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Gold Category Itineraries
Our Gold category trips include the best tours in each destination, usually done on a private basis or in small groups, guaranteeing an exclusive first‑class and in‑depth travel experience. Additionally, airport transfers are provided on a private basis in all destinations.
Silver Category Itineraries
Our Silver category has different and fewer tours than our Gold category, sometimes with fewer nights in some destinations.
This option includes first‑class tours but is a less exclusive and comprehensive experience compared to our Gold category.
In Salvador, enjoy the feverish rhythm of the dance company that won the “Best Dance Company in Brazil” award
» Rio de Janeiro (Breathtaking landscapes & home to one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World")
» Iguazu Falls (Selected by 100 Million Voters as One of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature")
» Fernando de Noronha (Exclusive haven for marine wildlife and home to the #1 beach in the world)
» Amazon Rainforest (The most bio-diverse ecosystem on Earth, chosen as one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" by over 100 million voters)
» Pantanal (Best place to see jaguars and largest wetlands on Earth. Home to the highest concentration of wildlife in the Americas)
Contact over 500 U.S. guests
We don't just share reviews — we connect you with past guests
Nathan & Jodi Adolf
(Kansas City, Missouri, United States)
"Fred and Martin lined us up with amazing English-speaking guides who all were professional, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. In each locations we felt like we arrived as strangers and left as friends!"
"The tours were all awesome - a wide variety of activities with just enough 'on our own' time."
"Fred and Martin are exceptional! The communications and information prior to the trips allowed us to be prepared so we could just enjoy the journey!"
"Nathan & Jodi visited: Amazon rainforest, Fernando de Noronha and Rio de Janeiro.
TRIP REVIEW OF NATHAN & JODI ADOLF
"We had an amazing time in Brazil. This was our second vacation with Exploration Journeys - the first was Argentina. Fred and Martin are exceptional! The communications and information prior to the trips allowed us to be prepared so we could just enjoy the journey! They lined us up with amazing English-speaking guides who all were professional, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. In each locations we felt like we arrived as strangers and left as friends!
The tours were all awesome - a wide variety of activities with just enough "on our own" time. Brazil and Argentina are beautiful, diverse and huge countries! We are extremely happy with our experiences with Exploration Journeys and highly recommend them to anyone thinking about taking an epic journey to either country!"
NATHAN & JODI'S BOOKED TRIP ITINERARY
Amazon Rainforest
Staying for 3 nights, with 7 tours included
Day 1: You arrive in Amazon Rainforest
Flight arrival in Amazonas. Welcome at the airport and transfer with private vehicle and group boat to your lodge. The approximate total transfer time is 60 minutes (40 minutes by car and 20 by boat).
Welcome to Brazil!
A Nighttime Canoeing Expedition in the Amazon (private tour)
It’s pitch black darkness in the Amazon Rainforest, as we’re embarked aboard a motorized canoe on an expedition to contemplate and listen to the myriad of sounds coming from the nocturnal creatures of the Amazon Rainforest. With many animals being nocturnal, the Amazon Rainforest comes alive at night, giving us the chance to experience the Amazon’s animal “orchestra” while hopefully spotting some of its nocturnal wildlife, as well as seeing the glowing eyes of a caiman swimming in the dark right beside our boat!
During our outing, we’ll be able to take in the constant and enthralling sounds of chirping and singing from the nearby birds and insects as we’re surrounded by the ambience of nighttime on the Amazon.
This is a 1 hour private tour.
Day 2: Amazon Rainforest
A Taste of Amazon Life: an Amazon Dweller Shows Us His Traditions, Customs and Distinctive Perspective on Life (private tour)
It’s time hop on our boat and navigate down the Amazon river to visit one Caboclo (Amazon dweller). We’ll learn first-hand about the traditions, customs and distinctive perspective on life of a caboclo. We’ll learn about his life, customs, and how Caboclos make a living off the jungle that surrounds them. This is a unique chance to experience and interact with one of the locals that call the Amazon basin their home.
This is a 1 hour private tour.
Visiting a Wild Monkey Conservation Center (private tour)
We’ll set out on a boat to visit the facilities for rehabilitation and re-introduction of wild animals into their habitats (known as "the Monkey Forest"). This center was created in 1991, with the intention of receiving animals confiscated from illegal commerce. In this center, the animals are evaluated and taken care of by a team of veterinary doctors and biologists.
One of the species mostly present at the site is the “macaco barrigudo” (woolly monkey), which has a protected status as a result of abuse by illegal traders and their slow reproductive rate. You’ll also see wild monkeys, that come out every day for food, and maybe even some resident monkeys that live in the center, for rehabilitation purposes.
This is a 40 minutes private tour. The tour is not always available, because the reserve is sometimes depleted when monkeys are readapted to the wild.
Hands–on Survival Techniques, Trekking and Sleepover in the Thick of the Amazon Rainforest (private tour)
Get ready for a most adventurous afternoon and sleepover in the thick of the Amazon rainforest! We’ll spend an entire afternoon in the jungle, hiking and learning a wealth of hands–on jungle survival techniques from a team of former members of the Brazilian Military, specialized in jungle rescue operations. Our trained professional team leaders will take us on a hiking tour and will introduce us to jungle survival techniques, such as obtaining drinking water, making fire, differentiating edible plant species, setting up traps, building a shelter, and the Amazonian “peconha” technique to gather fruit from high up on trees.
For dinner we’ll make a genuine Amazonian barbecue served with sides and fruits.
Our night’s rest will be on hammocks tied between trees, with canopies to protect ourselves in case of rain.
This is a private tour for people of all ages (5 and up) and it’s designed to be safe and easygoing. The total hiking distance is normally around 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) but can be adapted to as little as 1200 feet (400 meters) or even less for guests with limited mobility. The tour, in sum, is designed for almost everyone and, although it is adventurous and exciting, it is certainly not challenging.
This tour includes dinner with non-alcoholic beverages (starts in the afternoon and ends the following morning).
Note: we’ve had guests of all ages (up to 81 years old!) do this tour with great enjoyment, and we highly recommend this experience. It can be done as easy as you prefer, and you can let your guides know on that very day. Also, you can choose not to sleep over on the hammocks, returning to the lodge after the jungle barbecue dinner.
Day 3: Amazon Rainforest
A Unique Up-Close Experience with the Friendly Amazonian Pink Dolphins (private tour)
It’s time to head out on the Amazon river bound for an exciting encounter with the largest species of freshwater dolphin in the world: the Amazonian pink river dolphin! You’ll have the opportunity to dive in a shallow bank of the Amazonian Black River and enjoy an unique close-up experience around free and wild pink dolphins, known for their very friendly nature.
The professional caretaker will tell us about some of the unique features of this mammal, which is unique to the Amazon basin, and feed the dolphins while they swim next to us.
The transfer to the dolphin site is in a private boat with a private guide and takes approximately 90 minutes to get to the dolphins site and 1 hour to return, and the time spent with the dolphins is about 1 hour.
Witnessing the Unique Phenomenom of the Amazon River’s Unmixable Waters and Navigating on a Speedboat Through the Flooded Amazonian Forests (private tour)
Get ready to discover one of the many amazing features of the largest river on Earth: the Amazon River, whose flow is even larger than the flow of the next eight largest rivers in the world combined!
We’ll hop on our boat for a full day exploration on the Amazon river, where we’ll first navigate to the confluence of the two rivers that form the Amazon River: the pitch-black Rio Negro and the cream-colored Solimoes River. That confluence is known as “the meeting of the unmixable waters.” Due to a unique quirk of nature, the waters of these two tributary rivers flow side by side for about 8 miles (12 kilometers) without mixing, due to a large difference between the rivers’ flowing speeds and temperatures. The difference in color between the two rivers is so stark, in fact, that the two “unmixable” waters can even be distinguished from satellites orbiting in space! Next, we’ll visit the Janauari National Park to behold the largest water plants on Earth.
Finally, we’ll also experience the jungle from a whole new perspective, venturing in a private speedboat into the flooded jungle, among the trees and across the narrow passages.
This is a half day tour in a private speedboat with a private guide. It includes lunch without alcoholic beverages at a floating restaurant on the Amazon river, and comes right after the "Interacting with the Unique Amazonian Pink Dolphin " private tour.
A Fishing Adventure in Search of the Amazon’s Most Voracious Creature: the Piranha (private tour)
Grab your fishing pole and bait as we embark on a fishing adventure in the Amazon River in search of a fish famed for its aggressiveness and extremely sharp teeth: the piranha. Among the 2,200 species of fish living in the Amazon basin (more species than in all of the rivers of Europe combined!), piranhas have become the most famous due to their voracity. Due to their keen sense of smell for blood, they can attack at the scent of it, swarming by the thousands and stripping an animal to the bone in mere minutes!
Our expert guide will take us out in search of a good spot where he thinks we’ll have the best chances to fish piranhas and other species, while we take in the lush atmosphere of the surrounding Amazon river!
This is a 1 hour private tour.
Day 4: Last day in Amazon Rainforest
Transfer with private vehicle and group boat to Manaus airport. The approximate total transfer time is 1 hour (40 minutes by car and 20 by boat).
You will take a flight to Recife & Olinda and from there you will take another flight to Fernando de Noronha.Fernando De Noronha
Staying for 2 nights, with 2 tours included
Day 4: You arrive in Fernando De Noronha
Flight arrival in Fernando de Noronha. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the lodge with private vehicle.
Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time.Day 5: Fernando De Noronha
Discovering Fernando de Noronha's Marine Ecological Sanctuary: a Scuba Diving Experience for Certified Divers
Prepare for the “slow motion flying” experience, as you scuba dive in one of the most biodiverse diving locations in the world. The pristine island of Fernando de Noronha, a protected marine sanctuary, was declared a Mankind’s Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO for its marine biodiversity. In these waters, you may swim among a myriad fish, turtles, sharks, shrimp, sea horses, and the occasional Spinner dolphin or manta ray. With year round warm waters and world-class underwater visibility, Fernando de Noronha is a scuba diver’s paradise and considered to be one of the best diving areas in South America! In this experience, you’ll be diving at 2 different spots for about 35 minutes each dive.
You need at least an entry-level autonomous diver certification to go on this outing (for example, PADI’s Open Water Diver or NAUI’s Scuba Diver certifications).
This is a group tour and includes diving equipment. Total tour duration is around 3 hours.
Serenity at Sunset: a Fernando de Noronha Boat Cruise
Immerse yourself in the warm tropical breeze, the lazy lapping of waves against the boat, and an awe-inspiring vision of the sun setting over the ocean, as we experience the breathtaking and picturesque vistas of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, on a sunset boat cruise. You’ll enjoy a fish & meat barbecue on board. Also, you’ll have the option to “fly underwater” while grabbing a board towed by your boat. This is an awesome way to experience the island’s unique marine wildlife.
This is a 4-hour group tour (including transfers), but with your own private guide. The boat has a maximum capacity of 15 people.
Day 6: Last day in Fernando De Noronha
Rio De Janeiro
Staying for 3 nights, with 3 tours included
Day 6: You arrive in Rio De Janeiro
Flight arrival in Rio de Janeiro. Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel with private vehicle and guide.
Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time.Day 7: Rio De Janeiro
The "Christ the redeemer" Statue, Tijuca Tropical Forest, Rio’s Historic Center and Off-the-Beaten-Path Explorations (private tour)
Get ready to marvel at the most important icon of Rio de Janeiro and one of the winners of the "New 7 Wonders of the World" worldwide competition, in which more than 100 million votes were cast: the Corcovado Mountain and its “Christ the Redeemer” statue. Our expert local guide will not only take you atop the Corcovado Mountain, where the colossal statue stands, but he’ll also help you discover the off-the beaten-path panoramic viewpoint “Dona Marta,” which most travelers do not get to see. This road less traveled offers amazing and unobstructed clear views to almost the entirety of the city (even on cloudy days when the views from the top of Corcovado Mountain are practically non-existent!).
We’ll also see the Tijuca Tropical Forest, one of the main reasons why Rio was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. We’ll later visit Rio’s historic quarters and appreciate the urban beauty that has earned Rio the honor of having been declared the first World Capital of Architecture by the United Nations and the Council of the International Union of Architects, as a recognition to the architectural treasures that show the city’s culture and history since the 16th century. Our final experience as "Cariocas" (as locals from Rio are known) will be hopping aboard a "bondinho" (a very cute local tramway) that runs from the beautifully-preserved, historic neighborhood of Santa Teresa to the hip and bohemian Lapa neighborhood. This visit will include witnessing the largest sculpture in the world made by a single man, according to National Geographic: the Selaron Tiles staircase.
This is a full day private tour.
Day 8: Rio De Janeiro
Learn to Prepare and Savor the Most Typical Brazilian Dishes and Drinks (private tour)
Put on your apron and step into the role of a Brazilian chef, as you put your cooking skills to the test, with a Brazilian regional cuisine cooking class. This 100% hands-on experience takes place in a cuisine studio located in the renowned Copacabana neighborhood. Not only will you learn how to cook some of the most delicious traditional Brazilian dishes, but you’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the country’s culture through food, and to savor the most classic Brazilian alcoholic drinks. (Click here for a detailed account of all meals and drinks prepared). Much of what you will have learnt here can be easily recreated at home, using close substitutes for the hard-to-find ingredients.
This is a half-day private tour. You’ll be picked up at your hotel by a Portuguese-speaking driver, and the personnel at the cooking class is fully bilingual.
A Cable Car Ascent to the Sugarloaf Mountain and its Astounding Panoramic Views (private tour)
Get ready to behold some of the most eye-popping panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, embarking on a ride in a cable car to the mountaintop of one of the city’s most recognized icons: Sugarloaf Mountain. This is one of the main highlights that made Rio de Janeiro the #1 destination in South America, as voted by millions of travelers on Trip Advisor in 2017. Once we reach the top of Mount Sugarloaf, we’ll feast our eyes upon a stunning 360-degree panoramic view, including Rio’s beaches, mountains, and the Tijuca forest (it’s the largest tropical forest in the world in an urban setting). Also, in a leisurely walk across the newly renovated Olympic Boulevard, we’ll see the largest graffiti on the planet, a colorful and detailed depiction of Brazilian faces. To top the day off, we’ll end this tour relaxing at Arpoador peninsula, a beach that boasts one of the best views of Rio’s beaches and coastline.
This is a half day private tour.