Introduction to Brazil: São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu & Rio de Janeiro - 8 Days

Day 1: Arrive in São Paulo, Tour São Paulo's Historic Center

Welcome to Brazil! Upon arrival at the airport in São Paulo, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Get your first impression of the city on the way. One of the oldest cities in the Americas, São Paulo has grown from a hilltop village to a multicultural metropolis and the most populous city in Brazil. With a diverse population of more than 11 million, you'll find renowned museums and art as well as world-class cuisine on offer. And, of course, this welcoming city also has excellent nightlife options.

Once settled in, meet your guide in the hotel lobby to visit the city's historic center. Stop by the Mercadão Municipal for a historic and gastronomic experience. Afterward, learn about the city's history as you head to Viaduto do Chá to see City Hall, one of the town's main symbols. Across from City Hall, you'll pass by the Municipal Theater and visit other historic sites, such as the Pateo do Colegio, Cultural Center Banco de Brasil, and São Bento Monastery.

Day 2: Explore São Paulo, Half-Day Shopping Trip

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby to discover the city and its vibrant lifestyle as you learn about its history. Walk down Avenida Paulista and arrive at Casa das Rosas, a cultural center that hosts various events and exhibitions in an old mansion with a beautiful garden. Take time to have a coffee there before continuing to Sesc Avenida Paulista. Take the elevator straight to the top floor and enjoy the incredible view. Finally, visit the São Paulo Museum of Art and admire the impressive building designed by Lina Bo Bardi.

Be sure to have a generous lunch so that you have enough energy for this afternoon's guided tour of São Paulo's shopping streets. Your first stop will be at Oscar Freire Shopping Street. Located in the charming neighborhood of Jardins, this main street and its surroundings are known for its luxury stores, but it also has shops for various budgets. Next, stop by Iguatemi Shopping Center, one of Brazil's oldest and most popular shopping centers, located in the heart of the Jardins district. Here, you'll find a large number of national and international brands in a sophisticated setting.

Day 4:  Explore Foz do Iguaçu (Argentine Side)

Today's tour takes you across the Argentine border to the other side of Iguaçu Falls (known as Iguazú in Spanish) in Argentine National Park. Upon arrival, you'll board a train and head to the natural wonder's tallest waterfall, the 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 hop back on the train and head to the next station, where you'll take a walking tour of 2 miles (3 km) along wooded footpaths and pathways that bring you closer to the falls and provide a complete view. 

After exploring the area, you'll enter the jungle through the Sendero Yacaratiá Trail in vehicles designed for this environment. As the car travels slowly, learn about local species of fauna and flora. After 30 minutes, you'll arrive in Porto Macuco. Here, you'll step onto a boat and head upriver toward the falls. Feel the thundering strength of the cascade as you approach the base of Salto Tres Mosqueteros, then cross under the second largest drop in the falls, Salto San Martín. At the end of the tour, your driver will take you back across the border to your hotel.

Day 5: Explore Foz do Iguaçu (Brazilian Side), Transfer to Rio de Janeiro

This morning, you'll have an opportunity to explore more of 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 follow the many raised boardwalks and bridges along Iguaçu Falls and enjoy panoramic views of this breathtaking natural wonder. The park has more than 275 falls, with heights over 260 feet (80 m), surrounded by lush greenery and plentiful flora and fauna.

Afterward, return to your hotel to relax a bit before this afternoon's dramatic change of scenery as you head north to the coast. At the scheduled time, a driver will take you to the airport to catch your flight to Rio de Janeiro. You'll be greeted at the airport and taken to your hotel upon arrival.

Day 6: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain & Samba by Night

Meet your guide this morning to see some of Rio's most famous landmarks. First, you'll head to the top of Mount Corcovado to visit Christ the Redeemer, a 98-foot (30 m) statue of Jesus Christ overlooking the city below. Commissioned in 1920, it was built to symbolize the welcoming spirit of both Rio and Brazil. Once you arrive at the summit of the 2,310-foot (704 m) Corcovado and the base of this Art Deco statue, you'll be treated to panoramic views of Rio and beyond, from the southern beaches to Guanabara Bay and farther north to the city of Duque de Caxias.

After descending Mount Corcovado, continue to the Urca neighborhood and the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Here you'll hop on 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 peak, you'll enjoy a 360-degree view of the rainforest, beaches, cityscapes, and monuments that define Brazil's most famous coastal city. After the tour, you'll return to your hotel to rest up for tonight.

As darkness falls this evening, go out with your guide to enjoy the city's nightlife like a true Carioca (a Rio native). First, you will go to the Santa Teresa neighborhood to a bar for drinks and typical Brazilian appetizers with a soundtrack of a street samba circle. After a few caipirinhas, visit the Lapa neighborhood before returning to the hotel. 

Day 7: Tour Two Brothers Peak, Vidigal Favela & Rio Bike Tour

Take a guided tour of one of Rio's favelas this morning. These neighborhoods, comprised of low-income residents living in shacks and shanties, have earned a reputation for dangerous slums. However, the less sensationalist reality is that these are primarily working-class communities, home to local families. Some favelas have even become hot tourist destinations. This is the case with Vidigal, one of Rio's most-visited favelas and your destination 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 city vistas and can take plenty of photos. Your return takes you back down the mountain along Vidigal's many staircases.

Next, get a different view of the city, and take a tour by bike, starting in the Flamengo district. You'll head to Leblon Beach on a relatively easy, flat route, varying in distance from 10-15 miles (15-25 km). Pass by the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, which connects to the ocean and the popular beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Enjoy beautiful ocean views of these landmarks and take advantage of the many photo-ops before you return to your hotel.

Day 8: Free Morning in Rio & Depart

Savor your last few hours in Rio on this free morning. Spend some time on the beach, playing volleyball, or participating in some of the many watersports available. There's kite surfing, jet skiing, boat tours, and more. Or you can always relax and mingle with the locals. It's an excellent opportunity to enjoy Rio's beaches like a true Carioca. At the appropriate time, a driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!