Cities, Wetlands & Waterfalls

On your arrival into Cuiaba you will be met at the airport by your guide who will transfer you south to Pocone, the start of the Transpantaneira Highway. This is a 145 kilometre long dirt road that leads south through the heart of the Pantanal ending at the Cuiaba River in Jofre. As you enter the Transpantaneira Highway you start to see families of capybaras, pools of caiman and flocks of water birds and raptor; let your wildlife safari begin! En route to the lodge you will have the chance to stop and enjoy the many lakes and streams which are packed full of animals. On your first evening you can gather and decide what you want to do and learn about the local culture and wildlife.

Overnight: Araras Eco Lodge(L, D)

With two full days to explore the region, you will enjoy a variety of excursions accompanied by an expert naturalist guide, setting out into the wild wetlands of the Pantanal. Explore the waterways with a canoe, try piranha fishing, or ride horseback past the giant lily-pads of the wetlands. This is a great way to get off-road and head deeper into the marches, forests and grasslands in search of the animals. Come into close contact with the resident flora and fauna on a walk, enjoy a jeep safari to get some fabulous photos or head out at night with a spotlight to see some of the nocturnal species of the area.

Overnight: Araras Eco Lodge(B, L, D)

This morning enjoy a final activity on the ranch before heading to the very end of the Transpantaneira Highway on the banks of the Cuiaba River and your next hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Pantanal Norte(B, L, D)

You will have the next two days to go in search of the jaguars that can be found in this area. They are often seen along the final 35 kilometres of the road before getting to Jofre and so, on the morning drives, keep a keen eye glued to the road for possible sightings! From Jofre you will head out on boats in search of the jaguars. They are often seen during the heat of the day sunning themselves on the river banks. This is the best place in the world to see these elusive cats in the wild. Following your excursions you will head back to the lodge where you will be able to relax.

Overnight: Hotel Pantanal Norte(B, L, D)

This morning you will be transferred back to Cuiaba in time for your onward flight to one of the most enigmatic and alluring cities on earth - Rio de Janeiro. On arrival in Rio, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, located on Copacabana Beach. The rest of your day is yours to settle into your hotel and explore the world-famous lively beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana or the art district of Santa Teresa.

Overnight: Porto Bay Rio Internacional(B)

You will begin the day with a visit the historical old centre of Rio, where many original buildings remain. Rio has quite an interesting history. It was the capital city of Brazil until 1960 and was capital of the entire Portuguese empire for some of the colonial age. After your foray into historical Rio, you will be taken to Praia Vermelha, the landing station for the cable cars to Sugar Loaf Mountain. The cable car involves two stages and moves at quite rapid speed. On the first stage, you get some stunning birds-eye views of various parts of the city. The second cable car takes slightly longer than the first and takes you to the summit. From there you will take in some stunning views across the bay of Rio de Janeiro. You will also visit Corcovado, one of the must-see sights in Rio and arguably its most iconic. The views from the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, which stands on top of the 700-metre high peak, are absolutely breathtaking. Access is via a funicular railway, which rises from the district of Santa Teresa. After this you will enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure to experience more of Rio.

Overnight: Porto Bay Rio Internacional(B)

Today you will be transferred to the airport, for your onward flight to Iguassu. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure to enjoy the incredible setting of Das Cataratas, which is the only hotel to be situated in the Brazilian Iguacu National Park.

Overnight: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas(B)

This morning your guide will meet you at the hotel to take you on a guided tour of the Brazilian side of these world famous waterfalls. There are estimated to be 275 different waterfalls dotted around the tropical forests. The Brazilian side of the falls offers a more panoramic view putting into perspective their sheer size and scale. Optional activities include helicopter flights over the falls or, for the more daring, a speedboat ride that goes underneath the main falls!!

Overnight: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas(B)

This morning, you will be taken on a guided tour of the Argentinian national park. This side of the falls is very extensive compared to Brazil, with many paths taking you to within touching distance of the falls. You will also travel to the furthest point and the largest and most spectacular of all of the cascades – The Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo). From here you can see and feel the full force of the falls. The sound of the water cascading is deafening! After your tour, the rest of your day is free to spend at leisure. You may opt to take a boat trip to get a different perspective of the falls. There are also some safari trails, allowing you to see the local flora and fauna in the nearby sub-tropical rainforest.

Overnight: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas(B)

This morning you will be met and transferred back to the airport in time for your flight home.