Brazil adventure holiday, Rio & Iguazu Falls

country:	Brazil
location:	Iguazu Falls, Pantanal
trip type:	A small group adventure
departures:	2008: 5 Jul, 26 Jul, 16 Aug, 6 Sep, 25 Oct, 15 Nov, 6 Dec 2009: 3 Jan, 17 Jan, 7 Feb, 1 May, 15 May, 29 May, 13 Jun
price:	From £980 (15 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $400. Max group size 12 people. We can arrange flights from the UK.

Brazil holidays

Iguazu Falls holidays

Pantanal holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

Journey into the heart and soul of Brazil. From the dramatic harbour vistas of Rio to the thundering waters of Iguazu Falls and onto the startling array of wildlife in Patanal, experience the natural wonders and vibrant energy this fantastic country is known for.

Price includes accommodation (simple hotels, camping & overnight buses), meals during Pantanal excursion and transport (public bus, sleeper bus & plane).

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1-2:	Rio de Janeiro. Dive head-first into a world of sandy beaches, azure seas and samba on the streets. The locals call this the 'cidade maravilhosa' or marvellous city and looking down at it from the feet of Christ the Redeemer, it's not hard to see why. Take a cable car ride up to Sugar Loaf Mountain, visit the excellent museums and relax on Copacabana Beach.
Day 3-4:	Paraty. Travel down the beautiful Costa Verde to the coastal town of Paraty, a living museum of Portuguese colonial architecture. Spend the following day beach-hopping on a boat tour of Ilha Grande Bay. There are plenty of opportunities to stop for fresh seafood and snorkel through the crystal clear waters.
Day 5:	Sao Paulo. Head inland to Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, to catch a sleeper style bus to Iguazu Falls.
Day 6-8:	Iguazu Falls. Spend two days exploring the area and enjoying the panoramic views from the Brazilian side and have an up-close experience from the Argentinian side. The falls are actually 275 separate cascades, set over a 3 km area. For a different perspective take an optional helicopter trip or boat cruise.
Day 9-10:	Bonito. Paradise for any outdoor lover, Bonito's name translates to 'beautiful'. Explore the jungle and spend days swimming in lagoons, snorkelling down the Rio da Prata or visiting macaw nesting spots.
Day 11-13:	Pantanal. Half the size of France and home to a seemingly endless variety of wildlife, the Pantanal is a wetland adventure world. Explore the region by 4WD or motorised canoes and spot giant otters, anteaters and caimans.
Day 14-15:	Rio de Janeiro. The Cariocas, as Rio's residents are known, are experts at having a good time - so grab a caipirinha, put on your samba shoes and head out on the town.

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

We just can't get enough of the Amazon, not only as a jaw-dropping travel destination but also as a global treasure and this trip will help to ensure that the incredibly Amazon Rainforest is here for us to enjoy for generations to come! Our Amazon Fund will help support on the ground projects by our foundation's long time partners Greenpeace and WWF. By booking your Latin American adventure with us you're helping us work towards a sustainable future for the Amazon.

This trip gives you plenty of opportunities to get to know the culture and vibrant history of Latin America. There are numerous chances for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey.

Your leader and the occasional local guide will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some Spanish at the same time). All travellers are encouraged to explore with the group and on their own, learn a few words of the language and interact with the locals as much as possible.

Local guides are employed to help explain as much as possible about the cultural differences and the historically significant places that we visit. This also allows us to appreciate the importance of preserving and respecting these sites and to help us minimise the impact of our visits.

There are plenty of opportunities to support local merchants in the markets and stalls that we pass along the way. We can purchase traditional handicrafts from local artisans and learn more about the importance of preserving these crafts.

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'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

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