The Amazon, Rio de Janeiro, and Iguazu Falls

Depart to Manaus via overnight flight.

After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be met at the airport by our representative, and then driven to the pier for the one hour motor boat ride to the Amazon Ecopark Lodge. Upon arrival, you will have a reception with a local juice drink, check-in, and be shown to your room. Dinner and evening tour by canoe for Alligator spotting. Overnight at Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge. (D)

Morning nature hike. After lunch, you will depart the lodge in paddle or motorized canoes accompanied by a bilingual guide to learn about the traditions and customs of native Amazonians. Overnight at Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge. (B,L,D)

Today you will have a full-day Meeting of the Waters tour. You will depart early morning on board a double deck boat. The boat travels down the Rio Negro, navigating along the shores of the City of Manaus, allowing passengers to view the Amazonas Theater, the Port of Manaus, and the customs and interesting aspects of local life, including houses on stilts. The Meeting of the Waters is a spectacular junction of Rio Negro and Rio Solimões. The junction forms the famous Amazon River that runs all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The waters of the two rivers run together for about 7.50 miles (12 kilometers), side by side, without mixing. The phenomenon occurs due to the different temperature, density, and speed of the waters of the rivers.

The journey continues along the Amazon River to the Island of Terra Nova, where lunch will be served in a typical restaurant (buffet style, international and regional dishes). Depending upon the water level, a visit to a typical “caboclo” (local inhabitants) villa will be included (at Terra Nova Island) during this full day tour. (May not be available during the months of May, June, July and sometimes August, when the villa is flooded). During times when water level is high, lunch may be moved to a restaurant on “Lake January”, in which case there will be no visit to the villa. Overnight at Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, visit to the center for rehabilitation and re-introduction of wild animals (known as the Monkey forest). The center was created in 1991 with the intention of receiving animals which have been confiscated from illegal commerce. This is a joint project with the Municipal Secretary of Environment and Sustainability. In this center, the animals are initially put into quarantine to be evaluated and taken care of by a team of veterinarians and biologists. With a high success rate since the start, the animals manage to reproduce naturally, creating new families and ensuring survival of the species.

In partnership with the FFV (Live Forest Foundation), a non-profit institution overseen by Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge, a unique feeding system has been developed. Twice a day, (10:30 am & 3:30 pm), the animals receive supplements of their natural diet, ensuring that they are being fed the necessary nutrients. Check-out at 11:30 am, and transfer to Manaus for your return flight to Rio de Janeiro. Overnight in Rio de Janeiro. (B)

This is a free day to enjoy Rio de Janeiro.  In the evening, you will have dinner at a barbecue restaurant (included).  After dinner, you will head to the most famous samba theater in Rio de Janeiro to enjoy an unforgettable performance of Brazilian Samba and folklore.  A look into the magical world of Brazilian Carnival wrapped in the colors and the sounds of exotic percussion instruments.  Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.  (B,D)

Note: The Samba show is only offered from Monday to Saturday.

Depart from the hotel after breakfast to visit the two most famous landmarks of the city and see the natural beauty of Rio de Janeiro from up above.  After a scenic drive along Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, you arrive at the bottom of Corcovado Hill.  You then embark on a comfortable train that ascends the mountain, where the statue of Christ the Redeemer is located 2,300 ft. above sea level.  The Christ statue, known as the “Wonder of Rio”, was recently voted one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.  Upon arrival at the top, you use the panoramic elevators or escalators to arrive at the foot of the statute.  There, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro and discover why it is called the “Marvelous City”.  Afterwards, you descend the mountain and stop for a delicious Brazilian Barbecue lunch.

Over a million tourists each year visit the world famous Sugar Loaf Mountain, which has become an iconic symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro.  Rising up from a small peninsula at the entrance of Guanabara Bay, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of a concentrated, refined sugar loaf.  The journey to the top is made in glass cable-cars.  The first cable-car takes you to the top of Urca Hill, which rises 215 meters above sea level and offers spectacular views of the entire bay and its surrounding islands.  From Urca Hill, you continue in a second cable-car to the top of Sugar Loaf which rises 395 meters above sea level and offers a 360 degree view of the entire city including Botafogo and Copacabana Beaches, Corcovado Mountain, and downtown Rio de Janeiro.  (Duration: approximately 8 hours.  Lunch will be served at Estrela do Sul BBQ).  Following the tour, you will be returned to your hotel.  Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.  (B,L)

Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Iguazu Falls. Upon arrival, you will have a 1 and ½ hour tour of the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Located in Iguazu National Park, these spectacular falls are comprised of 275 individual cascades, and are more than 1.90 miles wide and 260 ft. high. You will walk along the main trail (one mile) on a catwalk above the lower Iguazu River to the series of falls that comprise the Devil’s Throat. Then you will take an elevator to an observation deck for a spectacular panoramic view of the falls. At the end of this tour, you will be transferred to your hotel on the Argentinian side. Overnight in Puerto Iguazu. (B)

In the morning, you will return to Iguazu Falls to view the falls from the Argentinian side and for the Great Adventure Tour. On the Argentinian side of the falls, you will visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the biodiversity of the jungle and the culture and history of the surrounding area. You can also take the Ecological Forest Train to the Garganta del Diable (Devil’s Throat) Station and the Cataratas Station, which will take you to the upper and lower circuits, and other walking trails.

In the afternoon, you will have the Great Adventure Tour. First, you will ride semi-rigid zodiac boats to reach the bottom of San Martin, Bosetty, Tres Mosqueteros and Canon de Garganta del Diablo falls and down the river rapids up to Puerto Macuco (two miles from the falls). Then, you will ride in an open jeep along the rainforest, observing the local flora and fauna with the aid of specialized guides. Overnight in Puerto Iguazu. (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro and your final destination. (B)