King Bed.

Day 12: Salvador da Bahia (Island Schooner Excursion). At the harbor, depart with other passengers on a schooner for an all-day tropical island excursion. At Ilha dos Frades, we drop anchor at Praia de Ponta de Nossa Senhora and spend two hours relaxing and swimming. Afterward, we arrive at Ponta de Areia on Ilha de Itaparica, the largest island in the bay, to taste delicious Bahian cuisine at the Kirymuré restaurant, watch a Capoeira show and enjoy the beach. As the sun sets, passengers return to the schooner for the trip back to the port of Salvador. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in the Convento do Carmo -- Junior Suite-- King Bed.

Rio de Janeiro

Intra-tour flight Salvador da Bahia - Rio de Janeiro, Day 9, 12:09 pm - 2:24 pm, O66213

International departure from Rio de Janeiro, Day 9, approximately 6:00 pm

Day 13: Salvador da Bahia - Rio de Janeiro. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janeiro and connection home.

Home

Day 14: Rio de Janeiro - Home. Overnight flight and arrival home.

 

 

Corcovado Mountain (left) and Sugarloaf (right), Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Details

 

Day 1: International arrival in Rio de Janeiro

Breakfast. Arrival in Rio, reception and transfer to the country's (and South America's) finest and most famous hotel: Orient-Express' Copacabana Palace, overlooking Copacabana Beach. Dinner of Northern Italian cuisine at Chef Franceso Carli's Cipriani Restaurant. Carli previously worked in Orient-Express' Hotel Cipriani in Venice. Overnight in the Copacabana Palace.

 

 

Cable car to the top of Sugarloaf, Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Rio de Janeiro, the Marvelous City

 

With a dreamlike beauty that exceeds even the greatest of expectations, Rio is a city that has to be seen to be believed. Take the train up the Corcovado to see the breathtaking view beneath Christ's outstretched arms or the cable car to the top of the famous Sugarloaf to see the spectacular landforms that embrace the sandy beaches, glittering bays, fine residential districts and towering forest-covered mountains of the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City). The landscape is so dramatic that even the largest areas of modern high-rises are still dwarfed by the overwhelming grandeur of numerous peaks and the largest urban tropical forest in the world, itself a monument to environmental preservation.

From the city center, where the history of imperial Brazil began, through the classic elegance of Copacabana and contemporary sophistication of Ipanema and Leblon to the ultra-modern development of Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro has many faces that include Rocinha, the world's largest shanty settlement and Santa Teresa, where streetcars still climb the winding, cobblestone streets through this mountainside artists' district.

The natives of Rio, or cariocas, are famous for proudly mirroring the city's qualities in their daily pursuit of health, beauty and elegance: the seafront, lakeside and Tijuca Forest Park are always favorite destinations for exercising or simply enjoying the natural delights that their extraordinary city has to offer.

The cradle of the Brazilian empire, independence and republic; Rio de Janeiro's immense historical wealth of fine buildings, palaces, theaters and museums complements her natural splendor. The arts, folklore and popular music reflect Rio's cultural abundance in the form of leading galleries, the internationally famous Carnival and Samba schools, and Bossa Nova, immortalized by the most famous cariocas, Tom Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes.

 

 

View of Corcovado and Sugarloaf, Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 2: Rio de Janeiro (Sugarloaf & Botanical Garden)

Breakfast. The first stage of the tour takes in a number of sites of interest in downtown Rio de Janeiro offering lovely views of Rio and the Sugarloaf. The tour then proceeds through the old Urca neighborhood toward the Sugarloaf, where a cable-car starts the steep, exhilarating 215-meter climb up Morro da Urca. From here, the cable-car travels high above the rugged, vegetated terrain to the Sugarloaf's 395-meter summit. Visitors can enjoy wonderful panoramic views over Rio de Janeiro from the top, sunsets being particularly spectacular.

The tour proceeds for lunch at the Confeitaria Colombo, the oldest coffee shop in Rio de Janeiro, opened as a meeting point for intellectuals and aristocrats. Built in 1894 and refurbished in 1914, it is a living portrait of Rio's Belle Époque, retaining much of its Art Nouveau charm, with famous Belgian mirrors in hardwood frames and lovingly-preserved Italian marble benches.

Afternoon tour of the most impressive of Latin America's botanical gardens and one of the finest in the world, the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. Laid out during the 19th century in the heart of the city, these lush, spacious gardens are an oasis of calm in the middle of a buzzing metropolis. Visitors are met with an astounding array of native and foreign plant species (about 6,200 in all), some of which grow to gigantic proportions in this ecological paradise. Tamarins (small omnivores related to monkeys) and a myriad of colorful bird species thrive amongst the flamboyant vegetation. The tour proceeds on foot to appreciate the sights around the park, revealing some rich historical and cultural heritage such as the old gunpowder factory and the Solar da Imperatriz, home to the National School of Tropical Botany, the first of its kind in Latin America. The tour ends in the Sao Cristovão district, where the Quinta da Boa Vista, once the residence of the Portuguese Royal family, is located. Within its compound, the "Quinta" houses the National Museum of Natural History, once called "The Tropical Versailles" because of its architecture. Although a visit to the museum is not included, one can be arranged on request.

Tonight, dinner and music at Rio Scenarium. Overnight in the Copacabana Palace.

 

 

Jardím Botánico de Río de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro (Old Rio & Corcovado)

Breakfast. Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most historically and culturally significant cities, its rich heritage being reflected in the countless monuments within the metropolitan area. This morning, visit the Mosteiro de São Bento, a World Heritage Monument and probably the most beautiful example of Brazilian Baroque and Rococo architecture. With a simple, sober façade and magnificent carvings and paintings within, the monastery is still in operation, holding traditional services each Sunday with monks performing Gregorian chants. Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Candelária (1775) is the biggest colonial church in Rio, founded in 1609 by Portuguese immigrants. The interior of the church is in Neoclassical style, the cupola having been finished only in 1898. The Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil is an imposing domed building that dates back to the late 19th century. It has a cinema with high-quality art films, contemporary theatre and a large exhibition of fine arts and photography.

Built in 1743, the modest Paço Imperial was the headquarters of the Portuguese government. It was here that Dom João VI established his court in 1808; Dom Pedro I announced his refusal to join his father back in Portugal in 1822 and Princess Isabel proclaimed the end of slavery in Brazil in 1888. The building still retains its original colonial structure after numerous restorations, the most recent being its conversion into an arts center. The tour ends at the marvellous Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (The National Museum of Fine Arts), where the works of Brazil's greatest artists are on display.

After lunch at Riso, Galería de Arte e Bistrô, the tour continues on to Corcovado. Perched atop the mountain at an altitude of 710 meters, the statue of Christ the Redeemer is certainly one of the world's best-known and most-visited monuments. Clad with a soapstone mosaic, the statue is also one of Rio's finest Art Nouveau monuments and at night becomes a shining landmark visible from all over the city. From the top there are breathtaking views of the city.

 

 

Corcovado Mountain (left) and Sugarloaf (right), Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

A rack railway takes the visitor up to the foot of the statue, the train leaving the Cosme Velho district and climbing the steep slopes of Tijuca Forest. Located around the base of Corcovado and with many springs and waterfalls, this dense forest was proclaimed a national park in the early sixties.

In the evening, gourmet French cuisine at Chef Claude Troisgros' Olympe. The all-Brazilian ingredients are a unique trait of this innovative restaurant that blends native flavors with nouvelle techniques. Every dish is exceptionally light. The passion-fruit mousse is a favorite dessert. After dinner, a taste of Carnival, with Samba school drummers and dancers in lavish costume, presenting the best of Brazil in an alluring, glittering show at Plataforma. Overnight in the Copacabana Palace.

 

 

Samba show, Plataforma, Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu Falls (Brazilian Side)

Breakfast. Transfer to the domestic airport for the flight to Foz de Iguaçu. Reception and transfer to La Rueda for lunch. Arrival at Iguazu Falls, considered by many the most spectacular waterfall in the world, perhaps because of the more than 270 streams that suddenly appear from the rainforest to form a myriad of cataracts, large and small, which mingle and blend so graciously with the surrounding vegetation. For this reason, the falls have been declared a World Heritage Site. Just a short stroll away is your hotel, the beautiful Portuguese-colonial style Hotel das Cataratas by Orient-Express. Afternoon walking excursion on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Dinner of Brazilian-international fusion cuisine on the veranda of the hotel's Itaipu Restaurant or international dishes adjacent to the pool in the Ipê Grill. Overnight in Hotel das Cataratas

 

 

 

Iguazu Falls, Southern Brazil.
Video: blueplanetvideos.com. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 5: Iguazu Falls (Argentine Side)

Breakfast. Full-day visit of the Argentine side of Iguazu National Park. The park, a World Heritage Site, extends over 220,000 acres (67,000 hectares) and protects one of the areas of greatest biological diversity in the country: the Paranaense subtropical rainforest, a continuation of the southern Brazilian jungle. It has more than 2,100 known plant species. The rainforest, with a canopy exceeding 120 feet in height, is a natural frame for the spectacular Iguazu Falls, composed of more than 270 individual waterfalls. Surrounding them are jungle paths, where a variety of wildlife is frequently encountered. Walking with a naturalist guide on the Yacaratia Trail, guests will observe the incredible diversity of plants and animals as well as the many beautiful cataracts stretching for several miles along the river. Enjoy lunch at Garganta del Diablo. In addition to the walk, there will be a shared navigation to reach the falls and a crossing to San Martín Island. Dinner and overnight in Hotel das Cataratas.

 

 

Central Amazon Conservation Corridor, Northern Brazil.
Map: Inka's Empire Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 6: Iguazu Falls - São Paulo - Manaus

Breakfast. 4:00 am transfer to the airport for your flight to São Paulo and connection to Manaus. Arrival in the capital of the Amazon. Lunch of Amazonian cuisine by chef Filipe Schaedler at Banzeiro. Afterward, walk to the city's amazing opera house. The imposing and ornate “Teatro Amazonas” was designed by Italian architect Celestial Sacardim in the Renaissance style, but was planned to be state of the art and to include electric lighting. It was inaugurated on 31 December 1896 and the first performance occurred on 7 January 1897 with the Italian opera La Gioconda by Amilcare Ponchielli. The opera house heralds the glory of a bygone era of opulence during the peak of the rubber trade in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is featured in the film Fitzcarraldo, directed by the German director Werner Herzog in 1982. At the beginning of the film, the opera-obsessed character "Fitzcarraldo" makes his way to the opera house to hear Enrico Caruso sing in Verdi's Ernani. He arrives right at the end of the opera and there are scenes of the interior of house. While it is believed that the house was constructed to attract Caruso to perform at its opening, there is some doubt that he actually did perform there. After taking in this curiously-located tribute to European culture, transfer to the dock for a boating excursion to the Meeting-of-the-Waters, where the Amazon River meets the Rio Negro. Dinner at Bistrô Mon Plaisir. Overnight in the Tropical Manaus Eco Resort.

 

 

Teatro Amazonas, Manaus, Northern Brazil.
Photo: David Leventi. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Manaus

 

The mighty Amazon River system, which in size and number of tributaries has no equal, holds one fifth of the planet's fresh water. In the heart of the Amazon Basin is the confluence of the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões, which, after flowing side by side for about 8 kilometers without their waters mingling, join to form the Amazon proper.

Situated at this meeting of the waters, an island of civilization in the middle of the jungle, Manaus is a town that flourished during the late 19th century and became the second Brazilian city to have electric light. The city is now the capital of the state of Amazonas and the main port, having recently acquired renewed importance as a free trade zone and industrial center, and as the natural focus for tourism in this exotic region.

The rubber boom, which started at the end of 19th century and lasted for about 30 years, was largely responsible for the way Manaus looks today, with its broad avenues and squares. The opulent wealth of this period bequeathed some jewels which cannot be missed during a stay in the city, such as the Teatro Amazonas, built in Italian Renaissance style, completed in 1896 and restored in 1929 and 1990, the Alfredo Lisboa market, designed by Eiffel following the example of Les Halles in Paris, the Rio Negro Palace, today the seat of the state governor and the Alfândega (customs building), designed and built in Liverpool, transported and assembled in Manaus. Also erected in this way were the floating docks, an ingenious design at the time, made to cope with the 14-meter annual rise and fall of the Rio Negro.

Manaus is a natural starting point for tours into the jungle. The Amazon rainforest is largely low-lying, much of it being periodically flooded and the main transport is by boat. Tourists also use this means to get to know the exuberant vegetation and diverse wildlife of the region, home to a tenth of the world's 10 million recorded species of living things. Among them are 2,000 species of fish, 8,600 species of bird, 1,800 species of butterfly, 50,000 higher plant species and countless species of insects. A number of jungle lodges are specially designed to offer the opportunity to encounter nature close at hand. For the more adventurous, regional boats can take visitors further upstream: the upper Rio Negro leads to the spectacular Anavilhanas Archipelago and the Jaú National Park, whilst the Rio Solimões is the route to the Mamiraua Jungle Reserve, near Tefé, and Peru.

 

 

Bungalow, Anavilhanas Lodge, in the Anavilhanas Archipelago, Northern Brazil.
Photo: Lalo de Almeida for The New York Times. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 7: Manaus - Anavilhanas Lodge

Breakfast. Guests will be picked up by the staff of Anavilhanas Lodge, one of the most exclusive lodges in the Amazon, and drive three hours to the lodge. Beautifully located alongside the Rio Negro and close to the Anavilhanas Archipelago, within the Central Amazon Conservation Corridor world heritage site. In the midst of pristine rainforest, the lodge has comfortable bungalows and knowledgeable guides. Recently featured in The New York Times in an article titled Into the Amazon, it is the only lodge where you can swim with river dolphins. Tour the Anavilhanas islands in a riverboat this afternoon and spot alligators in the evening. Full board and overnight in the Anavilhanas Lodge -- Bungalow.

 

 

Pink Dolphins, Lago do Bin, Northern Brazil.
Photo: Kevin Schafer. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 8: Anavilhanas Lodge

Breakfast. Amazon excursions in a small group (maximum of 14 guests), including a forest hike, a visit to Amazonian dolphins, piranha fishing and a lecture on the Amazon and Anavilhanas. Full board and overnight in the Anavilhanas Lodge -- Bungalow.

 

 

Toucan, Amazonas, Northern Brazil.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 9: Anavilhanas Lodge

Breakfast. Sunrise contemplation, followed by private Amazon excursions, including bird watching, a visit to handcraft studios and the appreciation of local habits at regional houses in the Tiririca community. Full board and overnight in the Anavilhanas Lodge -- Bungalow.

 

 

The rare White Uakari Monkey (Cacajao calvus calvus), Northern Brazil.
Photo: Luiz Claudio Marigo. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 10: Anavilhanas Lodge - Brasilia - Salvador da Bahia

Breakfast. Return to Manaus to board the flight to Sáo Paulo and the connection to Salvador da Bahia, originally called São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, in English: "Holy Savior of All Saints' Bay"). Reception and transfer to the historic Convento do Carmo. The Convent, initially built in 1586 by the First Order of Carmelite Friars, has been throughout the centuries the stage for many significant events of Brazilian history. Nowadays, after careful restoration, it is the most luxurious hotel in the city. Within the convent’s whitewashed stone walls, tranquility awaits. Graceful cloisters are atwitter with birds. Pitched-beam ceilings and 19th-century antiques evoke Salvador’s past. A small spa offers an impressive range of treatments, and the central courtyard, with its lovely stone fountain transformed into a wading pool, is an ideal place to relax over a caipirinha with lime and maracujá (passion fruit). Overnight in the Convento do Carmo. Please note that lunch and dinner are not included this day due to the flight schedule. Guests will be able to purchase lunch at the airport and order from room service at the hotel.

 

 

Pelourinho district, Salvador da Bahia, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 11: Salvador da Bahia (Colonial Quarter & Folkloric Show)

Breakfast. Full-day historical and panoramic tour of Salvador. This charming excursion first takes guests through the historical heart of the city -- the Cidade Alta, revealing some of the first streets laid in Bahia. The excursion begins at Farol da Barra, a lighthouse that now functions as the city's nautical museum. The excursion then proceeds in the direction of Porto da Barra, from where one can see the Santa Maria and São Diogo forts. From here, the tour moves on to Salvador's more traditional neighborhoods, namely Corredor da Vitória, Campo Grande and Piedade. By far the most significant site visited during the excursion is the Pelourinho, the historical center and a World Heritage Site, considered by Unesco to be a highlight of 17th and 18th century colonial architecture. Clinging to the steep terrain, the picturesque colonial houses and churches (such as the Igreja do São Francisco), artistically decorated in a myriad of colors, make this enchanting part of town a must for anyone visiting Bahia. Lunch at Amado. In the afternoon, the excursion proceeds to offer to guests various beautiful panoramic views of the city, plus the famous Bonfim Church, which hosts a range of religious events, the most important, perhaps, being the Lavagem do Bonfim, or washing of the steps. Guests then go to the Mercado Modelo, Bahia's largest arts and crafts center.

Tonight, an impressive folkloric show by the renowned Balé Folclórico da Bahia at the Teatro Miguel Santana. The theater is set in a beautiful 18th century architectural complex comprising a main house (Casa Grande), a chapel and outlying slave quarters. In Salvador, the dances and musical styles are more traditional, religious, mystical and African, in contrast to the show in Rio, which is focused on the Samba. After the show, a dinner at María Mata Mouro. Return to your hotel. Overnight in the Convento do Carmo.

 

 

 

Balé Folclórico da Bahia at Teatro Miguel Santana, Salvador da Bahia, Northeastern Brazil.
Video: Balé Folclórico da Bahia. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 12: Salvador da Bahia (Island Schooner Excursion)

Breakfast. At the harbor, depart with other passengers on a schooner for an all-day tropical island excursion with exotic fruit, live music and a bar on board (drinks not included). Bahia de Todos os Santos (Bay of All Saints) is one of the most beautiful bays in Brazil and certainly the largest. It has many tropical islands with paradisial beaches and vegetation. At Ilha dos Frades, which has the shape of a 15-point star, we drop anchor at Praia de Ponta de Nossa Senhora and spend two hours relaxing and swimming in the warm, clear waters of one of the pristine beaches. On this island, slaves coming from Africa were placed in quarantine to gain weight before being sold in the city. Afterward, we arrive at Ponta de Areia on Ilha de Itaparica, the largest island in the bay, to taste delicious Bahian cuisine at the Kirymuré restaurant, watch a Capoeira show and enjoy the beach. As the sun sets, passengers return to the schooner for the trip back to the port of Salvador. Transfer to the hotel. Tonight, an impressive folkloric show by the renowned Balé Folclórico da Bahia at the Teatro Miguel Santana. The theater is set in a beautiful 18th century architectural complex comprising a main house (Casa Grande), a chapel and outlying slave quarters. In Salvador, the dances and musical styles are more traditional, religious, mystical and African, in contrast to the show in Rio, which is focused on the Samba. After the show, a dinner at María Mata Mouro. Return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in the Convento do Carmo.

 

 

Pelourinho district, Salvador da Bahia, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.

 

Day 13: Salvador da Bahia - Rio de Janeiro

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janeiro and connection home.

 

Day 14: Rio de Janeiro - Home

Overnight flight and arrival home.

 

 

 

Inka's Empire Tours...

Impeccable!

 

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