Day 1 - Rio de Janeiro - After our flight arrives, we'll be transferred to our hotel on Copacabana Beach, where we will check in and have time to rest. Around midday we'll depart for a city tour, going downtown to visit the Cathedral, built by the Portuguese in the 1700s in Baroque style. Next, we'll tour the beaches of Copacabana, Flamengo and Ipanema (remember the famous Bossa Nova song "Girl from Ipanema"?). We will stop for a ride at the Sugar Loaf with the famous Cable Car where you will have a view of this beautiful city and the sea below. In the evening, go out on the town, or we can organize a group to head to the Plataforma to catch a Samba show (the city's best one, we might add). Overnight in Rio.

Day 2 - Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo - Before departing we will have the chance to grab a bite to eat while enjoying a scenic overlook of Rio. In the early afternoon, we leave Rio for São Paulo, the largest city in South America. About 240 miles west lies Aparecida do Norte, a popular pilgrimage site where we'll see South America's largest cathedral. Founded in 1554 as a mission, São Paulo came of age in the late 1800s during the coffee boom. The subsequent industrialization produced a high population density, finally reaching its present level of 18 million inhabitants. Nowadays, the bustling city is a lively center of culture. Overnight in São Paulo.

Day 3 - São Paulo - Curitiba - After breakfast we'll leave São Paulo for a long drive to the southern city of Curitiba. Along the way stop for lunch in Eldorado, famous for its caverns. The most famous is the Devil's Cavern, the roof of which towers 25 meters above the ground. In the afternoon we'll reach Curitiba, the "cleanest and greenest" city in Brazil and capital of the state of Paraná. We'll have a city tour, visiting the Opera House, the Botanical Garden and the city's most famous sites. The city still has a great number of old buildings and churches and the varied European influences are apparent. Our hotel is situated downtown and you'll be able to spend the evening or even all night at the restaurants and bars on the "Rua 24 Horas," an attractive shopping and entertainment area lined with tubular steel and glass. Overnight in Curitiba.

Day 4 - Curitiba - Paraná - Iguazu - Today we have a long ride to Iguazu Falls where we'll stay for 2 nights. On the way we will pass the southern part of the state of Paraná, where the effects of European colonization (Italian, German, Polish, etc.) still have an influence. We will arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon or early evening. You'll be able to have a great Brazilian dinner here for around six dollars. Overnight in Iguazu Falls.

Day 5 - Iguazu Falls - 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 Paraná River. We will be at the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay and we will 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 ½ hour helicopter flight over the Falls, an exhilarating event. For entertainment, there's the so-called "Three Nation Show," a dinner show with dancers from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Overnight in Iguazu Falls.

Day 6 - Iguazu Falls - Dourados - Today we leave Iguazu Falls in the direction of Dourados, located in the south of Mato Grosso do Sul. We'll pass through a picturesque agricultural region of Brazil and along the way we will stop at a local restaurant for lunch. After some more driving through picturesque scenery, we reach Dourados in the early evening in time for a great regional dinner. Overnight in Dourados.

Day 7 - Dourados - Bonito - Today we will visit an indigenous village inhabited by one of the primary Indian tribes of the region; the Caiuas, the Terenas or the Guaraní. We will witness a typical native folkloric dance; get to walk around the village, and to meet and interact with the local tribe. We will observe their customs and see how they make efforts to preserve their culture and pass it on to the next generation. The little children 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 8 - 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 Baía Bontia (formed by 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 9 - Bonito-Pantanal - Leave Bonito in the westerly direction of the vast wetlands of the Pantanal. We'll pass through the cities of Aquidauana and finally to Miranda, a lively small 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 jacarés (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 Pantanal.

Day 10 - 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 famous Park Road where thousands of animals and birds live. Or visit the San Francisco Farm, 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 Pantanal.

Day 11 - Pantanal-Tres Lagoas - We leave the Pantanal to go east, passing through the modern city of Campo Grande, the capital of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. We'll arrive in Tres Lagoas in the afternoon. Your evening is at leisure here to relax or spend the night on the town. Overnight in Tres Lagoas.

Day 12 - Tres Lagoas-Brotas - We'll begin our drive again further east 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 Jacaré-Pepira River. Overnight in Brotas.

Day 13 - Brotas-Santos - 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 (guará). Around noontime we'll leave Brotas, bypassing São Paulo to arrive in the beach city of Santos, the place where soccer legend Pele was born. In the evening we'll enjoy a special farewell dinner. Overnight in Santos.

Day 14 - Departure - Your morning will be free to go to the beach or relax. In the afternoon you'll be transferred to the São Paulo airport for your flight back home.