Tour to Brazil "Southern Brazil" with Iguazu Falls on 12 days

Brazil
12 days / 11 nights

Rio de Janeiro (3 n) + Foz de Iguazu Falls (2n) + Gramado (1n)+Praia Grande (2 n) + Florianopolis (3 n) including a hot air balloon flight and a picnic at the edge of Latin America’s deepest canyon!

We invite you to a fascinating journey through Southern Brazil!

After the lively vibe of Rio and the natural beauty of its beaches, you will fall in love with the world's widest waterfalls. Feel awe at a hot air balloon flight over the largest canyon in Latin America, hike the edge of the canyon feeling the adrenaline and have a picnic right there! We also take a dazzling cable car ride over the edge of the canyon! Enjoy the beautiful blue sea and greenery of the beaches of Florianopolis.

Day 1. Rio de Janeiro
Arrival at Rio de Janeiro airport. You will be met by a guide at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. 
Rio de Janeiro is green hills, blue sky, beautiful bays, islands and marvelous beaches. It is the second biggest city in Brazil (after Sao Paulo) and, certainly, one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Blue ocean water will call you to the beach. Enjoy your time in this paradise city!
You can enjoy the exciting life of the city or relax among the palm trees drinking coconut water and listening to samba. Whatever you choose - Rio is all yours!
Blue ocean water will call you to the beach. The most popular beaches - Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, are famous for their black and white tiled promenade. Numerous open cafeterias on the beach will offer you refreshing coconut water, freshly squeezed juices and other drinks. You can also see presentations of local musicians on the beach playing all kinds of music, people practicing sports, enjoying themselves. Emerge yourself in the rhythm of the city.

Day 2: Rio de Janeiro – Sugar Loaf mountain (4 hours)
After breakfast a half-day guided excursion to the Sugar Loaf is planned. The first stop is on Urca Mountain, with a wide viewing area, where you can have a snack with a special view. You can clearly see the whole

city on palm of your hand from here. On the mountain of Sugar Loaf you will have a beautiful view of Rio, Copacabana beach, the bay, the surrounding mountains, islands in the ocean, Niteroi bridge, and the statue of Christ on Corcovado Mountain. Then you will go by car to the central regions of the old Rio, where you will admire several old churches, monasteries, the main cathedral of the city, as well as buildings built in the colonial style.
Optional: (not included in the price of the tour)
Flying over Rio by Helicopter
You have the option to order a helicopter tour from the Sugarloaf mountain. During your flight you will get amazed by the mind-blowing view of the city below with its infinite beaches, huge Christ statue, Botanical Garden and many more. 
Duration: 7 minutes

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro-Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer Statue (4 hours)
After a delicious breakfast in your hotel, you will head out on a trip to see the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue on top of Corcovado Mountain. A specially designed train will take you from the foot of the mountain along a winding road through the magical Tijuca rainforest where if you are luck you can see some of the enchanting tropical wildlife on constant display in Rio, such as toucans, monkeys and armadillos. At the summit of Corcovado, 700m above sea level, proudly stands the iconic image seen around the world – a 38m high statue of Christ the Saviour. But that is not the only breathtaking thing about this place – when up close to the statue you will be overwhelmed by the stunning panoramic view of the city, so high up it seems as though you are truly flying with the birds around you. From the far reaches of Guanabara Bay, to the Maracanã Stadium, all along to Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana, Ipanema and Gávea Mountain, you can see the whole of Rio de Janeiro.

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro – Foz do Iguacu
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Foz do Iguacu. Arrival at Foz do Iguacu airport. Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 5: Foz do Iguacu
After breakfast, your guide picks you up at the hotel for a full day adventure in Foz do Iguacu. 

Today we visit the Brazilian side of the falls. A walk along the edge of the falls provides the most spectacular view you have ever seen; over 250 falls overflowing with millions of gallons of water race down in absolute fury and beauty. The sunlight flashing off the water has the mesmerizing effect of creating hundreds of rainbows as far as the eye can see. It is almost hard to believe, such is the breathtaking beauty of this rainforest paradise. After taking in the incredible views, the path takes you to the eye of the storm, the largest waterfall in the park, The Devil’s Throat. Water crashes off an 80 m cliff edge into the Iguazu River, but you have the chance to stand in the middle of the storm of water via a walkway that leads you into the heart of the waterfall. Feel the power of the water as it surrounds you from all sides, before heading up a stairway to look down from above on the mother of all waterfalls. At the end of the tour, your guide will drop you off at your hotel.
Optional: you can order the additional tours of Macuco Safari or visit the Bird Park after the Falls.

Bird Park (USD 60 P/P).
You will enter the huge open-air cages, where amazing, fairytale birds of outlandish colors freely fly or walk in the rainforest.

Macuco Safari (USD 130 P/P)

You will go on a jeeptour through the jungle, and then take a wonderful boat ride. In the jungle you will ride in an open jeep for about 3 kilometers, accompanied by a guide who will tell a lot of interesting things about the ecology of the region. Then you will go on foot to the banks of the Iguazu River, from where a motorboat takes you at full speed to the waterfalls. You can expect to be completely wet with splashes, surrounded by rainbows, and feel a sea of delight and adrenaline.

Day 6: Foz do Iguazu Gramado
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Porto Alerge. Arrival at the airport, transfer to Gramado. This tiny mountain resort, which hosts German immigrants long settled in Brazil is one of Brazil's cutest towns. It does indeed feel like a Swiss mountain village – boutiques sell avant-garde glasswork and gourmet chocolate, local restaurants specialize in fondue, hotels are decked out like Swiss chalets – while the infrastructure, safety and scenery all meet the standards of similar-sized towns in North America or Europe. This chocolate fantasyland is pleasant, and the standard of living in this little piece of paradise is unparalleled in Brazil. You will be enchanted by the atmosphere of this place.

Day 7: Gramado-Praia Grande
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will go for an exciting adventure over the edge of the canyon, called Skyglass.
Skyglass is located in the neighboring city of Canela. It is on the the greatest attractions in Latin America! A 36-meter glass platform hovers over the picturesque Ferradura Valley (about 360 meters high). And for the most fearless people, there is an opportunity to ride on special suspended chairs over the abyss.

In the afternoon transfer to Praia Grande.
It is a frontier town built on cattle ranching with an authentic gaucho (Brazilian cowboys’) atmosphere. Located 186km northeast of Porto Alegre, it serves as a base for both Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra and Parque Nacional da Serra Geral, the national parks that are described as the ‘Brazilian Grand Canyon, where the canyons of Itaimbezinho and Fortaleza are located. This place attracts visitors who are searching for unforgettable experiences.

Day 8: Praia Grande
Today is your day of adventure! You will leave the hotel at 5 am and take a hot air balloon ride over the canyons at dawn.
Transfer to the entrance to the National Park. Today we will do some trekking inside the parks (1.5 и 3.5 кm) and you can watch the canyons from the best observing decks. At the edge of the canyon we will have a lovely picnic!

Day 9: Praia Grande-Florianopolis
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Florianopolis. Arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Day10: Florianopolis
Breakfast at the hotel. You will have a panoramic tour on the island. Florianópolis with its downtown Floripa, known as Centro, is both the political capital of Santa Catarina, the cultural capital of southern Brazil and the gateway to the rest of the island. Florianópolis is known in Brazil as the “Island of Magic”. Its breathtaking beaches are a paradise to surfers and beach goers. We will explore the historic center of Florianopolis, enjoy the view from the Hercílio Light Lookout or Ponte Hercilio Luz. It was the first bridge constructed to link the Island of Santa Catarina to the mainland. The bridge is now closed for traffic, and it is a national cultural heritage. We will admire Joaquina Beach, Conceição Lagoon, Barra da Lagoa and north of the island. In the historical center we will see the little yellow and charming metropolitan cathedral. In the most important square of the city, we’ll get acquainted with Praça Novembro XV (15th of November Square, named after the date in which the republic was proclaimed) where the imposing Palace Cruz e Souza stands, which now houses the historical museum of Santa Catarina.

Day 11: Florianopolis
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day for new discoveries on the island. 

Day 12: Florianopolis
Breakfast at the hotel. At the appointed time, transfer to the Florianopolis airport.
( we recommend you to ask us for a few days extension of this tour to enjoy Florianopolis’ wonderful beaches)