Brazil Cultural & Beach Highlights

Fly to Campo Grande (not included and flight should arrive no later than 2:00 pm). You’ll arrive at Campo Grande and be transferred to Pantanal by car (245 km – approximately 3.5 hours) to “Fazenda San Francisco” where you’ll enjoy the treasure of the fauna and flora for the next few days with all meals included. You’ll be able to select from the following optional activities:

Boat Tour in Corixo São Domingos
A typical boat of the Pantanal, known as Chalana, is used in this trip to the Corixo São Domingos – an arm of Miranda River. In this tour, one can see the birds that inhabit the river margins like kingfishers, cormorants, egrets, herons, hawks, jacamars and many others. Caimans are often seen very close. With luck, giant river otters, southern river otters and even an anteater can cross in front of the boat. During this tour, you can also do sportive fishing for piranhas and visit the Centennial Fig Tree. During the dry season, it is possible to walk in a trail in the gallery forest of the Corixo where you get to know the typical vegetation of this forest. Trees like strangling fig tree, white fig tree, acuri palm tree, piuva, angico, and also several lianas can be seen. Duration: Approximately 2h30min.

Barbecue at Corixo’s Hill
This hill is located close to the farm’s headquarters. It is a pleasant option for those who want to enjoy the night in the silence of the Pantanal. The barbecue is done on top of the hill with a cozy fire complete with storytelling. Dinner is served, but sometimes the barbecue turns into a ball party – so bring your dancing shoes!

Canoeing in Corixo São Domingos
The canoe trip full of silence, tranquility and peace! The tour starts at the headquarters of the Fazenda with the choice of your paddle and the proper lifejacket for you. After that, you’ll walk on the Little Hill’s trail to get at the Corixo’s deck where you will get a canoe. The guides are trained to give you all the information you need to have a nice and safe trip. After the instructions, you just have to relax and enjoy, paddling along the calm waters of the Corixo. There is no special training needed to take this trip. Duration: Approximately 2h30min.

Milking the Cows
This option starts at 4:30 in the morning! The guide takes the group to the corral of the farm to see the handling of the dairy cows. Usually this tour is associated with some morning horseback riding. After milking, the cows you return to the headquarters for the quebra torto (typical breakfast of the Pantanal). Duration: Approximately 40 min.

Photo Safari in Open car and Carandas´s trail
The Photo Safari is done in the area of forest reserve and rice fields of the farm. In this tour, it is possible to see local fauna like marsh deer’s, capybaras, caimans and many birds as the jabiru stork – bird symbol of the Pantanal. With luck you might see anteaters, tapirs and even the majestic jaguar. During the safari. you will be able to walk on a suspended trail built in the gallery Forest of Miranda River. This walk lasts around 20 minutes. Duration: Approximately 3hours

Night Expedition in search for wildlife
One can find in the Pantanal a great diversity of animals with nocturnal feeding habits. Animals like crab-eating foxes, ocelots, tapirs, caimans, capybaras, deers, owls, nighthawks, and the beautiful jaguar. During the night, the strong light used to spot the animals reflect in their eyes. We travel through the rice fields (good place to spot mammals) and the forested areas.

During the dry season (usually between June and October) it is possible to traverse the beautiful area of Corixo Seco, which has an intact and tight forest. The cars, called Jaguaretê (Jaguar), Jaguatirica (Ocelot) and Guará (Wolf), were specially built for this trip. They are mounted in Toyota Pick-ups equipped with seats in three different levels to facilitate the visualization of animals by everyone in the car. The guides that take you in this tour are very well trained to search for animals at night.
Duration: Approximately 2h30min.

Horseback riding in Brazilian Savana and Pantanal
Horseback riding is one of our most interesting tours because you can get to know the Pantanal like the “pantaneiro” (local people) do, on top of a horse! The horses are tame and used to the easy walk that aims to search for animals. During this tour, the pantaneiros guides, carry in their saddlebag the tereré – typical drink of the region – similar to the hot mate, but with cold water. There are different places where one can ride in the farm. Savannah, wetlands (depending on the season) and also you might join the work of the cowboys (available according to the type of work they are doing). Duration: Approximately 2h30min. Observations: What to take: hat/cap, long trousers, insect repellent and sun block. What is included: “pantaneiro guide” and insurance against personal accidents.

Interpretative Walk on Vazante’s Trail with a Watch Tower
You will leave at 7h00 and in the afternoon at 15h30 in a car to start the interpretative walk on the Vazante’s Trail. You will traverse areas of vazantes (drainage of the water in the wet season) and reserve forests of the farm. The trail is built on stilts so one can use it all year long. Many birds, marsh deer, anacondas and other animals can show up during the walk. At the end of this runway, there is a watch tower 10 m high (30 feet) where you can have a nice view of the beautiful landscape. Duration: Approximately 3 hours. Observations: What to take: long trousers, closed shoes (snickers), sunblock, insect repellent, hat or cap, water, binoculars and photo or video equipment.

After breakfast, there will be a private transfer of approximately 3h30min to Campo Grande to take the flight to Iguassu (not included). You’ll arrive in Iguassu and transfer to the Hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll depart to the Argentinean Falls for a half day tour of Iguassu Falls. First stop will be at the Visitors Center, which is an interpretative building with giant panels showing the importance of the biodiversity of the subtropical humid forest. To get to the catwalks overlooking the falls, visitors will board a gas-propelled train that will take them to the Upper Falls Circuit and the Devil’s Throat.

Once at the Devil’s Throat Station, we’ll will take a walking tour on a flat catwalk built over the Upper Iguassu River, with an extension of 1100 meters that lead visitors to the balconies for an amazing panoramic view of this magnificent fall: The Devil’s Throat. You can then participate in an optional tour or return to the Hotel.

Optional Gran Adventure as Argentinean Falls Extension
A guide will be your host in this 8-kilometer tour down the Sendero Yacaratiá (Trail) as far as Puerto Macuco, in the banks of the Iguassu River, in order to board motor boats especially produced for this type of navigation. With the life-jacket duly adjusted, we leave for the challenge of going up the rapids in the lower Iguassu River, for about 6 kilometers of rock and vegetation, up to 80 meters high, as far as the majestic Devils Throat. Note: Depending on the country of origin, visitors may need entry visa.

After an early breakfast, you’ll depart to visit the Brazilian Side of the Iguassu Falls. You can then participate in a couple of optional tours or transfer to the Airport to take a flight to Rio de Janeiro (not included). You’ll arrive in Rio and transfer to the Hotel.

Optional Macuco Safari
This tour takes place inside the Iguaçu National Park (Brazil), about seven kilometers from the Visitors Center and is generally combined with the visit to Iguaçu Falls. Going up the river in specially prepared boats to get to the base of Iguaçu Falls and to be able to admire and feel them close. Whirlpools, waves, and currents provoked by the Falls add adrenaline and lots of emotions to this unforgettable tour.

Optional Helicopter Flight over Iguassu Falls (Recommended)
Panoramic flights over the Falls with modern equipment and experienced pilots that have detailed knowledge of the area’s attractions. You’ll have an opportunity to take pictures of the beautiful sceneries the Iguazu National Park offers. Duration: 15 minutes over the Falls – Minimum of 3 people.

After breakfast, you’ll leave at 8am and travel to the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain by Tijuca Forest. Afterwards, we’ll depart to the charming district of Santa Teresa with its cobblestoned hilly streets, old homes, interesting museums and Rio’s last surviving tram line.

You’ll then visit Sugar Loaf Mountain. It was, at the feet of Urca Hill, that the city of Rio de Janeiro was founded in 1565 by Estácio de Sá. The visit is done in two steps, by modern cable-car. The first ride of the cable-car links Praia Vermelha to Urca Hill, located at 215 meters of altitude, a point from which can be seen all the Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Flamengo landfilling, the Corcovado and the Rio-Niterói bridge, besides the majestic mountains that protect and embellish the city. In the Belvedere, there is a fast food area, an anphiteatrum and a Heli-pad. The second ride, that we will make on the cable car, takes to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain, at 395 meters of altitude, from where can be seen, in a unique perspective, the beach of Copacabana, the Santa Cruz Fortress, some beaches of Niterói in a fantastic scenery. Return to the hotel.

Optional Hiking towards Urca Hill: We can walk by Cláudio Coutinho way and take the trail to reach the Urca Hill. The first step is steep (moderate level) and the trail takes about 40 min.

After breakfast, there will be a private transfer to Angra dos Reis pier, and take the ferry to Ilha Grande up to Abraão Village. There, you will be received on the island and taken (walking transfer to the Pousada.

After breakfast and a presentation at the pier, you’ll depart for Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon), where you will see how the area is protecting its unspoiled natural environment. There will be a stop between the two islands. In the shallow part of this lagoon – with its blue transparent waters – you will find an abundance of colorful corals and fish which feed off of your hand. The trip will continue with a stop at Praia da Freguesia de Santana. There, you will have the chance to get to know two beaches in addition to the historical Santana Church (built in 1796). Returning to the boat, you will stop at Saco do Céu (Sky Bay), a small bay with still waters that received its name because at night you can admire the reflection of the stars on the oceans´ surface. Afterward, you’ll return to Abraão Village.

Today is a free day to sit back and enjoy everything the island has to offer. Ilha Grande hosts one of the richest ecosystems in the world. The entire island is a protected area and hosts an abundance of endangered wildlife from the red-browed Amazon parrot and broad-snouted Cayman to the maned sloth and brown howler monkey, all of which you may see during your stay here.

After breakfast, you’ll board the regular ferry boat to Angra dos Reis. From there, you’ll be transferred to Rio de Janeiro Airport for your flight home.