Brazil: Northern Treasures (13 Days)

Day 01 – Arrival Rio de Janeiro

Arrival to Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG). Our representative will meet you on arrival and accompany you on your private transfer to your downtown hotel to begin your luxury Brazil vacation in The Marvelous City or Cidade Maravilhosa as the locals say.

Day 02 – Morning City Tour of Rio, Sugar Loaf and Corcovado with Samba

We begin with an idyllic coastal drive aside the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon to the base of Corcovado Hill. Then board the train which will carry you to the infamous Christ the Redeemer statue. Witnessing the all-encompassing view of Rio de Janeiro is a once in lifetime moment etched on your memory. Onward to the Sugarloaf Mountain where we can enjoy the spectacular glass cable-car rides. Firstly, with a view from Urca peak across the panoramic bay. Secondly, onward and upward to the crest of the Sugar Loaf with vistas of metropolitan Rio, Corcovado with Botafogo and Copacabana Beaches. Your evening is made complete with dinner as you witness a mesmerizing samba show of colorful Brazilian dancers replete with their decadent costumes and hypnotic Latin rhythms.

Day 03 – Rio de Janeiro to Manaus Amazon Rainforest

Private transfer to the Rio airport and flight to Manaus. Manaus was famed for rubber production in the late 1800’s and was known as the Paris of the Tropics. Today access is primarily by boat or aeroplane and the region is still the secluded home of native Amazonian tribes. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our staff and transferred to your beautiful Amazon jungle lodge. Today you will have the opportunity to go canoeing through the enthralling Igapós flooded forest and along the Igarapés River in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon.

Day 04 - Manaus Amazon Rainforest

In the capable and trusted hands of our local guides, explore the diverse bounty of the dryland forests. Your insightful and educational guides will teach you of the immense variety of local trees, fruits and wild fruits, and even tips on survival strategies and the rainforests abundance of plants to create thousands of medicinal herbs. Today you will also get to do some boating on the archipelago with a special treat of seeing the Pink and Grey Dolphins which are native to the region.

Day 05 - Manaus Amazon Rainforest

Today we take a canoe adventure on the Rio Negro (Black River) and visit the native Caboclo community. This is a moving experience as you get to witness and learn their lifestyle, culture, agricultural methods and social structures. Then continue onward watching the Amazon world drift by in your canoe along the Igarapés River to enjoy some piranha fishing. However, in the dry season of September to December the fish migrate to the waters of the nearby national park, which prohibits fishing. As a perfect option at this time, the dry weather allows you to explore on foot the previously submerged islands of the Anavilhanas Archipelago. This region offers an immense opportunity to get in tune with nature to explore the wide diversity of unique flora and fauna native to the Amazon rainforest.

Day 06 – Fly Manaus Amazon Rainforest to Belem

Morning transfer from your jungle lodge to Manaus Airport. Flight to Belem. Private transfer from Belem airport to your hotel accommodation and a free evening to explore Belem. We recommend a visit to the Dock Station to savor the foods, culture and nightlife of this beautiful colonial city at the gateway to the Amazon.

Day 07 – Belem to Marajo Island

Early morning transfer to the pier. Then a river cruise to the delightful village of Camará about three hours away. Upon arrival we transfer to your hotel and take lunch. After lunch we will tour to Araruna beach with its magnificent mangrove forests and a wealth of exotic birds. We will end the evening with dinner at your hotel.
Your location at Marajo Island is the largest fluvial river island in the world, at 45,000 square miles in area. It is a vast wetland area with the largest herds of Indian water buffalo in Brazil and a prolific natural habitat of plants and animals. This is a region to escape the tourist track and venture out to contemplate and witness beautiful desolate beaches with sand dunes in a natural paradise. The area too has a proud culture of song and dance amongst its multitude of indigenous tribes including the rhythmic Lundu Marajoara dance.

Day 8 – Marajo Island

Today will give an opportunity to visit a local Marajo ranch famed for their buffalo and learn of their daily lives and the history of farming people in the region. Following lunch, we venture onward to Pesqueiro beach near Soure where you can savor local foods of the made of fish, fruits and homemade candies or even the local delicacy of duck in tucupi. Depending on the time you visit you may catch a festival. The main cities of the region Soure and Salvaterra host the quadrilha and the boi bumbá festivals in addition to the renowned citywide Feast of Our Lady of Nazareth in November at Soure.

Free Morning to enjoy Marajo. In the afternoon you will take your transfer to Camará pier to board the return boat to Belem for a late evening arrival at your hotel.

Day 11 - Lencois Maranhenses National Park

Today’s adventure begins at the port of Barreirinhas with a voyage along the Preguica River where your senses will be heightened by the appearance of native birds, animals including monkeys and the beautiful flora of the river banks gliding by. Our journey will be enhanced by some brief excursions along the way at the picturesque fishing villages of Alazao, Vassouras, Mandacaru and finally reaching the ocean and beach at Cabure. All in all, a delightful day’s outing on the “lazy river”.

Day 09 – Belem to Sao Luis

Guided transfer from your hotel to Belem airport. Flight to Sao Luis where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Sao Luis is nestled on a promontory amid the confluence of the rivers of Anil and Bacanga and is a UNESCO recognized gem of colonial influences. After lunch we will partake in a fascinating tour of the famous colonial city. An evening out on the cobbled streets of Sao Luis is like a journey back in time with buildings draped in old colonial Portuguese architecture and colorful idyllic alleyways at every turn. In 1612 French invaders under the command of Daniel de la Touche de la Ravardière captured the town of Maranhão and added the title Saint Louis to honor their King Louis XVIII. On your tour of this beguiling city we will venture into the hearts and minds of the colorful past dwellers and live the experiences of current inhabitants too. Live your luxury Brazil vacation and be uplifted to the rapturous delights of an eve in the 1600’s, just you out and about on the City of Mansions and Tiles.

Day 10 – Sao Luis to Barreirinhas & Lencois Maranhenses National Park

We travel for three hours to reach Barreirinhas the gateway to Lencois Maranhenses National Park. This park is the home of a surreal landscape of sand dunes and beautiful lagoon oases. The word awesome is often overused but rest assured you will be in awe of the treasures of this breathtaking landscape. After you check into your accommodation and take lunch we will venture out to explore the dune landscape and visit some of these wonderous freshwater rain lagoons of the region. A journey into the mystic!

Day 12 - Lencois Maranhenses National Park to Sao Luis

We transfer this morning from the national park back Sao Luis and have a free afternoon to enjoy at the colonial city. You can enjoy some relaxation at the selection of local beaches or if you have children the Valparaiso Acqua Park nearby is a good option. Sao Luis is also a good place to do absolutely nothing. Just sit back, sip a caipirinha and watch the locals practice their kicks and spins of capoeira martial arts.

Day 13 - Sao Luis to Rio de Janeiro

Following breakfast our guide will escort you to Sao Luis Airport (SLZ) for connection to your flight to Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) and your onward flight home. By now you will feel a sense of achievement having ventured off the tourist highways. To have touched the Northern Brazilian hearts and souls and lived the wonderful secluded destinations of your very own luxury Brazil vacation.