Arrival in Rio de Janeiro. Your guide meets you at the airport, and a short transfer along the bay brings you to the hotel. Check-in at Fairmont Copacabana hotel Rio, the first stop on this Rio de Janeiro luxury tour. The rooms look out over the long arc of the beach, where by night only scattered lights and the sound of water remain.
Rio sits comfortably between the ocean with its bays, islands, and beautiful beaches, and the hills densely covered in green and tightly built with neighborhoods and favelas. Rio is prized for its rare combination of natural terrain and architecture: long beaches that give way to dense urban streets, and hills rising above with viewpoints. 

The rest of the day is yours. How would you like to begin your time in Brazil? You could head downtown and dive into the nightlife scene with its lively bars and dancing. Or, if you'd rather take it slow, find a quiet spot somewhere between the palm trees, the sand, and the ocean waves.

Breakfast at the hotel. Your English-speaking guide from Brazil meets you in the lobby.
The city route begins at Praia Vermelha, a narrow strip of sand at the foot of the rocks. From here the Sugarloaf Mountain cable car lifts you up: the cabin passes over granite ledges and treetops, with Guanabara Bay alongside.
The first stop is Urca Hill, with a wide viewing platform, restaurants, and bars. Already from here you can see the colorful bay, boats along the shore, the city skyline, and the Christ statue on Corcovado. But you continue higher, to Sugarloaf itself. A panoramic view over Rio, Copacabana beach, the bay, and the Niteroi bridge spanning it, the surrounding mountains and islands in the ocean.
Then by car you head into the central neighborhoods of old Rio de Janeiro on a city tour. You pass through dense urban streets: the cool interiors of churches, monasteries, the enormous Cathedral that holds up to 20,000 people, the shade of narrow streets and the stone facades of colonial buildings. 

Optional: Helicopter Tour Rio de Janeiro.
The helicopter lifts off and gains altitude smoothly. The city noise quickly falls away, leaving only the steady hum of the blades and the wind. Below, Rio assembles itself into a complete picture. The ocean dark in its depths, lighter patches near the shore, the endless lines of beaches, the white curves of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Between them, dense buildings and green masses.
You pass over Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, the Botanical Garden, and rise toward the Christ the Redeemer statue. Sugarloaf and Guanabara Bay are off to one side. The helicopter tour Rio lasts from 10 to 30 minutes. The views stay with you, but above all it is the feeling of boundless space, as though for a moment you stepped outside the ordinary world. An excellent addition to any VIP Brazil itinerary.

Breakfast at the hotel. Arrival at the station where an open, eco-friendly train sets off through the jungle toward the summit of Corcovado Hill. On both sides of the track, sweeping views of the Tijuca forest open up, home to monkeys and other exotic animals and birds.
Just 20 minutes, and you are at the symbol of Rio: the Christ the Redeemer tour at the statue (38 m), erected in 1931. A breathtaking panorama of the city, the lagoons, and the bay opens up. People come here not only for the view: for many it is a spiritual journey and a place of stillness.

In the evening, a Caipirinha masterclass awaits. It takes place on the rooftop of one of the beachfront hotels with a charming view over the city. You learn the secrets of making the cocktail and, of course, taste it. Ice rings in the glass, lime gives a sharp fresh scent, and cachaca (a strong spirit made from sugarcane) warms from the first sip. The city hums below, the ocean darkens ahead: one of those moments you travel to Brazil for.

If you are captivated by Rio's energy and beaches, you can extend your stay with our Brazil beach tour to Recife, Porto de Galinhas and Fernando de Noronha.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and flight to Cuiaba. Then a light aircraft: the Cessna flight Pantanal (Cessna 206/210 or Piper Arrow) passes at low altitude, around 200 meters. You can clearly see the dark blue-green lagoons surrounded by humid vegetation, the narrow channels between them, ranches on raised ground, and lines of roads barely visible. From the air you can make out movement: flocks of birds, capybaras at the water's edge, and occasional deer silhouettes. The Pantanal is a unique reserve in Brazil, home to many rare species of plants, animals, and birds.

After crossing the hills, the pilot descends to the plain and you land in Porto Jofre Brazil, one of the best places in the world for observing jaguars in their natural habitat. A day of adventure awaits: jeep safari and a Pantanal boat tour wildlife with a high probability of jaguar sightings along the way.
Lunch and dinner included. 

Night at Pousada Porto Jofre.

After breakfast: morning Pantanal jaguar safari. The boat moves along the banks where the animals keep to the edge of the forest. A smooth pace, the motor almost silent, the eye tracing the line of shrubs and sandy shallows. The light is soft, the air still cool. 

The best time to visit the Pantanal is from July to October. At this time the water level drops, animals come to the remaining rivers and lagoons, and less vegetation blocks the view, making it easier to spot jaguars along the banks. 

Then transfer to the aircraft and a flight to Bonito Brazil tours, with an excursion through ancient forests. The landscape changes: instead of waterlogged plains, dense forests and limestone plateaus. The water here is transparent with a blue tint, the riverbed clearly visible. In the area: caves with stalactites, magnificent waterfalls with stone basins, and exotic fish in crystal rivers. Very few places in the world have preserved nature in such pristine beauty.

If you enjoy wildlife watching, you might also like our Costa Rica luxury tour with Corcovado National Park and Caño Negro wildlife refuge.

After breakfast: a visit to Rio Sucuri and Rio Sucuri snorkeling. The immersion begins on the eastern side of the river, reached by a trail through dense forest. You encounter rich flora, and if you are lucky, wild animals such as the mutum, the udu, the pygmy marmoset, the agouti, and the peccary. 

Bonito Brazil tours centered on snorkeling are a pure pleasure: the riverbed is visible even at depth, fish stay right beside you. These are the clearest freshwater rivers in the world, rich in aquatic life and flora.
After: river floating in inflatable rings, Boia Cross style: short rapids, cold splashes, and bends where the water quickens. This Bonito floating rafting is not about conquering anything but about observing, the banks, the birds, and the animals. 

At the end of the day: Bonito zip line adventure at Arvorismo Cabanas. A course 15 meters above the ground with 18 obstacles and 2 zip lines, the final descent over the waters of the Rio Formoso.

After breakfast we head west, where 20 km away the Abismo Anhumas abseiling descent awaits. The entrance is almost invisible, a narrow crack in the ground, but beyond it lies what feels like a journey to the center of the Earth. A 72-meter shaft ends in an underground lake where extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites grow. 

The first part of the adventure is descending 5 meters through a narrow crack in the ground. The air becomes cool and humid, the light stays above. Then the shaft widens, and beneath your feet a giant crater opens with a crystal-clear lake where you can snorkel. Beyond the extraordinary sensation of descending into one of the largest underwater caves in Brazil, this is also an exclusive experience: only two groups of eight people descend per day.

For more underwater adventures and crystal-clear rivers, explore our Brazil adventure tour with Bonito and the Lençóis Maranhenses dunes.

After breakfast: a visit to Estância Mimosa waterfalls farm. First a warm welcome at the main house, then a walk. From the main house a trail leads into gallery forest alongside a river: humid air, shade from dense foliage, the sound of water growing closer with each turn. The route passes through eight waterfalls, from narrow jets to wide cascades.

In natural stone basins with cool water you can swim. In places you can swim behind the flow and enter mysterious caves. There are also suspended wooden walkways, observation platforms, a six-meter diving board, and a short boat crossing. 

After the walks, a delicious lunch is served at the main house, and you can relax in hammocks. In the evening, transfer to Campo Grande airport and a flight to Iguazu.

Welcome and transfer to Belmond das Cataratas hotel.

Today: the Iguazu Falls Brazilian side with panoramic views along the canyon. 

The trail runs along the canyon: first a rumble is heard, then the air becomes humid, and a line of falling water appears ahead. There are around 275 streams here, converging in one channel and plunging into the Devil's Throat gorge. The water falls in a solid mass, spray rises and hangs in the air. 

The roar drowns out conversation and settles in the chest. On a sunny day, rainbows hang in the air. The best way to forget everything and simply look.
Then the Macuco Safari boat experience on the Iguazu Falls. First a jeep drive through the jungle with a guide who shares the natural history of the region. Then by boat you approach the falls directly. An incomparable closeness to the torrents, enormous excitement, and unique photographs: this is Macuco Safari, Iguazu Falls adventure.

The power of Iguazu is unforgettable, and you can see it from both sides on our Argentina luxury tour combining Iguazu and Buenos Aires.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Porto Alegre. On arrival, transfer to Sheraton Porto Alegre. 

The tour moves south, into a region with a cooler climate. The city stands by the Guaiba lagoon. There is less tropical vegetation and more open space, wide avenues and a European city layout. This was historically a territory of European immigration: Germans and Italians brought their traditions of farming and winemaking here. 

Porto Alegre tour is the gateway to the Serra Gaúcha vineyards wine region. This is the ideal starting point for reaching the valleys with vineyards and small family wineries. The soils, altitude variations, and moderate temperatures create conditions for local grape varieties and sparkling wines.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. You fly by helicopter to Bento Gonçalves wine region. Below, hills alternate, rows of vines follow the shape of the slopes, and between them narrow roads and isolated estates. The terrain is gentle, without sharp drops. The climate differs from the tropics: cool nights and moderately warm days allow slow ripening of the grapes, producing more balanced wines.
Here in Bento Gonçalves, there are many small estates where grapes are harvested by hand and wines are aged in stone cellars. You visit these wineries, have lunch, and taste the local wine. Pay particular attention to the sparkling wines. 

Finally, you'll be transferred to a stunning spa hotel nestled among Brazil's vineyards – SPA do Vinho. Perched on a hillside, the hotel offers sweeping views of the vine-covered slopes. Inside, you'll find cozy rooms, inviting terraces, and tranquil lounge areas. It's time to unwind.

Transfer to the national park entrance. First, a few easy treks inside the parks to see the Cambará do Sul canyons from the best viewpoints. 

The canyons of the Cambará do Sul region formed millions of years ago on a plateau of basalt rock. Layers of lava solidified one after another, and then water and wind gradually cut through the mass, creating deep fissures. 

Then the adventure: helicopter tour canyons Brazil over the Cambará do Sul canyons. Below, the terrain shifts: hills break in sharp lines, and cuts in the earth drop away beneath. The flight reveals how the layers differ in color and texture, with thin lines of waterfalls and the shadows of rocks changing with each turn. 

At the end, a romantic picnic with fresh fruit, chocolate from Gramado (one of the best chocolates in Brazil), and sparkling wine from the Serra Gaúcha vineyards.
Transfer to hotel Parador Casa da Montanha.

If you love dramatic landscapes and fine wines, you can continue your journey to Chile with our VIP tour to Chile featuring Patagonia and glacier flights.

Helicopter transfer to Porto Alegre airport. Flight to Rio or Sao Paulo for the international connection. 

Over these days, this luxury Brazil tour 13 days has covered the many faces of the country: ocean and city, humid forests and the open plains of the Pantanal, the transparent rivers of Bonito and the underground world of caves, Iguazu Falls, wine valleys, and the canyons of the south. 

You leave with a different sense of scale and time. Having descended to the depths of caves, taken in the panorama of waterfalls, and looked down at lagoons from a helicopter, you begin to perceive distances and pauses differently. Where water falls continuously into a vast canyon, time loses its sharp edges. Where the underground silence fills your ears, each second becomes tangible.
After experiences like these, your perspective shifts: familiar things seem simpler, and important ones become clearer. This is why people choose an extreme Brazil vacation, to learn to slow down and look at the world with wide-open eyes.