Follow in the footsteps of Blu
and his family
12 days / 11 nights
Rio de Janeiro (4 N) + Falls Foz de Iguazú (2N) + Amazon (2N) + Beaches (3N)
If you have children, you will have most likely seen the brilliant cartoon "Rio" and "Rio 2". On this trip, you and your children will see many of the wonderful sights shown in this fun movie. The creators of Rio made sure to show every detail of daily life in the city, so you will be sure to see the familiar sights on display.
Day 1: Rio - de - Janeiro.
Arriving in the airport, your driver will take you to your hotel. On the way, you will immediately be hit by the hustle and bustle of carioca (slang for Rio locals) life. The noise of city life, the favelas stretching into the background, the golden sands of Copacabana beach dotted with hundreds of volley-football players, the rainforest all around, monkeys climbing along the rooftops – this is Rio! Once in your hotel, you can spend the day as you wish. Why not take the short walk a few blocks to the beach, where you can rent a sun umbrella and deck chairs and the children can play in the shallow waters.Day 2: Rio de Janeiro.
Breakfast at the hotel. You start the day with a half-day excursion to the Sugar Loaf mountain. Your guide will take you to Praia Vermelha (Red Beach), a more intimate and tranquil beach than some of the others that seems to be from some ancient world when you look to your left and see the otherworldly shape of the Sugarloaf Mountain next to you. A thrilling cable car ride will take you up to the top of the mountain where a spectacular view of the city comes into focus. It is as if you are looking inwards from the ocean, and you can see everything that Rio has to offer: Christ the Redeemer to the North, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches curving towards the Two Brothers’ Mountain to the West, Botafogo beach and the Financial District to the East. It is truly a sight to behold. Keep an eye out for mischievous monkeys up to no good on the mountainside. After taking in the sights and different angles (as well as a tropical cocktail should you feel like it!) you will be taken on a guided tour round the historical centre. Tucked in amongst the skyscrapers and office blocks, this neighbourhood is full of old churches such as the Candelaria, and old docks, boathouses and buildings from the colonial era brimming with history. These streets are not much different to how they were 400 years ago, and walking through them you are transported back to that time when they teemed with life and bustled with people from all corners of the Portuguese Empire passing through this grandiose city. You will hear the fascinating story of the royal court of Portugal, who fled from Europe to its wild and unknown colony. Learn the story of the young prince, who did not want to go back and became the first emperor of Brazil. Young travelers are also interested in stories about the Indians, pirates and other equally exotic characters. After finishing your tour, head back to your hotel to catch the sunset over the ocean horizon from your room.Day 3: Rio de Janeiro.
Enjoy a typical Brazilian breakfast at the hotel in the morning, before jumping in your transport to have your driver take you to the foot of Corcovado mountain, via the leafy neighbourhoods of Botafogo and Laranjeiras. A small train, the same one that carried the statue of Christ the Redeemer piece by piece to the summit, will take you on a winding journey through lush rainforest where you will spot the dark flash of monkeys jumping from tree to tree. As you make your way up the mountain you can see the city becoming smaller and smaller and feel yourself getting closer and closer to the clouds, transporting you out of the metropolis to a holy place of worship up on high, the largest piece of Christian symbolism in the world. Upon arrival at the foot of the huge, 98ft tall statue, you will witness a stunning panoramic view of all of Rio de Janeiro, from the South Zone containing Leblon, Ipanema and the Lagoon, to the Center, down to the North Zone where you can clearly see the Maracana, the Carnival Sambodromo stadium and far beyond into the depths of the Guanabara Bay. The view is truly unrivalled and makes one feel as if they are looking down from heaven, such is your proximity to Jesus. Afterwards, take a tour around the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, a perfect family spot where you can ride along the waterfront path on a bike or even a swan boat! Kids will love the variety of birds and display, and sometimes you can see families of capybaras, giant guinea pig-like animals that grow to enormous sizes. (The fee for the lease of mobile equipment and a visit to the adventure park is charged separately on site).Day 4: Rio de Janeiro
Today you can chose to enjoy a free day or to go on one of the optional tours below. Botanical Garden The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is a worth-visiting magnificent 137-hec (338-acre) garden over 200 years old featuring a 750-meter (half-mile) avenue of 134 impressive royal palms and more than 7000 types of plants.There you can see orchids, bromeliads, cacti, huge bamboos, and carnivorous plants, among many others. The most famous one is Victoria, a huge water-lilly floating on the water that is capable of sustaining a 5-year old kid on it! Monkeys are sometimes visible during the visit, and there are always plenty of birds flying over the trees (the more recognizable ones are toucans). Duration: 4 hours A trip to the tropical island The town Itacuruça situated on an island 1,5 hours away from Rio de Janeiro, in Mangarativa, is active in fishing, tourism and agriculture. The town has small fishermen houses. In order to get there you need to cross the Cepetiba Bay in Sabeiro schooner. During the trip you will enjoy the romantic views of the tropical green islands. You may have a luck to see dolphins, huge fishes, parrots, turtles and poisonous stingrays. On the way the schooner will stop for you to take a bath in the ocean. You will have a delicious lunch at the island, take a walk on the island, swim in the bay or in the pool and return to our schooner that will take you back to Rio. Duration: 8:00 Rio Night: Shaw mulattos You will spend an unforgettable night in Rio! Our guide will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the exciting show full of Brazilian samba and capoeira performed by beautiful and professional dancers. You can have dinner during the show. After the end of the show our guide will bring you back to your hotel. Duration: 4 hours Royal Petropolis Petropolis is one of the most important Brazilian historic towns located in the mountains 60 km away from Rio de Janeiro. Pedro II bought this land in 1830 to build a summer palace and bring there his daughter who could not stand the hot climate of Rio de Janeiro due to her health conditions. The European founders of the city built many constructions there, the beautiful examples of German style architecture. The Royal palace still preserves many objects of Royal furniture and the Royal family's objects that are now exposed in the museum. Here you can find unique jewelry works; for example, a golden crown decorated with diamonds and pearls. Together with our guide you will visit the Gothic Cathedral where Princess Isabel, King Pedro II and his wife are buried. Then you will visit the Royal museum. Duration: 8:00 A helicopter flight over Rio You syadi those in the helicopter on the ground at Sugarloaf / Lagoa. During the flight, you will discover the majestic sight of the city lying at the bottom of the fabulous, endless beaches, a huge statue of Christ, the Botanical Garden ... Flight Duration 8-9 minutes.Day 5: Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu.
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to airport, flight to Iguazu. Pick up and transfer to your hotel. If desired, you can order additional excursions to the waterfalls from the Argentinean side.Day 6: Iguazu.
After a delicious jungle breakfast at your hotel, get ready for a tour of the Brazilian side of the Falls. A tranquil and calming walk along the edge of the falls provides the most spectacular view you have ever seen; over 250 overflowing with millions of gallons of water racing furiously down straight from the Amazon River. The sunlight flashing off the water has the mesmerising 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 the 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 80m cliff edge into the Iguazu River, but you have the chance to meet the 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. You will also have the chance to take a “Makuko safari” jeep tour through the jungle. Clearing a path through the undergrowth, you will travel by jeep, giving you a chance to see the exotic wonders of the Brazilian rainforest from up close. Toucans, anteaters, all manner of colourful birds and several varieties of monkeys can be spotted. Following this, you will hop in a speedboat and prepare for the ride of your life! At top speed, you will sail right up to the falling water. Children will love the thrill of the top speed ride and the drenching from the powerful waterfall! Finally, you will walk through the Iguazu bird park, home to thousands of species of tropical birds that fill the rainforest canopy with vivid colour and enchanting birdsong. At the end of the tour, your guide will drop you off at your hotel.Day 7: Iguazu - Manaus.
After breakfast in your hotel, take a flight to Manaus. Your driver will take you through the “City on the water”, where scenes of “Rio 2” were based, to the waterfront, where a boat will take you across the vast expanse of the Amazon river to your jungle lodge. Here, you are at one with nature, and if the myriad sounds of the jungle seem as though they are right outside, it’s because they are! After a traditional Amazonian dinner, you will embark on an evening excursion with your English-speaking guide to a local alligator habitat – you can even take pictures with these prehistoric beasts, razor-sharp teeth glittering against the moonlight! The lodge is environmentally responsible and all alligators are released back into the wild.Day 8: Manaus.
After breakfast in the hotel, you will embark on a breathtaking tour of an Igapó – a flooded rainforest. Heavy rains transform the landscape and turn the jungle into an enormous lake, submerging the ground completely. Incredible, unique species of aquatic plants (not to mention thousands of different water-based animals) are on display here as you pass through by boat. Your guide will then take you to a clearing. The silence is almost deafening, and the stillness on top of the water betrays what lies below. You will be handed a fishing rod and shown how to catch the deadly piranha fish that swim below the surface, razor-sharp teeth ready to tear whatever they find to shreds. Just don’t get too close to the water! Your guide will then lead you through the jungle to a Caboclo community, an indigenous-European community that lives in the jungle and is steeped in the history of the rainforest. Here you will learn about the origins of the community, watch the process of preparing mandioc flour, and even learn how to prepare poison arrows! Children should pay very close attention when learning how to distinguish the poisonous from the non-poisonous plants.Day 9: Manaus - Rio de Janeiro - Buzios.
This fishing village, 177 km north of Rio de Janeiro, is one of the most beautiful and little-known beach resorts in the world. The intimate feel, mild climate, exotic vegetation and picture-perfect beaches give this place a unique charm. The golden sands and crystal clear oceans offer incredible vistas of green mountains and rocky cliffs, with each beach boasting a truly stunning sunset, As well as relaxing by the sea, surfing, scuba diving, water skiing and kayaking are all popular activities here. The many piers leading onto the water are the perfect place to relax with great food and some cold beer and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of Búzios. One unmissable activity is to take a trip out to sea with a fisherman and witness the jawdropping amount of marine wildlife underwater, such as turtles, tropical fish and even whales. Chic restaurants and stylish bars open their doors as the sun goes down and the cobbled streets fill up with people enjoying their evening. This seaside town is the perfect family location to unwind after your Brazilian journey.Day 10, 11: Buzios
Buzios is a small fishing village situated 105 miles away from Rio de Janeiro with more than 20 magnificent beaches and crystal-clear water, wonderful landscape and exotic vegetation, privileged with a great year-round summer. Originally settled by European pirates and slave traders, this mixture of many bloods prospered and became a picturesque village, elected one of the 10 most beautiful areas in the world famous for its unique combination of rustic charm, architectural harmony, incredible beauty and sophisticated boutiques and restaurants visited by travelers who come from all over the world to savor its magic. Rest on the tropical coast. The sea is calm, in contrast to Rio, so here you can sit back and relax with your family. In the city a lot of vacationing families, so your little travelers will find a company to communicate. Free timeDay 12: Buzios - Rio de Janeiro
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the Airport in Rio de Janeiro, where it’s time to say goodbye and board your international flight.Included in cost:
Accommodation in hotels according to the program,Additional charges:
Optional excursions