Colonial Brazil

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Rio de Janeiro - Arrival

  

  Welcome at the airport by our French-speaking guide. Transfer and check-in at the *Arena Leme* hotel - sea view room As this is a tailor-made trip, we adapt the schedule of visits according to flight times. After a long flight from France (+/- 11h) and the time difference, we generally suggest a bit of rest before starting the visits. However, we remain open to any wishes you may have. Free afternoon Lunch and dinner at your leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  Visit to Corcovado and Sugarloaf

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Accompanied by our guide, you will discover the mythical Christ the Redeemer, located at an altitude of 700 meters, offering an indescribable view of the bay of Rio de Janeiro and the Maracanã Stadium. "Corcovado" is a distortion of the word "hunchback" in Portuguese, used to refer to the mountain that dominates Rio from its 710 meters and on which stands the giant statue (38 m high, 28 m wide) of Christ the Redeemer, created by the French sculptor Paul Landowski. With his open arms, he personifies the welcome and hospitality of Rio. The panorama will allow you to understand the layout of the city... One of the most beautiful views of Rio... Unforgettable! Lunch at leisure. Afternoon: Visit to Sugarloaf Mountain: ascent by cable car. You will enjoy the superb view of Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Bay. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  Colonial Rio

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. In the morning, private tour of colonial Rio with a guide. Walk in old Rio: Cultural Corridor, Tiradentes Palace, Lapa dos Mercadores Church, Praça XV, Casa França-Brasil, Candelária Church, Saint Benedict Monastery and its gold-covered church. We finish with a visit to the superb modern metropolitan cathedral, inspired by an Inca temple. In the afternoon, visit to the Santa Teresa district and discovery of the Selarón steps. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Paraty

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Private transfer by car to Paraty (+/- 3h30 - 4h drive). Arrival in the early afternoon. At the beginning of the 18th century, Paraty was known as a shipping city for gold coming from Minas Gerais. The Portuguese would travel by mule to the city of Ouro Preto to fetch gold. Afternoon: Walking tour of the historic village of Paraty. You will walk through the steep and narrow streets of old Paraty, a historic center reserved exclusively for pedestrians. You will discover the beautiful Matriz church, cross the famous "Rue du Commerce" and observe the facades of colonial houses, such as the town hall, a former Masonic lodge that has left its marks. You will finish at the village port to contemplate the fish market, which dates from the 18th century and is still in operation today. Lunch and dinner at your leisure. Overnight at Pousada Porto Imperial.

• day 5

  Visit of the magnificent bay of Paraty.

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. From 9:30 am, departure on foot to reach the port, about 15 minutes after starting the walk. You board a small boat (private, just you and the guide). You make several stops on the small islands and islets of the bay. There will be masks, snorkels, and fins to discover the seabed and tropical fish. These fishermen are called caiçaras and their resources come mainly from fishing and small plantations. Around 1 pm, you will have lunch on a private island, a paradise location! Return to Paraty around 3 pm. Dinner at your leisure. Overnight at the pousada.

• day 6

  Iguaçu

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Around 8am, departure from Paraty towards Rio airport, flight to Iguaçu. Welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel. Hotel Bogari Other options: Vivaz Cataratas, Sanma Hotel, Bourbon Cataratas, Wish Golf or Belmond Cataratas 5*.

• day 7

  The falls

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Located at the border between Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, the Iguaçu Falls, declared a World Heritage Site in 1986 by UNESCO, stand out as one of the most impressive waterfalls on the planet (the first in terms of water volume). You begin the visit to the falls on the Argentine side, with a small 1 km trail, among the coatis, which leads us to the heart of the Devil's Throat. On the Argentine side, the approach is the most impressive, as you can get closest thanks to a route of about 5 km of walkways just above them. Most of the falls are located in Argentine territory. The Argentine park has a small train that you can use as a guide for the start of the hikes. This same small train will take you to the walkways that lead to the Garganta del Diablo. ZODIAC TOUR on the Argentine side (optional excursion). You go down to the Parana River and board a zodiac. You will experience strong emotions as you go up the river with breathtaking accelerations and curves. Sensations are guaranteed for 1 hour! Overnight at the hotel *

• day 8

  Salvador de Bahia

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. In the morning, visit to the Iguaçu Falls in Brazil. The waterfalls of the Paraná River are more impressive than Niagara Falls, with 80 m in height and 275 falls spread over 2,500 m. On the Brazilian side, you can see the Devil's Throat, from which rises a huge cloud of water vapor, displaying a splendid, almost permanent rainbow. TROPICAL BIRD PARK: visit to one of the ecological sanctuaries allowing for ecotourism. Discover magnificent birds of the region, in a park located in the heart of the tropical forest. It is one of the ecological sanctuaries that allows for ecotourism. Here, you can discover more than 900 birds of 150 different species, protected in large aviaries, spread over 4 hectares. The tour is done on foot, in the middle of the forest, passing through the different aviaries. This path, about 1,000 meters long, allows for a unique approach to the different species. In the afternoon, private transfer to Iguaçu airport. Flight to Salvador. Salvador de Bahia, founded in 1549, is an invaluable source from the point of view of colonial art and for visitors, thanks to the profusion of exuberant decorations that reflect the talent and imagination of artists from the 17th and 18th centuries. Welcome at the airport and private transfer to Pousada Bahia Café. Other options: Solar Deuses, Villa Bahia, Fera Palace, Amarelindo / Fasano.

• day 9

  Culture of Bahia

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Morning: visit of the Upper Town, where the main monuments and old districts are grouped. Discovery of Bahia's culture, its churches, its traditions, and its mystical side. The visit of the oldest part of the city will be on foot, through picturesque alleys, where you will see the church of São Francisco, the Pelourinho square, a central square located in the heart of the historic center, former place of slave flogging and today the center of the Bahian carnival. Lunch at leisure. Afternoon: dedicated to the visit of the modern city, Lower Town, to appreciate the natural and architectural contrasts of the city, including among others the church of Bonfim, famous for its perfect symbiosis between Catholicism and Candomblé, Monte Serrat with its panoramic view of the city, not to mention the São Joaquim market, full of color and scents. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  Belo Horizonte - Ouro Preto

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Departure from Salvador. Flight to Belo Horizonte. Welcome by our guide and private transfer to Ouro Preto (2h drive). Ouro Preto is a jewel of Brazilian colonial art with its steeply sloping streets, old houses, and typically baroque art forming the largest homogeneous ensemble of colonial art, prompting UNESCO to declare Ouro Preto a "World Heritage Site". The city has 13 large churches, several monuments and public buildings. Among the main churches, we can mention those of São Francisco de Assis, Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Nossa Senhora do Pilar, and Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Antônio Dias. Visit of the city of Ouro Preto, jewel of Brazilian colonial art. Lunch at leisure. Visit to the Museum of Mineralogy, the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, and the House of the Counts. Overnight at the hotel. Important: for the visit of the colonial villages of Minas Gerais, it is possible to plan a tour based on the discovery of precious stones (emerald, diamond, aquamarine, etc.). Allow 5 days / 4 nights.

• day 11

  Ouro Preto

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Departure for the visit of the city of Congonhas. Historic city, center of trade, pilgrimage, and tourism. Lunch at leisure. Visit of the city of São João del Rei. Visit of the church of São Francisco de Assis as well as the Railway Museum. Continue to Tiradentes, visit the Padre Toledo Museum, the church of Saint Anthony, and the Fountain of Saint Joseph. Tiradentes, a charming small colonial town nestled in the mountains, is the birthplace of the hero of Brazilian Independence. A jewel of baroque architecture, its churches, small cobbled streets, and period charm are fully preserved. Arrival and check-in at the pousada. Overnight at the pousada.

• day 12

  Tiradentes

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Departure to the city of Petrópolis (alt. 813 m), located about 4 hours from Tiradentes. Lunch at leisure. Afternoon: visit to the Imperial Museum. The palace was the summer residence of Emperor D. Pedro II, as well as the Crystal Palace. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 13

  Petrópolis

  

  Brazilian breakfast served at the hotel restaurant. Private return transfer to Rio de Janeiro airport for your international flight.