Compare Best of Brazil by Great Value Vacations vs Brazil (North): See & Experience it ALL in 13 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler

Day 1 Welcome to Rio de Janeiro!

Feel the lively spirit in the air as you land in culture and beauty-rich Rio de Janeiro! Upon arrival in the "Marvelous City," enjoy a convenient transfer to your first luxurious hotel. Settle in and relax, then begin exploring the city!

Rio is famous for its bright blue water, pristine beaches, and mountainous landscapes. Tonight, you might want to take a walk through Leblon, an upscale, oceanfront neighborhood filled with shops, bars, and restaurants.

Day 2 Rio de Janeiro

Enjoy a pleasant Brazilian buffet breakfast, then get ready for your first full day in Rio. And what a way to start off a vacation... with a full day tour to Corcovado and Sugar Loaf Mountain! Grab your camera and embark on a journey of unbeatable natural beauty, mountainous adventure, and city sightseeing. 

Day 3 Rio de Janeiro

Wake up in beautiful Rio and start your day off with an energizing breakfast. After a full day of excitement yesterday, you'll enjoy a relaxing day at leisure today. Soak up some sun on Rio's world-famous beaches, Ipanema and Copacabana! And remember, the fun doesn't stop when you step off the sand. Explore the areas, treat yourself to a delicious dinner, and experience some of the most vibrant nightlife in the world.

If you have enough energy, you might want to make your way back up to Christ the Redeemer or Sugar Loaf Mountain to catch a once-in-a-lifetime sunset. When in Rio...

Day 4 Rio de Janeiro - Iguassu Falls

Refuel with some breakfast, grab your bags and meet your transfer - you're off to Iguassu Falls today!

After a quick flight, you'll be brought to your next accommodation near the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls. Located close to the point where the Iguassu River empties its waters into the Parana River, these falls are among the largest in the world! The city nestled right beside the falls, Foz do Iguassu, is a bustling city filled with tourists and locals, alike. Treat yourself to dinner, do some souvenir shopping, and explore this stunning, culture-rich area!

Day 5 Iguassu Falls

After breakfast, grab your camera and get ready for an amazing tour of Iguassu Falls! Take tons of photos, gawk at magnificent views, and walk along picturesque nature paths.

Spend the evening relaxing at your hotel or strolling around the city.

Day 6 Iguassu Falls - Salvador

Wave goodbye to the majestic Falls and say hello to Salvador! Enjoy breakfast, then meet your transfer and make your way to the airport for your final domestic flight. 

Arrive in sunny Salvador, otherwise known as the "Land of Happiness" and check-in to your hotel. Every day feels like a celebration in Salvador, with its bright, colorful buildings and its fun, easygoing lifestyle. This fascinating city is a storybook-like world of magical beauty, cultural traditions, and warm hospitality - oh, and it's surrounded by beaches. What could be better?

Day 7 Salvador

Ahhh, wake up in stunning Salvador and enjoy a delightful breakfast. Then, spend the day your way! Feel like relaxing by the water? Head to the coast and treat yourself to a sunny seaside lunch. In the mood to walk around the Historic Center? Visit the UNESCO-recognized site of Pelourinho, a bustling hub lined with wonderfully-restored pastel-colored buildings, restaurants, shops, and bars.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to catch the sunset over Baia de Todos Santos! For the best view, pop into the Elevador Lacera, a gorgeous old art deco elevator that offers beyond perfect views. Make sure your camera's charged!

Day 8 Depart Brazil

Squeeze all your souvenirs into your bag and enjoy a comfortable transfer to the airport. Board your plane and spend your relaxing flight home dreaming about your next adventure. 

Day 1: Brazilian Heritage at its Richest

Our tour starts in Salvador. Although many head to Bahia for its tropical coastline and tasty caipirinha drinks, the state’s most popular destination is undoubtedly its capital. Salvador is home to Afro-Brazilian heritage at its richest: deep-fried seafood, festive drum-pounding sounds, mystical religious ceremonies, dance and an artistic form of martial arts called capoeira.

Day 2: The North’s Hangout Hotspot

Today we make a daytrip by boat from Salvador to Morro de São Paulo. We explore this vibrant island by foot, visiting the fort, lighthouse, shops and beaches. Free of cars, Morro de São Paulo is North Brazil’s hangout hotspot. It has a vibe to it which puts everyone there in a good mood.

Day 3: Charming & Colorful Portuguese Architecture, Inviting Music & Authentic Cuisine

Before relocating by flight and then by land to the resort town of Porto de Galinhas, we explore Salvador some more. This historic city is renowned for its crumbling yet nevertheless impressive Portuguese architecture. Salvador serves as Brazil’s second most visited urban destination after Rio de Janeiro. Today we are provided with a guided tour, exploring the sites and landmarks in depth. UNESCO declared the old town a World Heritage Site in 1985. Salvador is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas. There is much to see and enjoy: music blasting on the streets, authentic cuisine, charming squares, colorful buildings and more.

Day 4: A Multicolored Sandbar, a Church Planted Right on the Beach, Snorkeling & Splitting the Ocean in 2

As a daytrip from Porto de Galinhas, we head south along the coast. The first stop is a beach called Pontal de Maracaipe. There we see a multicolored sandbar. Next is the beach of Praia dos Carneiros. Its landmark is a historic church located in the middle of a long and sandy beach. Next is the beach of Praia Barra Grande. There we walk along sand which splits the ocean in two. Lastly, we visit a beach called Pontal do Maragogi. There we take a boat ride out to the sea so we can see the natural pools. Snorkeling gear is provided.

Note that some of today’s attractions and activities may need to be removed from the tour should the sea tides not be low enough.

Day 5: Buggy Riding on the Sand, Sailing to Natural Pools & a Colonial City’s Ambiance

Before relocating by flight and then by land to the fishing village of Jericoacoara, we do a couple of fun activities in Porto de Galinhas. We take a sailboat (a.k.a. jangada) to a nearby natural pool as well as go buggy-riding on the beach. Porto de Galinhas has been voted ‘Best Brazilian Beach’ for the eighth time in a row by the readers of Voyage & Tourism magazine.

Before heading to the airport in Recife, we also visit the colonial city of Olinda. Characterized by bright white churches, pastel-colored buildings, historic fountains and cobblestone streets and squares, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is spread across several small hills overlooking Recife. Incidentally, Olinda is one of Brazil’s three best locations to celebrate the world-renowned Carnival, along with Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.

On a side note, would you like to extend this 13-day tour by 3 days so you can visit the island of Fernando de Noronha? There is a direct flight there from Recife. The reason why Fernando de Noronha is not automatically included is because it is more of a ‘special interest’ kind of destination.

Even though there is a handful of attractions which make this island nice, ultimately it is best suited for families looking for relaxation and otherwise for those who like surfing.

Day 6: Lagoons, Beach Clubs, a Romantic Sunset & Nightlife

As an excursion from Jericoacoara by buggy, today we do the so-called ‘east route’ in this specific order: Prea Beach, Lagun Beach Club, Lagoa Paraiso (a.k.a. Paradise Lagoon) and Lagoa do Amancio (a.k.a. Loving Lagoon). In the evening, we walk to the ‘Por-do-Sol’ dune to watch the sunset over the ocean. Later we check out the nightlife. It is quite authentic.

Day 7: Wild Dunes, Sea Horses & a Place Like Nowhere Else on Earth

Leaving Jericoacoara, we are not taken directly to the hotel located in the town of Parnaíba. Instead, we make a lot of fun stops en route. Driving literally along the beach, firstly we are taken to a dock. There we get on a boat and search for sea horses. Next, we take a ferry crossing so we can reach an indescribable place called Mangue. There we see bizarre mangrove formations, swings, hammocks and visitors making crazy poses. After watching people go wild, we go sand boarding and dune bashing. Next, we check out a lagoon called Lagoa de Torta. We later visit Tatajuba Beach (a.k.a. Desert Beach) and then, Camocim Beach. Before reaching Parnaíba, we ride on some more sand dunes and otherwise make a ferry crossing at Coreau River.

Day 8: A Delta Voyage & Plenty of Exotic Coastline

Before relocating from Parnaíba to the town of Barreirinhas, we go on a boat cruise. Lunch is included on today’s tour. Barreirinhas is the gateway into Lençóis Maranhenses. This national park receives as many as 60,000 visitors a year. It includes 70 kilometers (43 miles) of coastline and an interior composed of rolling sand dunes. May through September, the valleys among the dunes are full with freshwater lagoons.

Day 9: A Pilot's View Over a Truly Unique Park & a Dawn to Dusk 4x4 Tour

Our morning starts with a flightseeing tour over sand dunes and lagoons. This just may be our most unforgettable adventure while at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The day continues with an adventurous morning-to-sunset 4x4 tour, checking out sand dunes and lagoons. We also have time for swimming. The lagoons in the park are often interconnected with one another, as well as with the rivers which run through the area.

Day 10: Desert Viewpoints by Boat & What an Incredible River

Before relocating by land to the city of Sao Luis, we explore Lençóis Maranhenses National Park some more. We spend the day doing a boat tour. The highlights are the river itself and the desert viewpoints. Few places on Earth can be compared to the unique physical features of this ecofriendly destination.

Day 11: Welcome to the Jungle!

We relocate by flight from Sao Luis to the city of Manaus and then take a drive to our ecolodge. Lodging in a vast rainforest is in itself an experience, as are going on river cruises to see wildlife. We have saved the best for last, meaning spending our final days of this grand tour exploring the Amazon.

Note that virtually all meals are included by the ecolodge during our stay.

Day 12: Being Approached by Pink Dolphins, Spotting Creatures & a Night Cruise

The Amazon is the world’s most renowned rainforest for good reason. The highlights for today are interacting with pink dolphins in their natural habitat and spotting a variety of creatures in the jungle. In the dark night, we take a boat cruise in search of caimans and other wildlife.

Day 13: Our Tour Ends Today After Exploring the Amazon Some More

Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Manaus.