Luxury Brazil 1

Day 1: Rio de Janeiro
Arrival in Rio, reception and transfer to the 5* Copacabana Palace Hotel,one of the world's greatest hotels. Opened in 1923, this is Rio's most luxurious hotel and a member of the Orient-Express Hotel group. Dinner at the superb Cipriani restaurant, already rated among the city's best, offers a selection of Northern Italian cuisine.

Day 2: Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast, a full day visit of the"marvellous city" including a sightseeing tour to Sugar Loaf Mountain. A two-stage cable car takes you to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain where you will enjoy a splendid view of Rio, Copacabana Beach, and Guanabara Bay. After lunch, a trip to the heart of Rio for a historical city tour including Santa Teresa, the Teatro Municipal and the Fine Arts Museum. The trip also includes a visit to the São Bento Monastery, the Candelaria (the candle-makers), Praça XV (where the royal family landed when they first arrived in Rio. Paço Imperial was their first residence), the "Travessa do Mercado", the Imperial Palace, the cultural centre located in the beautifully-restored Banco do Brasil and Casa Franca-Brazil (a masterpiece by the architect Grandjean de Montigny). Return to your hotel and dinner at the Pergula restaurant.

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast, a half day visit to Corcovado, the mountain home to the world famous, Christo Redentor statue for a magnificent 360° panoramic view of Rio. After, a trip to the Tijuca forest, a luxuriant tropical forest only minutes away from this huge metropolis. The Tijuca Forest is considered the largest urban forest in the world. It has 330 square kms of preserved Mata Atlântica (Tropical Forest), the highest mountaintops of Rio, waterfalls and hidden caves. A rich flora, with a great biodiversity and an incomparable natural beauty. The caves in the Tijuca Forest are formed of limestone and were originally formed by movements of the crust that caused the collapse of stones from the Papagaio Peak and the Archer Mountain. These stones started to form caves with rocky formations. Another important point is the great variety of bromeliads. The Tijuca Forest is considered to hold the largest concentration of different species of bromeliads in Brazil. Even more than the Amazon Jungle. Return for lunch and an afternoon of leisure to enjoy the magnificent Rio city. Dinner at an international restaurant.

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro
A Full day private visit by boat to the tropical islands around Rio. The Tropical Islands, the islands that permeate Sepetiba Bay, are a natural paradise situated only a few short kilometres from the city. The tour begins by private transfer in the direction of the fishing village of Itacuruçá, where you will board a private saveiro (schooner) for a cruise through Itacuruçá Bay, bypassing several beautiful islands and tropical forests that rise from the sea. During the cruise, there will be stops for swimming on semi-desert beaches to give even more charm to this fabulous tour. Lunch is served on the island: an assortment of wonderful fish stews, assorted seafood, salads and barbecue of your choice. After lunch, there is free time to enjoy the beach on the island. Board the schooner for your return to Itacuruçá and return to Rio. Dinner.

Day 5: Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Iguazu. After lunch, free time to enjoy this wonderful world heritage site. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 6: Iguazu
Full day excursion of the Iguazu falls, the most voluminous falls in the world and more than three times the width of the Niagara Falls. The falls lie on the three borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The tour will include a Macuco safari boat ride on the Parana River, heading towards the Iguazu falls themselves. Return to your hotel.

Day 7: Iguazu - Argentina side
Today, you will cross the border and enter Argentina for a closer view of these magnificent falls. Set in a subtropical rain forest reserve of over 180,000 hectares, Iguazu is home to jaguars, pumas, caiman and over 400 species of bird. It also offers a chance of seeing the falls close up. Return to Brazil and your hotel.

Day 8: Iguazu - Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast,transfer to the airport for the flight to Rio Janeiro and your return flight home.

End of our services.

Day 1: Rio de Janeiro
Day 2: Rio de Janeiro
Day 3: Rio de Janeiro
Day 4: Rio de Janeiro
Day 5: Rio de Janeiro - Iguazu
Day 6: Iguazu
Day 7: Iguazu - Argentina side
Day 8: Iguazu - Rio de Janeiro

Price includes international return flights from London, all accommodation in 5 star deluxe hotels including Copacabana Palace and Das Cataratas, all a la carte meals, all private tours with entrance tickets, all domestic flights in Brazil.

Meals not specified, airport taxes and travel insurance are not included in the quote.

Please ask for optional tours by helicopter over the Iguazu Falls.