ABOUT THE TOUR
Our tour starts in Rio de Janeiro where we explore the Corcovado and historic Santa Teresa areas of the city, as well as enjoying a Caipirinha-making lesson. We then take a scenic drive to Paraty, once Brazil’s main port for sugar export under Portuguese colonial rule, situated on a stunning stretch of jungle-clad coastline; a day trip on a private schooner allows us to discover its many beaches, secluded bays and islands. We continue to Tiradentes, following the Camino Real, the trail used during the late 17th-century gold rush by mule trains carrying gold from the colonial mining towns of Minas Gerais to the coast. Here we will see the historic buildings and churches of one of the smallest yet best-preserved colonial towns in the state, nestled beneath the São José mountain range. We complete our journey along the ‘Gold Route’ at the charming, unspoilt town of Ouro Preto, a former colonial mining town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding Baroque architecture.
Our final stop is the Iguassu Falls, which are quite magnificent and even more impressive than Victoria Falls; the national parks that flank the Falls are rich in wildlife. We shall be staying at the luxurious Belmond Das Cataratas on the Brazilian side of the Falls, but we will also visit the Argentinian side, which offers better opportunities for wildlife viewing.
TOUR LEADER
Hamish Van Gruisen
PRICE ON REQUEST
TOUR DATE: 19 FEBRUARY – 5 MARCH 2026
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: POA
DAY-BY-DAY OVERVIEW
Monday, 20 April – London to Rio de Janeiro
Depart from London Heathrow on a British Airways flight to Rio de Janeiro (not included in the cost of the tour).
Tuesday, 21 April – Rio de Janeiro
On arrival, meet your guide and check into the Arena Leme Hotel. Morning at leisure. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon tour of Corcovado and Parque Lage. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight: Arena Leme Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Wednesday, 22 April – Rio de Janeiro
Breakfast at the hotel. Tour of the historic centre. Lunch at Confeitaria Colombo. Visit the Botanical Gardens. Return to the hotel through the Tijuca Forest. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Arena Leme Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Thursday, 23 April – Rio de Janeiro
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the famous ‘Pão de Açúcar’, (Sugar Loaf Mountain), an iconic symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon Caipirinha Class. Return to the hotel for dinner under own arrangements.
Overnight: Arena Leme Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Friday, 24 April – Rio de Janeiro to Paraty
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Paraty and check into the Pousada Literaria. Lunch under own arrangements and afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Pousada Literaria, Paraty
Saturday, 25 April – Paraty
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day spent on a private schooner exploring secluded bays and islands. Lunch on board. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight: Pousada Literaria, Paraty
Sunday, 26 April – Paraty
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning walking tour of the 17th century colonial town. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Pousada Literaria, Paraty
Monday, 27 April – Paraty to Tiradentes
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Tiradentes stopping for lunch on route in the imperial city of Petropolis. Check into the Solar da Ponte Hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Solar da Ponte Hotel, Tiradentes
Tuesday, 28 April – Tiradentes
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day exploring the historic buildings and Rosario chiurches of Tiradentes including the neoclassical Matriz of Santo Antonio, the largest Catholic Church in Brazil. Lunch in a local restaaurant. Dinner under own arrangements.
Overnight: Solar da Ponte Hotel, Tiradentes
Wednesday, 29 April – Tiradentes to Ouro Preto
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Ouro Preto stoppping on route at Congoonhas to see the basilica, the Santuario de Bom Jesus do Matasinhos. Lunch in a local restaurant. Check into the Pousada Mondego Hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Pousada Mondego Hotel, Ouro Preto
Thursday, 30 April – Ouro Preto
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day exploring Ouro Preto including its famous ornately decorated Baroque churches. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner under own arrangements.
Overnight: Pousada Mondego Hotel, Ouro Preto
Friday, 1 May – Ouro Preto to Belo Horizonte to Iguassu Falls
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Belo Horizonte for a domestic flight to Iguassu Falls. Lunch under own arrangements. Check into the Belmond das Cataratas Hotel. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Belmond das Cataratas Hotel, Iguassu Falls
Saturday, 2 May – Iguassu Falls
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day spent exploring the Brazilian side of the thundering cascades of the Iguassu Falls. Lunch and dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Belmond das Cataratas Hotel, Iguassu Falls
Sunday, 3 May – Iguassu Falls
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day spent exploring the Argentinian side of Iguassu Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Lunch and dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Belmond das Cataratas Hotel, Iguassu Falls
Monday, 4 May – Iguassu Falls to Sao Paulo
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Iguassu Airport for a domestic flight to Sao Paulo. Lunch under own arrangements. Connect to a British Airways flight to London Heathrow (not included in the cost of the tour).
Tuesday, 5 May – London
Arrive London Heathrow
DISCOVER MORE INDEPENDENT REVIEWS FROM FEEFO
PLAN YOUR TRIP
"*" indicates required fields