Outdoor Adventures & Classic Landmarks in Brazil - 11 Days

Highlights

• Hike to the summit of Rio's Sugarloaf Mountain for panoramic city views
• Discover the traditions of Brazilian cuisine with a local cooking class
• Take an offroad adventure to the pristine dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses
• Rappel into the otherworldly, underground caverns of Anhumas Abyss

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Explore

Welcome to Brazil! Your flight lands in Rio de Janeiro, or "Cidade Maravilhosa" (Marvelous City), a bustling metropolis known for its beaches, festive culture, and lively entertainment. Your driver will collect you from the airport and transfer you to your hotel, after which you're free to explore some of the city on your own.

If you want to stretch your legs after the long flight, visit Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, a gorgeous lagoon along the waterfront. Surrounded by lush greenery and bordered by upscale neighborhoods, the lake is a popular recreation spot for both locals and visitors. Stroll along the scenic paths, rent bikes, and cruise along the waterway.

For beach time, check out world-famous Copacabana or Ipanema beaches. Copacabana, which stretches for 2.5 miles (4 km) along the southern coast, is lively, with plenty of amenities and many restaurants and bars. Ipanema, which is usually less crowded than Copa, is another popular spot. For a more serene afternoon, visit Jardim Botânico, a botanical garden that serves as an oasis within the bustling city, or take a stroll through the Parque Lage, which has lakes, a castle tower, artificial caves, and plenty of walking paths. 

Day 2: Discover Rio's Carioca Lifestyle & Carnival Culture

Experience Rio like a Carioca (a Rio local) today. Together with your expert guide, start with a ride on the subway and make your way to the city's historic center. Visit sites such as the São Sebastião Cathedral, unusual in that it was built to replicate ancient Maya pyramids, and the Saara Shopping District, a lively hub for bargain hunters. Your guide will share insight into Rio's history and traditions, and you'll have a chance to sample fresh fruit juice from a local vendor.

Enjoy lunch at Cais do Oriente, a charming restaurant in the city's recently renovated port area, then continue your tour with a deep dive into Brazil's carnival culture. Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro, which takes place the week before Ash Wednesday, is a party like no other. Brazil explodes with music, dancing, and parades, and in Rio, these celebrations exude all the joy that Cariocas are known for.

Visit Cidade do Samba (Samba City), a complex that houses the city's samba schools and where locals prepare all year for this celebration. Tour Pimpolhos, a youth samba school that seeks to promote education through carnival culture. Learn about the history of samba music, see dancers practicing routines, and learn more about the festivities. You can even try on some authentic carnival outfits and learn a bit of percussion yourself. Finish with a delicious caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça (sugar cane liquor) and lime. Then, hop back on the subway and return to your hotel. 

Day 3: Guided Visit to Christ the Redeemer Statue, Hike Sugarloaf Mountain

Today's tour covers some of Rio's most celebrated landmarks. Meet your guide and begin at Tijuca National Park, which, at 8,300 acres (3,358 ha), is the largest urban park in the world. Head to Corcovado Mountain, where a train will take you up through the forest to the 2,310-foot (704 m) peak, home to Christ the Redeemer, a 98-foot (30 m) Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ overlooking the city. Commissioned in 1920, it was built to symbolize the welcoming spirit of Brazil. At the summit, stroll around the statue's base, taking in panoramic views of Guanabara Bay and the city. 

Next, visit Praia Vermelha Beach, located in the Urca neighborhood. This is where Sugarloaf Mountain and the smaller Morro da Urca are located. You and your local guide will hike 721 feet (220 m) to the top of Morro da Urca along the Claudio Coutinho trail. It's a steady, leisurely hike that winds up the mountain and takes about 45 minutes to complete (prior hiking experience not required). Along the way, keep an eye out for marmosets and colorful birds.

At the trail's end, take the cable car to the top of Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain). Rising 1,299 feet (396 m) above the harbor, the mountain is unsurprisingly named because it resembles a giant mound of sugar. After enjoying the marvelous views and snapping plenty of photos, you'll head back by cable car and return to your hotel.

Day 4: Morning Cooking Class, Fly to São Luís

Brazil is a true delight to all the senses, and there's no better way to understand this than with a traditional cooking class. Meet your guide and travel by subway to a local kitchen, where you'll meet a professional chef and learn to prepare Brazilian recipes, which may include feijoada (bean stew) or moqueca (fish stew). During the class, the chef will explain the origins of different ingredients and their role in Brazilian culture, as well as the nutritional benefits of each exotic ingredient. End the lesson by dining on the delicious meal you've created with your own hands.

Return to your hotel in time for check out; then you're off to overnight in São Luís de Maranhão, the capital of the state of Maranhão. Your private transfer will take you to the airport for the three-hour flight, and upon arrival, meet your driver for a quick tour of the city's historic downtown area. Here, you'll see the colonial architecture of the Praia Grande neighborhood and the impressive Palace of the Lions, home to the state governor. You'll then be dropped off at your hotel, where you can relax or step out for dinner at a local restaurant. 

Day 5: Transfer to Barreirinhas, 4WD Tour of the Lençóis Maranhenses Dunes

The day starts early as you meet your driver and head to the city of Barreirinhas—the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a protected 43-mile (70 km) stretch along Brazil's north Atlantic coast that is known for its vast deserts and lush seasonal lagoons. The scenic drive takes approximately four hours, with a quick stop for coffee and snacks. Arrive and check-in at your hotel here, then start your immersion into the park's incredible natural wonders with an exciting 4WD dune excursion. 

Meet your driver at the hotel, and your adventure begins immediately, traveling along off-road routes that take you across loose sandy trails and small rivers. Arrive at the dunes and continue on foot—the park is a vehicle-free zone. You'll have time to hike around the dunes, taking in the incredible desert vistas set against the blue coastal waters, then spend the rest of the afternoon swimming and relaxing in the pristine, crystal-clear lagoons before returning to your hotel just after sunset. 

Day 6: Río Preguiças Circuit via Speedboat

Today's adventure starts at Avenida Beira Rio, where you'll meet your guides and transfer to the riverside. There, you'll board a speedboat and tour the Río Preguiças Circuit, an environmentally protected area that showcases the region's diverse landscapes. Travel past tall palm trees and high and leafy mangroves and visit communities located in the Pequenos Lençois area.

Stop at Vassouras and say hello to the many capuchin monkeys that live there, and continue to Mandacarú, a small fishing village where you'll have a chance to visit the Preguiças Lighthouse. At 114 feet (35 m) high, the lighthouse offers excellent views of the Grandes Lençóis, Río Preguiças, and Pequenos Lençóis.

The tour ends at Caburé, a pleasant spot that sits on a peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Río Preguiças. You can rest on shore or take a swim, and there are several excellent restaurants for lunch when hunger strikes. After spending some time here, return to Barreirinhas, where the rest of your evening is free.

Day 7: Fly to Campo Grande, Self-Guided City Tour

Your next destination is Campo Grande and Bonito Mato Grosso, otherwise known as Bonito MS or just Bonito. This region is known for its unspoiled natural beauty, crystalline rivers, and stalactite-covered caverns. It's also a base for activities and sports such as abseiling, diving off giant waterfalls, and snorkeling around rivers filled with colorful fish—a top destination for anyone seeking outdoor activities.

In the morning, check out of your hotel and take a private transfer to the airport, where you'll catch a flight to Campo Grande. Arrive and meet your driver, who will transport you to your lodgings here. Once you've checked in, step out on a self-guided exploration of this picturesque town.

For peaceful greenery and potential wildlife sightings, visit Parque das Nações Indígenas, a beautiful park where animals such as capybaras, armadillos, macaws, and toucans live. Stroll the quiet paths here, or head to Bioparque Pantanal, one of the world's largest freshwater aquariums. If you're hungry, check out Feira Central, a large complex of food stands, restaurants, and local handicrafts. Try their flagship sobá noodles and get a picture in front of the giant soba sculpture.

Day 8: Transfer to Bonito MS, Visit Gruta do Lago Azul

After breakfast, take a private transfer to Bonito, a drive of about four hours. The main attractions here include scenic waterways, natural caverns, and plenty of wildlife. Arrive at your hotel and get checked in, then visit one of the region's most beautiful landmarks, the Gruta do Lago Azul (Blue Lake Cave).

Meet your guide and drive deep into the nearby forest, then park and take a short hike along a trail to the mouth of the cavern. Follow the walkways into the cave and, after a safety briefing and donning helmets, descend 650 feet (200 m) underground to the shimmering blue lagoon.

At the grotto, marvel at its sapphire-blue waters, limestone rock formations, and hanging stalactites. Your guide will reveal fascinating insights into the area's geology and point out fossils in the cave, some of which are from the long-extinct saber-toothed tiger. You'll have time to walk around and take photos, after which you'll return to your hotel in Bonito. 

Day 9: Snorkel the Crystalline Waters of the Río da Prata

Discover the Recanto Ecológico do Río da Prata today. This privately owned fazenda (farm) and nature reserve offers various outdoor excursions, including hiking, birding, and horseback riding. However, the fazenda's most famous activity is snorkeling the crystalline waters of the Río da Prata, a river that runs through the property—your excursion for the day. 

The river offers one of the region's longest stretches of snorkeling waters, with tons of fish, such as the flashy golden dorado. Start with a short walk through the forest to the water (be sure to look up for sightings of marmoset monkeys in the trees.) After a safety briefing, you'll don your gear (mask, snorkel, and life jacket) and immerse yourself in the turquoise waters of this natural aquarium.

Float along for about 1 mile (1.6 km) as endless schools of fish swim by, with a stop at the Vulcão Olho d’Água, an outcropping where water flows from underneath the river, kicking up sand and silt, which is why the locals call it a "volcano." From there, continue snorkeling down the last stretch of the river, floating on your own or with the assistance of a support boat. Return to your hotel in time for dinner at a local restaurant and a sunset stroll around town. 

Day 10: Rappeling Adventure at the Anhumas Abyss

It's another day of adventure as you prepare to visit one of Bonito's most renowned attractions, the underworld of the Anhumas Abyss. This partially submerged cave, featuring crystal-clear water and a forest of limestone cones, is one of Brazil's most extensive underground caverns. Meet your guides for the short drive from your hotel, put on your climbing gear, and courageously leap into a narrow crack in the earth that quickly widens into a vast cavern.

As you're lowered by a 236-foot rope (72 m), admire the beauty of your surroundings and the darkness pierced by one solitary sunray. Admire the huge stalactites and stalagmites above and below the underground lake, and if you're super brave, dive into the transparent waters, which have visibility of nearly 100 ft (30 m). Afterward, your guides will pull you back up safely to Terra Firma, where you'll have a chance to regroup before returning to town.

Day 11: Barra do Sucuri Snorkeling & Boating Tour, Return to Campo Grande, Depart

If there's time before your departure, see more of Bonito's natural beauty with a boating and snorkel excursion on the Río Sucuri. The river is reputed to have some of the clearest waters in the world and is packed with colorful fish, underwater plants, and other river dwellers. You'll start with a boat tour that takes you upriver and to its mouth, where you'll grab a snorkeling mask, strap on a life vest, and hop in the water. 

Enjoy a leisurely float downstream amid what seem to be endless schools of fish. The journey ends at a lovely area of the Río Formoso, where you can have a meal at the on-site restaurant or walk around the trails and waterways. 

Afterward, your adventures in Brazil come to a close as you take a private transfer back to Campo Grande and the airport to catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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