What’s included in the trip

• Private airport pickup at the beginning of trip and drop off at end of the trip.
• Southern Crossings bilingual guides.
• All other internal transport excluding transport to optional restaurants, bars, sights and excursions.
• All entrance tickets for sites on the tour.
• Five nights of 4-star hotel accommodation.
• Breakfast is included with all hotel stays.
• Private Christ the Redeemer tour.
• Private Tour of Tijuca national park.
• Behind the scenes Carnival class.
• Private hike or beach restaurant lunch.
• Sugar Loaf Mountain tour including cable car transportation.
• 24-hour customer support line while on tour.

What’s not included

International flight to/from Brazil, Domestic flights in Brazil, pre- & post- tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance, meals except where specified above, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, tips while on optional excursions and other items of a personal nature. Medical travel insurance is not included through Southern Crossings and cancellation insurance is advisable.

Detailed trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Rio anytime today and private transfer to your hotel. If arriving in the day, there will be some free time to go out and get acclimatized to the city. If arriving late at night, you will transfer to your hotel for some rest before embarking on the tour.

Day 2

This morning we visit Corcovado Mountain to visit one of the seven wonders of the world, the Christ Statue. This tour begins in Cosme Velhos neighborhood from where the cog train starts a trip through the Tijuca Forest, the largest urban forest in the world, up to the Christ the Redeemer statue that stands tall over the city of Rio de Janeiro. Once there, take in and enjoy a panoramic and extraordinary view of Rio, see the Sugar Loaf, the Guanabara Bay, the beaches of Southern Zone and the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. After the visit of the Corcovado, the tour will continue to So Conrado area with a brief stop at the Pepino beach.

Day 3

In the afternoon we visit the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain by cable-car. The cable car trip is in two stages: The first goes to Urca Hill, 220 meters high, and then a short walk to the other side leads you to the second station for the next part of the ride, up to the top of Sugar Loaf itself. From at 396 meters high, there we can take in some spectacular views of the surrounding sights and of the ocean bay. We will also get a better, clearer look of the Christ the Redeemer statue on the other side of the town. The top of Sugar Loaf has been landscaped and includes several pathways and a bar. At the end of the afternoon return to your hotel.

Day 4

This morning we go behind the scenes of the famous Rio de Janeiro carnival. We begin the tour at the historic site where large groups of African slaves arrived. You will find out how they invented samba music, the heartbeat of present day carnival. We then visit the barracão (atelier of the samba school) where the preparations for the coming carnival are in full swing. You will see up close and personal the formation of a new carnival float. We also have the chance to partake in a workshop in a small group, led by experienced designers of the samba school. You will create your own carnival adornment, such as a mask, a doll or a hat, and take home your final work as a souvenir from Rio de Janeiro. Afternoon and evening at leisure.

Day 5

Apart from the famous Copacabana beach and all the other city beaches, like Ipanema and Leblon, Rio de Janeiro has some secluded beaches in natural reserves where you feel miles away from bustling city life. This tour takes you to Prainha and Grumari, beaches in the ecological reserve, still within city limits. During the week it has the feel of a private beach. There is a small trail nearby the beach, going into the ecological reserve. We go into the forest and up to a panoramic viewpoint over the beaches. If you don’t want to do the hike, you can opt for the seafood lunch in a local restaurant, where you really forget you are actually in a metropolitan city.