Brazil Blitz Rio de Janeiro tour
6 days US$1950 per person
This eight-day tour in Peru
All Southern Crossings tours can be custom-made to fill your travel requirements. Contact us for a custom tour and quote.
Depart any day on Rio de Janeiro tour and customize your Brazil tour at no extra charge!
Get a taste of this exciting South American country
on this incredible six-day Rio de Janeiro tour. Explore the seductive city of Rio de Janeiro, visit the world famous Christ the Redeemer statue, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, as well as the Sugarloaf Mountain and get an incredible insight into the Carnival celebration that Brazil is famous for, as well as a hike to Rio’s secluded beaches.
Day 1
Arrive in Rio de Janeiro.
Day 2
Christ Statue (Cristo Redentor) and Tijuca forest excursions.
Day 3
Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) tour.
Day 4
Carnival tour experience.
Day 5
Beach hike.
Day 6
Departure day.
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.
- Domestic flights – Lima-Cusco, Lake Titicaca-Lima
- Six nights of 3 star hotel accommodation, one night family stay on Lake Titicaca.
- Breakfast included with all hotel stays.
- Private Machu Picchu excursion including bilingual guide, round trip Vistadome or Executive train fare, transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and entrance to the Machu Picchu sanctuary.
- Private Lake Titicaca islands tour including private guide and three meals with local family.
- Guided tour between Cusco and Puno including a buffet lunch.
- Private Cusco city tour including entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and a professional guide.
- Private Lima city tour including entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and a professional guide.
- Cuzco Visitor’s Ticket which gives entrance to the major ruins, churches and museums in and around Cuzco.
- 24-hour customer support line while on tour.
What’s not included
International flight to/from Lima, 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, 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
Day 6
All good things must come to an end, and today you´ll have a private transfer to the airport for your international flight. Flights may depart any time today.
city
Extra activities
Add extra activities such as river rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, surfing and free days to your custom itinerary. Ask about these options and we’d be happy to add them to your quote. If you have any special requests or interests like birding, cooking or crafting that you would like to explore please let us know!
Extra accommodation
We will gladly arrange additional accommodation for you before or after your trip.
Accommodation Upgrades
This tour includes three star hotels. We would be happy to give you an upgrade to four or five star. If you would like to select a specific hotel let us know your preference. We can then work it into your custom itinerary.
Single Person Supplement
A single supplement will be added to your quote if you are travelling alone.
Joining the tour
On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by one of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings placard), who will accompany you to our joining hotel. No bargaining or being swindled by airport taxis.
Is this trip for me?
Peru: Islands Express is an eight-day tour which includes a family stay on Lake Titicaca and high-altitude walks of 30-45 minutes. The rooms with the family are twin-share and clean, but also very basic, often with no electricity and always with the bathroom outside the house. It is possible to visit the Islands on a Lake Titicaca Islands tour day trip if you would prefer or to upgrade to a 4-star hotel on a different island. The trip also includes walking around ruins and during city tours. As always, a certain patience is required for the inconsistencies and occasional delays of developing-world travel.
Pre-trip planner
Required documents
All travelers to Peru are required to have a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry. Visas are not required for E.U., U.S., Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport holders. For other nationalities, please consult the nearest Peruvian embassy or consulate. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required at entry and should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks, currency, or a bank statement, from the bank or printed off the internet, are sufficient for proof of funds.
Required immunizations
No immunizations are required of travelers to these areas of Peru. Travelers may wish to receive hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other standard vaccinations. No areas visited on this trip are malaria or yellow fever zones. Please consult your physician or local health department for more information.
Climate
Rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud forest, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows:
Cuzco: days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in Cuzco.
Lima: warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain.
Puno – Lake Titicaca islands tour: similar to Cuzco with stronger sun and colder nights.
Money guide
The unit of currency in Peru is the nuevo sol. Automatic cash points are available in Lima and Cuzco. Visa, MasterCard, Plus, and Cirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler’s checks are difficult to cash (American Express is best, but you may be charged 5-8% to cash) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances are also options. Do not bring Money Grams or International Money Orders, as they are extremely difficult to exchange. Banks and exchange houses are available in Lima and Cuzco. For currency, U.S. dollars are recommended and most easily exchanged. Please note that cash must be untorn. It can be older looking, but even the slightest tear on an edge will make it unchangeable. Acceptable bills come out of the ATMs in country.
Expect to spend about US$5-12 on a meal, US$2 on a beer, water or soft drink in Peru on the Lake Titicaca Islands tour.
Artisan market prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca sweaters, for example, run between US$5 and $30. Currency Converter