Legacy of the Incas
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(11 days/10 nights)
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(12 days/11 nights)
Empire of the Sun
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru:
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(14 days/13 nights)
Ancient Civilizations of Peru
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca
(16 days/15 nights)
Archaeological & Ecological
Treasures
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru & Ecuador:
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (or Amazon)
(18 days/17 nights)
Grand Tour of the Inca Empire
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru:
Colca Canyon - Amazon
Machu Picchu- Lake Titicaca
(22 days/21 nights)
Ancient & Colonial Capitals
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru:
Machu Picchu
(10 days/9 nights)
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru:
Machu Picchu
(13 days/12 nights)
Machu Picchu & Galapagos
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Peru & Ecuador:
Machu Picchu - Galapagos
(15 days/14 nights)
Galapagos & Machu Picchus
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Ecuador & Peru:
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
(18 days/17 nights)
Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Ecuador:
Galapagos
(11 days/10 nights)
Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Ecuador:
Galapagos - Andes
(16 days/15 nights)
Galapagos & the Amazon
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Ecuador:
Galapagos - Amazon
(16 days/15 nights)
Historic Haciendas of the Andes
Luxury Peru Tours & Travel
Ecuador:
Cotopaxi - Antisana - Otavalo
(7 days/6 nights)
© 2013 Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Rio de Janeiro - Paraty - Salvador da Bahia - Praia do Forte - Olinda - Fernando de Noronha
Luxury Brazil Tours & Travel
Fernando de Noronha, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Veeyan. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Explore the crown jewels of Brazil’s magical coastline…
Brazil’s coastline boasts countless coves and bays with crystal-clear tropical waters that shelter an astounding array of idyllic beaches, each with its unique charm. Schooner trips, diving excursions and days on the beach allow guests to fully appreciate these fantastic locations. As you travel from south to north, visit the crown jewels of Brazil’s magical coastline, from densely-forested archipelagos surrounded by coral reefs to colonial towns overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. From a deluxe beach view room in one of the world's legendary hotels, the Copacabana Palace, to deluxe accommodations in historic properties and island ecolodges, Coastal Treasures of Brazil will immerse you in the country's natural and cultural history at five world-heritage sites -- Rio de Janeiro, Paraty, Salvador da Bahia, Olinda and Fernando de Noronha. Experience unsurpassed luxury with a masterly itinerary, private guides with chauffeurs, regal accommodations and gourmet cuisine.
Land Price (16 days/15 nights)
De Luxe US$ 14,830 per person
The land price includes escorted transfers (except restaurant transfers on Days 13 and 14 at approximately $8 per person each way), private excursions (except boating excursions on Day 4, Day 7 and Day 13), professional guides and chauffeurs, entrance fees (except Fernando de Noronha environmental protection tax and beach access fees of approximately $164), selected category of accommodations, gourmet cuisine (except drinks), all land and water transportation (except boating excursions on Day 4, Day 7 and Day 13), 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 Tuesday 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 - Belo Horizante, Ouro Preto - Recife, Recife - 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.
Paraty
Day 4: Rio de Janeiro - Guanabara Bay - Paraty. Morning boating excursion on Guanabara Bay. The second largest bay on the Brazilian coastline, its shores are densely forested and inhabited by native tribes. Aboard a schooner, observe memorable views of the Rio coastline, the Atlantic Rainforest, ruins of various fortresses, the extraordinary Contemporary Art Museum designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the Rio-Niterói Bridge and Fiscal Island, with its green Neo-Gothic palace designed by Adolfo Del Vecchio. Lunch at Rio's Espírito Santa. During the afternoon, a private drive with a guide to Paraty, a world heritage site. An 18th century port of coffee, gold and cachaça from Brazil, it is one of the best preserved colonial towns in the country. In the heart of this cobblestoned town lies the historic Pousada do Sandi. For dinner, walk to Banana da Terra. Overnight in the Pousada do Sandi -- Master Suite -- King Bed.
Day 5: Paraty. Meet your guide for a morning walking tour of the town before a full-day of private sailing on a schooner to Paraty's exquisite beaches. Lunch at Hiltinho, on Algodão Island. Return to port and your hotel. Dine at Voilá Bistrot. Overnight in the Pousada do Sandi -- Master Suite -- King Bed.
Salvador da Bahia
Intra-tour flight Rio de Janeiro - Salvador da Bahia, Day 6, 1:39 pm - 3:43 pm, JJ3172
Day 6: Paraty - Salvador da Bahia. Private transfer along the Green Coast to Rio de Janeiro's national airport for the flight to Salvador da Bahia. Reception and transfer to the Convento do Carmo, a former convent that dates back to 1586. Afternoon free to rest. Dinner and overnight in the Convento do Carmo -- Junior Suite -- King Bed. Please note that lunch is not included this day due to the flight schedule. Guests will be able to purchase lunch at the airport.
Day 7: Salvador da Bahia (Island Schooner Excursion & Folkloric Show). 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. Transfer to the hotel. 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.
Praia do Forte
Day 8: Salvador da Bahia - Praia do Forte. Morning walk in 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. This afternoon transfer to Praia do Forte, a peaceful paradise with a strong emphasis on the preservation of local flora and fauna, being protected against over-exploitative tourism and other threats to the environment by a private foundation. Time free to relax. Dinner and overnight in the Tivoli Eco Resort -- Premium Room -- King Bed.
Day 9: Praia do Forte. Free day on the beach. Lunch at Terreiro Bahia. Dinner and overnight in the Tivoli Eco Resort -- Premium Room -- King Bed.
Olinda
Intra-tour flight Salvador da Bahia - Recife, Day 10, 10:29 am - 11:45 am, G31630
Day 10: Praia do Forte - Olinda. Morning transfer to the Salvador da Bahia airport for the flight to Recife. Reception and transfer to your hotel in the historic town of Olinda. Lunch at Bargaço. Afternoon tour of Olinda, a breathtaking colonial town that overlooks Recife and the Atlantic Ocean. The tour of this world heritage site includes several unique attractions, such as the Mosteiro de São Bento, built in 1582, lavishly decorated with gold and woodcarvings; Igreja da Sé, where local handicrafts are sold; the Convento do São Francisco; and the former slave market. Dinner at Beijupirá. Overnight in the Pousada do Amparo -- Deluxe Superior Room --- King Bed.
Fernando de Noronha
Intra-tour flight Recife - Fernando de Noronha, Day 11, 2:15 pm - 4:25 pm, AD5562
Day 11: Olinda - Fernando de Noronha. The morning tour of Recife starts with a drive along the ultra-modern seafront of Boa Viagem and then proceeds to Old Recife, founded by the Dutch. As the sugar economy declined over the 19th century, Recife lost its prominence. The tour continues with a visit to the exotic world of artist Francisco Brennand and Casa da Cultura. Following an early buffet lunch at Parraxaxá, transfer to the airport for the flight to Fernando de Noronha. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in the Pousada Maravilha -- Luxury Room -- King Bed. Please note that visitors are obliged to pay an environmental protection tax and beach access fees of approximately $164, which are not included in the rate mentioned above.
Day 12: Fernando de Noronha. The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha consists of 21 islands totalling 26 square kilometers, 345 kilometers off the northeast coast, created over 10 million years ago by a volcanic eruption. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the archipelago is a National Marine Park. Native sub-tropical vegetation, secluded beaches and varied flora and fauna reward the visitor. Environmental protection has top priority. For that reason no high-rise hotels are built on the island and living conditions are modest. Full-day dune buggy excursion around the island with lunch at Varanda. Dinner and overnight in the Pousada Maravilha -- Luxury Room -- King Bed.
Day 13: Fernando de Noronha. The possibities for scuba-diving and snorkeling are excellent. Thousands of sea turtles live here and the archipelago is home to the only school of spinner dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean. Although it is now prohibited to swim with the dolphins, they can be admired from unspoiled beaches, such as Praia da Quixaba, Praia do Leão or Praia do Bode, and on our morning boating excursion in Baía dos Golfinhos. Lunch at Xica da Silva. Afternoon free. Dinner at Do Zé Maria. Overnight in the Pousada Maravilha -- Luxury Room -- King Bed. Please note that transfers for lunch and dinner are not included, but that a taxi can be arranged directly with the hotel and restaurant at a cost of approximately $8 per person per way.
Olinda
Intra-tour flight Fernando de Noronha - Recife, Day, 14, 4:55 pm - 5:00 pm, T45561
Day 14: Fernando de Noronha - Olinda. Lunch at Mergulhão. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Recife. Reception and transfer to your hotel in Olinda. Dinner at Oficina do Sabor. Overnight in the Pousada do Amparo -- Deluxe Superior Room --- King Bed. Please note that transfers for lunch are not included, but that a taxi can be arranged directly with the hotel and restaurant at a cost of approximately $8 per person per way.
Rio de Janeiro
Day 15: Olinda - Rio de Janeiro. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janeiro and connection home. Please note that lunch is not included this day due to the flight schedule. Guests will be able to purchase snacks aboard the plane.
Intra-tour flight Recife - Rio de Janeiro, Day 15, 10:50 am - 1:52 pm, JJ3083
International departure from Rio de Janeiro at 6:00 pm
Home
Day 16: 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.
Samba show, Plataforma, 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.
Paraty, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Vale do Paraíba & Paraty
Ascending the Serra do Mar mountain range reveals that the interior of Rio de Janeiro State is also rich in history and nature. The summer residences of the former Brazilian Emperor and his family gave birth to the charming towns of Petrópolis and Teresópolis, whilst the Paraíba Valley saw the country's first coffee plantations. Boasting some of the highest peaks in Brazil, Itatiaia is Brazil's oldest national park.
Returning to the coast once again, the atmosphere of colonial Brazil can still be felt in the town of Paraty, an 18th century gold and diamond port whose subsequent isolation has preserved architectural beauty worthy of World Heritage Site status. The highway that winds west along the "Green Coast" from Paraty through Angra dos Reis and on to Santos affords stunning views of beaches, islands and Atlantic rainforest. In contrast, the drive eastwards from Rio leads to the lively seaside resorts of Cabo Frio, Búzios and Macaé.
Paraty is a gem of charming, planned colonial architecture, a legacy of the late 17th century when it became a port for the shipment of gold from Minas Gerais. Gaining further international fame with the advent of the highly successful World Literature Festival, the churches and cobblestone streets, against a backdrop of lushly forested hills, plus dozens of secluded beaches nearby, make Paraty an unmissable destination. Beyond Paraty, on the border of Rio and São Paulo states, the Serra da Bocaína National Park stretches inland through Atlantic Rainforest and Araucaria Forest to the 2,132 meter peak of Boa Vista.
Day 4: Rio de Janeiro - Guanabara Bay - Paraty
Breakfast. Morning boating excursion on Guanabara Bay. The second largest bay on the Brazilian coastline, its shores are densely forested and inhabited by native tribes. Aboard a schooner, observe memorable views of the Rio coastline, the Atlantic Rainforest, ruins of various fortresses that overlook the entrance to the bay, the extraordinary Contemporary Art Museum designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the Rio-Niterói Bridge that spans the bay and Fiscal Island, with its green Neo-Gothic palace designed by Adolfo Del Vecchio. Lunch at Rio's Espírito Santa. During the afternoon, a private drive with a guide to Paraty, a world heritage site. An 18th century port of coffee, gold and cachaça from Brazil, it is one of the best preserved colonial towns in the country. In the heart of this cobblestoned town lies the historic Pousada do Sandi. For dinner, walk to Banana da Terra, famous for its fish dishes. Overnight in the Pousada do Sandi -- Master Suite -- King Bed.
Schooner at Algodão Island, Southeastern Brazil.
Photo: Restaurante do Hiltinho. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 5: Paraty
Breakfast. Meet your guide for a morning walking tour of the town before a full-day of private sailing on a schooner to Paraty's exquisite beaches. Lunch at Hiltinho, on Algodão Island. Return to port and your hotel. Dine at Voilá Bistrot. Overnight in the Pousada do Sandi -- Master Suite -- King Bed.
Pelourinho district, Salvador da Bahia, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 6: Paraty - Salvador da Bahia
Breakfast. Private transfer along the Green Coast to Rio de Janeiro's national airport for the flight to Salvador da Bahia, originally called São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, in English: "Holy Savior of All Saints' Bay"). Arrival, 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). Afternoon free to rest. Dinner and overnight in the Convento do Carmo. Please note that lunch is not included this day due to the flight schedule. Guests will be able to purchase lunch at the airport.
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 7: Salvador da Bahia (Island Schooner Excursion & Folkloric Show)
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. Overnight in the Convento do Carmo.
Pelourinho district, Salvador da Bahia, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 8: Salvador da Bahia (Old Town) - Praia do Forte
Breakfast. Morning walking tour of the cobblestoned Pelourinho district -- the heart of Salvador’s Old Town -- during which the visitor gets to know the characteristics of the earliest streets and architectural structures. This World Heritage Site is considered by Unesco a highlight of XVII and XVIII century colonial architecture. Clinging to 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. As Pelourinho is situated on an elevated point of the city, visitors are rewarded with stunning views over the surrounding city and harbor. The tour subsequently proceeds through other traditional neighborhoods, such as Vitoria and Campo Grande, with a brief stop at the park and fountain of Piedade. Lunch at Amado. This afternoon transfer to Praia do Forte, a peaceful paradise with a strong emphasis on the preservation of local flora and fauna, being protected against over-exploitative tourism and other threats to the environment by a private foundation. Comprising twelve kilometers of untouched beaches, coconut palms, rivers, lagoons, colorful reefs and crystal-clear tide pools, the name "Brazilian Polynesia" is well deserved. Apart from being an excellent diving location, Praia do Forte is a base for a number of other watersports, such as sailing and windsurfing. Time free to relax. Dinner and overnight in the Tivoli Eco Resort -- Premium Room -- King Bed.
Igreja do São Francisco, Praia do Forte, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: VoyageAshore.com. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 9: Praia do Forte
Breakfast. Free day on the beach. Lunch at Terreiro Bahia. Dinner and overnight in the Tivoli Eco Resort -- Premium Room -- King Bed.
Traditional fishing boat, Recife, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 10: Praia do Forte - Olinda
Breakfast. Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Recife. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel in the historic town of Olinda. Lunch at Bargaço. Afternoon tour of Olinda, a breathtaking colonial town that overlooks Recife and the Atlantic Ocean. The tour of this world heritage site includes several unique attractions, such as the Mosteiro de São Bento, built in 1582, lavishly decorated with gold and woodcarvings; Igreja da Sé, where local handicrafts are sold; the Convento do São Francisco; and the former slave market. Just walking down the cobbled streets of this enchanting town and enjoying magnificent views over the pale blue ocean is a delight. Dinner at Beijupirá. Overnight in the Pousada do Amparo -- Deluxe Superior Room --- King Bed. Please note that lunch is not included this day due to the flight schedule. Guests will be able to purchase snacks aboard the plane.
Mosteiro de São Bento, Olinda, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Ideia Tours. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 11: Olinda - Fernando de Noronha
Breakfast. The morning tour of Recife starts with a drive along the ultra-modern seafront of Boa Viagem and then proceeds to Old Recife. This district was founded by the Dutch, as evidenced by the tall, narrow, four-story houses that resemble those of Amsterdam.. As the sugar economy declined over the 19th century, Recife lost its prominence, although the Pernambuco State capital is still an important regional center, with more than 3 million inhabitants. The tour continues with a visit to the exotic world of the artist Francisco Brennand and Casa da Cultura, once a prison but now with each cell converted into a craft shop. Following an early buffet lunch at Parraxaxá, a restaurant specializing in regional dishes, transfer to the airport for the flight to Fernando de Noronha. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in the Pousada Maravilha -- Luxury Room -- King Bed. Please note that visitors are obliged to pay an environmental protection tax and beach access fees of approximately $164, which are not included in the rate mentioned above.
Fernando de Noronha, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: simFlight. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 12: Fernando de Noronha
Breakfast. The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha consists of 21 islands totalling 26 square kilometers, 345 kilometers off the northeast coast, created over 10 million years ago by a volcanic eruption. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the archipelago is a National Marine Park. Native sub-tropical vegetation, secluded beaches and varied flora and fauna reward the visitor. Environmental protection has top priority. For that reason no high-rise hotels are built on the island and living conditions are modest. Full-day dune buggy excursion around the island with lunch at Varanda. Dinner and overnight in the Pousada Maravilha -- Luxury Room -- King Bed.
Fernando de Noronha, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Naturalus. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 13: Fernando de Noronha
Breakfast. The possibities for scuba-diving and snorkeling are excellent. Thousands of sea turtles live here and the archipelago is home to the only school of spinner dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean. Although it is now prohibited to swim with the dolphins, they can be admired from unspoiled beaches, such as Praia da Quixaba, Praia do Leão or Praia do Bode, and on our morning boating excursion in Baía dos Golfinhos. Lunch at Xica da Silva. Afternoon free. Dinner at Do Zé Maria. Overnight in the Pousada Maravilha -- Luxury Room -- King Bed. Please note that transfers for lunch and dinner are not included, but that a taxi can be arranged directly with the hotel and restaurant at a cost of approximately $8 per person per way.
Spinner Dolphins, Fernando de Noronha, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo: Naturalus. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 14: Fernando de Noronha - Olinda
Breakfast. Morning free to relax. Lunch at Mergulhão. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Recife. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel in Olinda. Dinner at Oficina do Sabor. Overnight in the Pousada do Amparo -- Deluxe Superior Room --- King Bed. Please note that transfers for lunch are not included, but that a taxi can be arranged directly with the hotel and restaurant at a cost of approximately $8 per person per way.
Convento de São Francisco, Olinda, Northeastern Brazil.
Photo:Jorge Menezes. Luxury Brazil Tours & Luxury Brazil Travel.
Day 15: Olinda - Rio de Janeiro
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janeiro and connection home. Please note that lunch is not included this day due to the flight schedule. Guests will be able to purchase snacks aboard the plane.
Day 16: Rio de Janeiro - Home
Overnight flight and arrival home.
© 2013 Inka's Empire Corporation, Machu Picchu Luxury Tours. All rights reserved.
