Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic Rainforest, and the Coast of Paraty 9 Days of Sightseeing, Nature, and Beaches Brazil | Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraty

Included: Airport Transfer (private) | Nature Hike (private, 2h) | Lunch, Dinner

Welcome to Brazil! Upon arrival at the airport in Rio de Janeiro, you will be picked up by your Portuguese-speaking driver and taken to your first destination: the densely forested mountains of Serra do Mar. The drive will take you up from the coast to an altitude of 3,770 feet (1,150 meters) and offers along the way wide views over the bay and mountains of the Serra dos Orgaos National Park.

Once you arrive to the lodge, you will be welcomed with refreshments and can settle into your room. You may either relax from the journey or start directly on a tour with your English-speaking guide. Discover the orchid garden or take a dip in the natural swimming pool for refreshment. You can also visit the adjacent nature conservation project and experience the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Rainforest. The rainforest stretches as a narrow strip along the coast of Brazil, forming a unique ecosystem, and is home to a higher biodiversity per area than the Amazon Rainforest.

Overnight: Eco Lodge Itororo, Standard room

Included: Day Trip Morro do Porcelet (private, 4h) | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning the birds and animals around the lodge can be admired. After a rich breakfast you will go up to Morro do Porcelet, which can be reached on a hike directly from the lodge. From here you can admire the whole mountain region and beautiful scenery. In the early afternoon you will return to the lodge. The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax at the natural swimming pool, explore the rainforest on your own, or simply lie down in a hammock.

Overnight: Eco Lodge Itororo, Standard room

Included: Transfer Novo Friburgo to Rio de Janeiro (private) | Breakfast

After breakfast you can go on another short hike to observe animals and enjoy the rainforest around the lodge. In the late morning your Portuguese-speaking driver will take you back to Rio and your hotel at Copacabana beach. After you have checked in, the afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy the tropical metropolis. Take a stroll along the beach promenade or drink a caipirinha or coconut water in Ipanema.

Overnight: Hotel Arena Copacabana, Deluxe room with ocean view

Included: Day Trip to Corcovado and Sugarloaf (private, 8h) | Breakfast

The most famous landmarks of Rio de Janeiro are waiting for you today. After breakfast you will be picked up by your English-speaking guide. By car you will be driven from Copacabana through the districts of Flamengo and Laranjeiras until you reach Cosme Velho, a quiet residential area nestled between the steep mountain slopes. You will get on a cog railway and ride up about 2,295 feet (700 meters) to Corcovado. Here stands the statue of Christ the Redeemer, spreading his arms high above the city. You can get close to the statue, walk around it on the visitors' platform, and enjoy a variety of views of the city and of the next destination of the day's tour: Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite rock almost 1,310 feet (400 meters) high that rises steeply from the sea and forms the unmistakable backdrop and skyline of Rio. After leaving Corcovado, you will return to the coast in the Urca district at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain. The cable car will take you to the top via an intermediate level, from which you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the sea and the city.

During this day trip, your guide will be giving you general information about the city, insider tips for activities the following day and, of course, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

Overnight: Hotel Arena Copacabana, Deluxe room with ocean view

Included: Breakfast

Today is totally up to you. If the weather permits, a day at the beach under a parasol would be a good idea, or a long walk along the beach promenade to Leme or Leblon. In the side streets of Copacabana and Ipanema you will also find countless shopping possibilities.

Overnight: Hotel Arena Copacabana, Deluxe room with ocean view

Optionally, you can also take another organized day trip, because the possibilities to discover Rio de Janeiro are incredibly diverse. We would be happy to advise you personally, organize individual day trips with your guide as desired, or we can also offer you the following day trips to other highlights of the city:

Rio's historic center (private, 4h)

Rio's historic center by metro (private, 4h)

Sightseeing by bike (in-group, 3h)

Excursion jeep tour to the Tijuca National Park (in-group, 4h)

Boat trip Guanabara Bay (in-group, 4h)

Maracana Stadium and New Harbor (private, 4h)

Walk to Pedra do Telegrafo and visit to the beaches of the west coast (private, 8h)

Imperial Petropolis and lunch (private, 8h)

Included: Transfer Rio de Janeiro to Paraty (in-group, 4-5h) | Walking Tour Paraty (private, 2h) | Breakfast

In the morning the shuttle service will pick you up at your hotel in Rio de Janeiro and drive along the coast past bays with beautiful beaches and countless islands to Paraty. Upon arrival you will be taken to your accommodation and can relax or have lunch. In the afternoon, your English-speaking guide will pick you up for a 2-hour walking tour through the picturesque old town of Paraty. The historic center is one of the most impressive examples of colonial architecture in Brazil and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight: Pousada do Ouro, Superior room

Included: Day Trip Paraty Gold Trail (private, 5h) | Breakfast

You can expect deep insights into culture, history, and nature today. After breakfast your guide will pick you up and take you to the mountains, in the middle of the dense Atlantic Rainforest. You will walk about 1.2 miles (2 km) on the historic Gold Trail, which was used for trading goods during colonial times. Centuries- old stone slabs were uncovered again along the trail, which were laid by enslaved people of that time. Afterwards you will go for a swim in refreshing waterfalls in the rainforest. To properly end the trip, you will visit one of the local and nationally known distilleries of the region. If you like, you can of course try different sorts of cachaça. In the afternoon you will return to Paraty and you can end the day with a walk along the bay.

Overnight: Pousada do Ouro, Superior room

Included: Boat Trip Through the Fjord of Paraty (in-group, 4-5h) | Breakfast

After a relaxing morning and a hearty breakfast you will leave for the harbor at about 10:00 a.m. Accompanied by a local Portuguese-speaking guide, a 4-to 5-hour schooner trip (traditional wooden boat) through the bay of Paraty with its many small islands awaits you. You will stop at different beaches where you will have the opportunity to swim and experience the colorful underwater world while snorkeling. Fresh fruits are served on the boat and an optional lunch is offered. You will return to Paraty at around 3:00 p.m. The rest of the day is free to stroll through the colonial alleys of Paraty.

Overnight: Pousada do Ouro, Superior room

Included: Transfer Paraty to Rio de Janeiro (in-group, 4-5h) | Breakfast

Today you will be picked up at your accommodation at an agreed time and will travel together with others on a shuttle bus back to Rio de Janeiro to begin your journey home or onward.