AMAZING BRAZIL:
The most unusual desert on Earth, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro
11 DAYS
16 PEOPLE
3490 EURO
Take a trip to Brazil, where there are many, many wild monkeys! But Ostap Bender knew little about such an amazing country, otherwise, he would have described it like this:
Imagine a country, it is like a mirage! In the desert, among the sand dunes, lie thousands of emerald lakes with fresh water! They beckon travelers to dive into their refreshing emerald waters under the blazing sun!
This is the dreamland, where the Iguazu Falls seem endless. A solid wall of water stretches for three kilometers, a breathtaking sight formed by 275 waterfalls. They are so magnificent that they have been recognized as a natural wonder of the world. Even the angels flying above gaze upon this marvel of nature like children!
And of course, Rio de Janeiro – the city of dreams, where you can finally stroll in "white trousers" and relax on the best white-sand beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Swim in the Atlantic Ocean alongside sea turtles, while enjoying the most beautiful views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the "Two Brothers" cliffs. Finally, ascend these peaks and the radiant Corcovado to reach the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer! And say: "God, thank you for bringing me to this amazing country of contrasts and true natural wonders!"
So, lucky ones, let us fly towards the dream!
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ROUTE
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Airport transfers (if arriving and departing on the exact dates according to our program);
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Excursions in Rio de Janeiro, visits to Corcovado Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain;
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Accommodation in comfortable 4-star hotels in Rio and near Iguazu Falls;
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Accommodation in a 3-4-star pousada or hotel near the Lencois Desert National Park;
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Domestic flights: Rio de Janeiro – San Luis – Iguazu Falls and back to Rio;
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Bus, jeep, and boat rentals in Lencois Maranhenses National Park;
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Entrance tickets to national parks and attractions according to the program;
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Entrance to Iguazu National Park from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides;
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Admission to the bird park and visits to the 3 borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay;
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Services of Paganel Studio guide team.
IMPORTANT!
Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.
ITINERARY
Day 1
03.08.2025
Arrival in the cultural capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel. If you arrive early enough, we will exchange money, purchase SIM cards, and you can relax and swim at Copacabana Beach, as the hotel is located on the beachfront!
Day 2
04.08.2025
We wake up, have breakfast, put on comfortable shoes for walking, and head out on a daytime walking tour of the glorious city of Rio de Janeiro! The very same city Ostap Bender dreamed of. Before we begin, there will be a mandatory safety and behavior briefing for the streets of Rio.
Today you will see the most important landmarks of Rio: you will visit the magnificent Christ the Redeemer statue, the main symbol of Brazil and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Next, you will take a cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain, where the entire city of Rio de Janeiro can be seen as if in the palm of your hand.
Here you will learn about the founding of Rio and the history of the discovery of this part of Brazil.
Besides, we plan to make an unforgettable trip to the famous Santa Teresa favela (of course, only if the situation is calm). This is the real "City of God" – cocaine, armed teenagers, and crime. Photographing people without their consent is strictly prohibited! However, you can dance or learn to play drums from those same teenagers and children who are trying to be steered away from the influence of gangs.
This is the legendary Santa Teresa favela, where Michael Jackson filmed the video for "They Don’t Care About Us." We will walk through this area and even visit the monument to Michael!
Afterward, we will head to a welcome dinner at the famous churrascaria restaurant on the Copacabana beachfront, where we will not only get to know each other but also experience the famous Brazilian cuisine!
Meals: Breakfast included.
Day 3
05.08.2025
After breakfast, we will go on a walking tour of downtown Rio. We will visit the bright and colorful Selarón Steps, one of the city’s most popular tourist spots. We will visit the most unusual Christian temple in the center, which resembles a Mayan pyramid. We will have coffee at the century-old Colombo coffeehouse and take a look at the stunning Royal Portuguese Library. You will learn how Rio briefly became the capital of Portugal, and about the secrets and peculiarities of the slave trade.
We will also see the world's largest graffiti mural in 2016, which was listed in the Guinness World Records!
You will have an incredibly packed walking tour of downtown Rio de Janeiro – "from A to Z!" After the tour, you can relax on Rio's beaches, but remember: the waves can be very treacherous, so please follow the safety rules! If a red flag is displayed, swimming is prohibited!
Meals included: breakfast.
Day 4
06.08.2025
Today we are heading to the northeast of Brazil, a region that is drastically different from Rio and not very well-known to foreign tourists, but much loved by Brazilians. The northeast of Brazil has its own culture, cuisine, nature, and climate. We pack our bags, have breakfast, load into our transfer bus, and head to the airport. We will take a flight to the city of São Luís!
Upon arrival, we will have lunch in São Luís and take a walk through the historic streets of this old city. After that, we will head to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The transfer will take about 4 hours. There, we will be greeted by the desert dunes, where white, flour-like sand dunes are separated by pools of the purest blue rainwater.
Meals included: breakfast.
Day 5
07.08.2025
In the morning, after breakfast, we grab our swimsuits, cameras, and good mood. We load into jeeps and head to the most unusual desert on Earth. We will walk through the white dunes, swim in the lagoons called Bonita (Beautiful) and Azul (Blue), admire this incredible natural phenomenon, and be sure to watch the sunset in this extraordinary desert.
Lençóis Maranhenses is one of the most mysterious places on the planet. The vast, flat area of the park is covered with huge sand dunes reaching up to 40 meters in height.
During the rainy season (which receives 300 times more rainfall than the famous Sahara), water collects between the dunes, creating numerous lagoons that form a unique and beautiful landscape – turquoise, green, and blue mirrors of lakes amidst the white velvet sands.
This fantastic landscape stretches over an area of more than 1,500 km², extending inland for nearly 270 km, with the length of the dunes along the coastline being about 44 km. To preserve this unique natural creation, the desert was granted National Park status on June 2, 1981.
Meals included: breakfast.
Day 6
08.08.2025
Today is no less exciting than yesterday. After breakfast, we take the same essentials for happiness: swimsuit, camera, and a great mood. We first load into cars and then switch to boats. In the first half of the day, we will take a journey along the Preguiças River to the place where the dunes of Lençóis Park meet the ocean.
Along the way, we will see mangrove forests, make stops in local settlements, see tame monkeys, have lunch with local dishes and upon reaching the ocean – you can try kite surfing, swim in the ocean, or in the lagoons of Lençóis Park.
In the evening, we will watch yet another magnificent sunset. If the weather cooperates, you will have the most amazing photos for your Instagram!
Meals included: breakfast.
Day 7
09.08.2025
Early flight to Foz do Iguaçu. Upon arrival, transfer to the city, check-in at a nice 4* hotel, and get some rest. Today is a day for relaxation, swimming at the pool, and leisurely walks. Additionally (not included in the program and depending on our schedule), we might take a trip to the Itaipu Dam. Itaipu is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the world by annual energy production. This engineering marvel, costing over 15 billion dollars, is located on the Paraná River on the border between Brazil and Paraguay.
There are still debates over which hydroelectric power plant is truly the largest in the world. In December 1997, Itaipu lost the top spot to China's Three Gorges Dam.
Alternatively, we may go for a walk in Paraguay if there is no passport control.
Meals included: Breakfast (if we don't have a night flight).
Day 8
10.08.2025
Today we embark on an exciting journey through the Brazilian jungle with stunning views of the Iguazu Falls. If you ask, what is the most beautiful thing nature has created in Brazil, many people will say, "Women and the Iguazu Falls!" And they’d be right.
In 1541, the conquistador Don Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca ventured into the jungle in search of gold and discovered the famous 275 waterfalls on the Iguazu River! We will be visiting during the season when the Iguazu and Paraná rivers are full, making some waterfalls merge into a powerful stream. Their total width is over 3 kilometers, and the height is 80 meters, making Iguazu Falls wider than Victoria Falls and taller than Niagara Falls! What's more, the Iguazu Falls are the only ones included in the list of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World!
The panorama will be spectacular, as these are the most magnificent waterfalls on Earth! It is hard to imagine that the river forms a giant water arc 2.7 kilometers wide.
Botanist Robert Chodat described this majestic sight as follows: "When you stand at the foot of the waterfall and see that at a height of 82 meters the entire horizon is blocked by streams of water, you feel fear. You watch as an ocean falls into the abyss before your eyes! This impressive water curtain is formed by 275 waterfalls, collectively known by the Guarani Indians as Iguazu – 'Big Water'." We will admire waterfalls like Adam and Eve, Rivadavia, Three Musketeers, and the most spectacular of all – Devil's Throat!
After the waterfalls, we will visit the famous Bird Park (Parque das Aves). It is a true "bird kingdom" with parrots, toucans, flamingos, hummingbirds, crowned cranes, ostriches – all roaming freely on the lawns and in the trees.
When hundreds of macaws in incredible colors surround you, it feels like you have stepped into a living rainbow. They chatter endlessly and often fly overhead – colorful "jets" nearly a meter long.
Pure delight is guaranteed! While the macaws are not exactly tame, they will let you get within arm’s reach. And sometimes you can even pet the toucans. Returning to the hotel, relax.
Meals included: breakfast.
Day 9
11.08.2025
Today we will take a full-day trip to Argentina to visit the Iguazu Falls! We will start by exploring Devil’s Throat – the most powerful and farthest waterfall complex. Then we will view the falls from the lower side. Afterward, we will return to the fork and head to see the waterfalls from above. There are three main trails, and we will try to walk them all.
The main difference between the Argentine side and the Brazilian side is that from the Argentine side, you can see the waterfalls up close. The Brazilian side offers a better view of the entire panorama. For an additional fee, you can also take a speedboat under the Iguazu Falls – an exhilarating experience is guaranteed!
In the evening, we return to Brazil, we have free time afterward.
Meals included: breakfast.
Day 10
12.08.2025
After breakfast, we head to the airport and fly to Rio de Janeiro. Transfer to a hotel on the beachfront at Copacabana, where we can swim, walk, and relax. If desired, we can help arrange optional activities to your taste (from helicopter rides over the Rio coast with the Christ the Redeemer statue to a surfing lesson at a local surf school).
Meals included: breakfast.
Day 11
13.08.2025
Today we have a transfer to the airport and fly home. Of course, you can extend your stay for a few more days by booking a hotel on your own in Rio or by traveling to other regions of Brazil. It’s important to consider this when buying your tickets to Brazil. May this unforgettable journey remain in your heart, memory, and in your smiles!
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for organizing a trip – air tickets and travel documents for other modes of transportation, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. – are made by us in advance, long before the trip, the prepayment or payment for the trip is non-refundable in the event of cancellation.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
Please note that this itinerary is tentative. The weather always has the last word. The itinerary is designed to allow sufficient time at the end of the Expedition in case of any weather-related delays. If necessary, the captain can change the expedition route depending on external conditions!
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