Adventures in Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguaçu & Jericoacoara - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Rio de Janeiro

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro! Upon arrival at the airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. The "Cidade Maravilhosa" (Marvelous City), as Rio is known, is a sprawling harbor city known for its beaches, festive culture, and raucous entertainment. On the drive into the city from the airport, you'll catch views of Mount Corcovado's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, as well as Sugarloaf Mountain, where cable cars transport visitors up its towering peak to enjoy expansive city views. 

Once you get settled in your beachfront hotel, you can take a stroll along Ipanema or Copacabana beach to enjoy the sunset. There are also plenty of great restaurant options in the city where you can enjoy a traditional Brazilian dinner.

Day 2: Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain

Today's guided tour covers some of Rio's most celebrated landmarks. First, you'll head to the top of Mount Corcovado to visit Christ the Redeemer, a 98-foot (30 m) Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ overlooking the city. Commissioned by a local Catholic group in 1920, it was built to symbolize the welcoming spirit of Rio and Brazil. The statue took almost 10 years to complete, and it remains an icon seen almost anywhere in the city. Once you arrive at the summit of the 2,310-foot (704 m) Corcovado and the base of the statue, you'll see panoramic views of Rio and the beaches of Guanabara Bay.

After descending Mount Corcovado, head to the Urca neighborhood and the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Here, you'll hop a cable car up to Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain). This nearly 1,300-foot (396 m) mountain peak unsurprisingly gets its name because it resembles a mound of sugar. From its summit, you'll enjoy a 360-degree view of the rainforest, beaches, cityscape, and local monuments. Upon completion of the tour, your guide will return you to your hotel, and the rest of your evening is free.

Day 3: Half-Day Tour of Two Brothers Peak & Vidigal Favela

In the morning, you'll take a guided tour of one of Rio's favelas. These neighborhoods, comprised of low-income residents living in shacks and shanties, have earned a reputation for being dangerous slums. However, the less sensationalist reality is that these are mostly working-class communities, home to local families. Some favelas have even become hot tourist destinations in their own right. This is the case with Vidigal, one of Rio's most-visited favelas and your destination for today. Located on Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Mountain), the top of Vidigal reveals some of the best views of the Brazilian coast.

The tour begins with a walk along the seaside, where your guide will share the history of the favelas. Once you reach Vidigal, you'll hop in a van and ride up steep hillsides and winding streets to the beginning of the Two Brothers trail. From there, you'll hike to the 2,165-foot (660 m) peak, where you'll be rewarded with stunning views of the city and can take plenty of photos. Your return takes you back down the mountain along Vidigal's many staircases.

Day 4: Transfer to Foz do Iguaçu, Explore the Brazilian Side of Iguaçu Falls

This morning, you'll be picked up from your Rio hotel and transferred to the airport, where you'll catch your flight to Foz do Iguaçu. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Later this afternoon, you'll head to Iguazu (Iguaçu) National Park, a vast park and conservation area that straddles the borders of both Brazil and Argentina. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the Brazilian side, where you'll tour Iguaçu Falls and enjoy panoramic views of this breathtaking natural wonder. There are more than 275 falls in the park, with heights in excess of 260 feet (80 m) and lush greenery all around. 

Your tour takes approximately two to four hours, after which you'll visit the nearby Parque Das Aves, a bird sanctuary that features more than 180 species of our feathered friends. Focused on the conservation of Atlantic Forest birds, the park provides an immersive experience to visitors, giving you a true "birds-eye" view of a multitude of rare and endangered birds. The park is also home to alligators, snakes, and a butterfly house. 

Day 5: Explore the Argentinean Side of Iguaçu Falls

Today, you'll get a chance to see the other side of Iguaçu Falls, in Argentina's Argentine National Park. Upon arrival, you'll board a train and head to Iguaçu's tallest waterfall, the Garganta do Diabo (or Devil's Throat). You'll have time to disembark and take in the beauty of this majestic waterfall, which drops more than 260 feet (80 m) into mist-shrouded pools. Afterward, you'll reboard the train and head to the next station, where you'll take a walking tour of about 2 miles (3km) along wooded footpaths and walkways that bring you closer to the falls and provide a more complete view. 

Day 6: Transfer to Jericoacoara

Time to head to your next destination, the beach town of Jericoacoara, or Jeri as the locals call it! Located in the northeastern state of Ceará, this former fishing village has become a hot spot for visitors, primarily because of its stunning ocean views and pristine beaches. You'll be picked up from your hotel and transported to the airport, where you'll catch a flight to this laid-back location. 

Your driver will take you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is yours. Take a walk along Jeri's sand-paved streets and enjoy the simplicity of a slower pace, or spend a few hours relaxing on the beach. 

Day 7: Dune Buggy Tour of Jericoacoara National Park

Today's adventure takes you into Jericoacoara National Park via dune buggy, one of the best ways to explore this 21,900-acre (8,860 ha) natural wonder. The park is known for its incredible freshwater lagoons, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. You'll drive through desert dunes to two of these stunning bodies of water: Lagoa do Paraíso and Lagoa Azul. Here, you can lay out on the sand, swim in the water, or spend time relaxing in a hammock. You'll return to Jericoacoara in the late afternoon, just in time to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Day 8: Dune Buggy Tour of Jericoacoara's West Coast

Your morning starts with a ferryboat ride across the Guriú Delta, a sea arm known for being a seahorse breeding ground. Upon landing, it's back to the dune buggies with a drive to Mangue Seco Beach, a secluded beach area with stunning shoreline views. Hop in one of the hammocks or wooden swings that are nestled in the tree line, or take a swim in the gentle waters. 

From there, you'll continue to Lago Grande, a naturally formed rainwater lagoon. In addition to the quiet relaxation of the beach, you've got your choice of activities here, including a giant zip line, kayak rentals, or paddleboarding. Have lunch at one of the local restaurants before climbing back in your buggy and driving the dunes back to the ferry terminal. 

Day 10: Depart Jericoacoara 

Time to bid farewell to the lovely beaches of Brazil. Your driver will pick you up this morning at your hotel in Jericoacoara and transfer you to the airport in Fortaleza, where you'll catch your flight home. Safe travels!