Day 1 - Rio de Janeiro - After our flight arrives in the early morning, we will be met at the airport and given a brief orientation to the program. We'll be transferred to our beachfront hotel on Copacabana Beach, after which we will check in and have time to rest. Just after mid-day, we'll depart for a city tour, visiting the Cathedral, built by the Portuguese in the 1700s in intricate Baroque style. We'll tour the beaches of Copacabana, Flamengo and Ipanema (remember the famous Bossa Nova song "Girl from Ipanema"?). We'll go up the Sugar Loaf on the unforgettable cable car ride to get a stunning view of beautiful Rio and the sea below. In the evening, spend a night out on the town, or head to the Plataforma to catch a Samba show (the city's best one, we might add). Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.

Day 2 - Rio de Janeiro - Spend the day at leisure in Rio. Relax on the beach, take an optional excursion to historical Petropolis, to the idyllic coast of B?, on the trails of Tijuca forest overlooking Rio, or a number of other possibilities in and around the Cidade Maravilhosa (marvelous city). Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.

Day 3 - Iguazu Falls - Transfer to the airport for our early flight to Iguazu. Spend the whole day visiting Iguazu Falls, truly one of the world's greatest natural wonders. The Falls consist of 275 waterfalls cascading over a precipice into the Paran᠒iver situated at the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. We'll visit the Falls from the Brazilian and Argentine side. For lunch we suggest La Mama's Restaurant (meals not included). Optional tours include taking the Macuco, a boat ride through the waterfalls, as well as a ? hour helicopter flight over the Falls, an exhilarating event. For entertainment, there's the so-called "Three Nations Show," a dinner show with colorful dancers from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Overnight in Iguazu Falls.

Day 4 - Pantanal - Today we'll fly from Iguazu to S㯠Paulo to catch our connecting flight to Campo Grande. A frontier town founded in 1889, Campo Grande openly mixes the modern with the cowboy heritage of the region. Upon arrival, we will be met and proceed in the westerly direction of the vast wetlands of the Pantanal. We'll pass through the cities of Aquidauana and finally to Miranda, a small yet lively town on the southern edge of the Pantanal. The Pantanal, a large wetland ecosystem, is one of the world's greatest wildlife preserves; here we'll see piranhas, alligators and jacar鳠(caimans), anteaters, opossums, monkeys and over 650 species of birds. It was probably a sea once, evidenced by the presence of marine shells, salt water lagoons and the spotted ray and other freshwater fish resembling salt water species. Here you can relax in the beauty of unspoiled nature. Walk the trail to see the wildlife and birds and take a truck ride through the swampy grasslands. There will be an evening nature walk, where we'll spot alligators. We'll also take a boat ride on the Paraguay River to the border of Bolivia. You'll have the chance to go piranha fishing (optional, includes equipment). Another possibility is to take a half-hour flight in a small plane and see the natural wonders of the Pantanal from the air. The whole region is a preferred destination for nature and wildlife photography; the sunsets here are especially picturesque. Overnight in Miranda.

Day 5 - Pantanal - Spend the day in the wild Pantanal for excursions, or relax at the hotel and take advantage of the swimming pool. Take an optional excursion to the Macaw Farm, in the middle of Pantanal. The farm showcases different species of macaws and is surrounded by water on the well-known Park Road where thousands of animals and birds live. Or visit the Fazenda S㯠Francisco, a former rice farm where animals come and congregate to feed. Here we can take an exciting photo safari in an open truck to see the Brazilian leopard, deer, eagle, macaws and many other birds as well as the beautiful trees, flowers and plants of the area. Dinner is included. Overnight in Miranda.

Day 6 - Bonito - Depart Miranda for Bonito. On the way, we will visit an indigenous village inhabited by one of the primary Indian tribes of the region; the Caiua, the Terena or the Guaran�We will witness a traditional native dance; get to walk around the village, and to meet and interact with the local tribe (within reason). We will notice their customs and see aspects of their culture that they attempt to pass on to the next generation. The little children really enjoy little gifts such as pens, gum, small toys and so on. Afterwards we will make our way to Bonito. Along the way we will stop for late lunch at a typical European-style family farm. Overnight in Bonito.

Day 7 - Bonito - Bonito is a beautiful forest-clad area in the Pantanal region with abundant waterfalls, rivers and caves. It's an ecologically sensitive area, and efforts are being made to preserve the natural treasures of this region. Since the area is rich in calcareous rock, the bodies of water in this area are unusually clear and are almost unrivalled in beauty. The crystalline, almost transparent rivers and pools display many species of colorful fish. We will have the chance to go on optional excursions to the caves and rivers of this area. Visit the awe-inspiring Blue Lake Cavern (Lagoa Azul) or enjoy an optional boat ride down the Eden-like Rio Sucuri (whereby the fish swim along with the boat) where you can observe wildlife, like monkeys and parrots and go swimming and snorkeling in designated places. Note: a limited number of people can take this trip due to park limitations. There's also an optional excursion to Aquario Natural, one of the springs of the Rio Formoso where you can also swim and snorkel. We recommend that you choose one of the two options; both are equally relaxing water excursions. Overnight in Bonito; dinner is included.

Day 8 - Brotas - Today we'll say a fond farewell to beautiful Bonito, and drive back to Campo Grande for our flight to S㯠Paulo. After arrival, we will drive west to Brotas, stopping along the way at various places to enjoy the surroundings or for photo opportunites. Brotas is a Brazilian hotspot for adventure and especially watersports year-round. Born in the days of the coffee boom, it is located a region rich in water resources, the most prominent of all being the mighty Jacar魐epira River. Overnight in Brotas.

Day 9 - Brotas - In Brotas we'll get up early to go either rafting, canoeing, hiking and rappelling (optional). There are a number of easy, self-guided trails here that lead to waterfalls, such as the Cachoeira Santa Maria, towering at 65 meters (over 210 feet!) and crystal-clear springs. Wildlife to be found in this barely-tamed region includes armadillo, deer, raccoons, capybaras and the endangered maned wolf (guarᩮ Overnight in Brotas.

Day 10 - Departure - Today we will depart the natural paradise of Brotas and drive to the S㯠Paulo airport for your flight back home. We are confident that your Brazilian experience has been a fulfilling one!