13 Days · Rio de Janeiro · Fernando de Noronha · Salvador da Bahia · Amazon Rainforest
Your Trip Overview
Trip start date: you can choose any starting date you want for your trip, because all our trips have private departures. That is, you won't be traveling as part of a group.
Trip duration & lodging:
13 days / 12 nights.
Lodging for 12 nights Included.
15 first‑class tours with the best tour guides (12 of them are private tours). All necessary entrance fees to national parks included.
8 airport transfers included (all private)
12 breakfasts + 4 lunches + 6 dinners included.
Worry‑free planning & first‑class service
Hear from our guests and contact them4 destinations included:
- 3 nights in Rio de Janeiro (Breathtaking landscapes & home to one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World")
- 3 nights in Fernando de Noronha (Exclusive haven for marine wildlife and home to the #1 beach in the world)
- 3 nights in Salvador da Bahia (The heart & soul of Afro-Brazilian culture)
- 3 nights in Amazon Rainforest (The most bio-diverse ecosystem on Earth, chosen as one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" by over 100 million voters) - YOUR STAY HERE IS ALL-INCLUSIVE (breakfast, lunch and dinner included, with 2 non-alcoholic beverages per meal)
In the Amazon, we have designed an exclusive and unique experience for our guests, including all private tours with a private guide just for yourself (as opposed to the group tours offered everywhere else). Besides covering all of the more iconic Amazonian experiences, we include an adventurous jungle hiking & exploration experience led by a team of former members of the Brazilian Military specialized in jungle rescue operations, who will introduce you 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 trees; to finally enjoy a jungle BBQ in the thick of the Amazon rainforest!
Having considered all Amazon lodges in detail, we chose Amazon Ecopark Lodge as the best base for this program, because it's the only lodge where such a combination of private tours is possible. An added plus of Ecopark is that you won't need to waste precious vacation time by spending a night in the city of Manaus, as you'd need to do if you stayed at many other lodges.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Rio De Janeiro
Staying for 3 nights, with 2 tours included
Day 1: 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.
Welcome to Brazil!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 2: 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 3: Rio De Janeiro
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.
Day 4: Last day in Rio De Janeiro
Transfer in private vehicle and guide to the airport.
Fernando De Noronha
Staying for 3 nights, with 3 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 the Best Beaches in the World and Snorkeling in a Unique Oasis for Marine Life (private tour)
Get ready to discover some of the best beaches in the world (including a visit to Baia do Sancho, voted as the #1 beach in the world by millions of voters on Trip Advisor’s worldwide contest in 2017, 2015 and 2014), swimming among a collection of multi-colored fish and sea turtles, enjoying breathtaking views, and witnessing a picture-perfect, orange and tangerine imbued sunset, as we visit these unique natural highlights of the exclusive island of Fernando de Noronha.
Fernando de Noronha has been declared Mankind’s Natural Heritage by UNESCO, serving as a unique oasis for marine life. Because it’s an equatorial island, Fernando de Noronha has some of the most stable temperatures in the world, staying at around 79F (29C) year round.
This is a full day group tour .
Before this tour you’ll be taken to pick up your snorkeling equipment (mask, fins and life vest), which you should keep for your other tour,Day 6: Fernando De Noronha
Navigating the beauty of Fernando de Noronha and Discovering its Unique Marine Wildlife
Prepare to enjoy a one-of-a-kind navigation experience to discover the beauty and underwater world of some of the most gorgeous spots of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago; including the Bahia do Sancho Beach, voted as the #1 beach in the world by millions of voters on Trip Advisor for 3 years. The Fernando de Noronha archipelago is made up of 21 beautiful, pristine volcanic islands on which no human visitor is allowed to set foot, in order to protect and preserve them. We’ll have the chance to see some of them from our boat.
During this navigational experience, we’ll likely have the opportunity to witness an impromptu acrobatics show by “Spinner Dolphins.” This particular species of dolphin is quite possibly the most acrobatic in the world, and it can only be found in the waters of Fernando de Noronha and Hawaii. These cute and playful mammals sometimes put on an acrobatic display of such dexterity, that they have been known to spin up to an impressive 7 times in a single jump!
This is a half day group tour, but you’ll have a private guide speaking your language just for you.
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 7: Last day in Fernando De Noronha
Transfer with private vehicle to Fernando de Noronha airport.
Salvador Da Bahia
Staying for 3 nights, with 3 tours included
Day 7: You arrive in Salvador Da Bahia
Flight arrival in Salvador de Bahia. 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 8: Salvador Da Bahia
Walking Tour with Local Community Members, and Preparing and Enjoying Lunch Together (private tour)
Visit a working-class neighborhood in Salvador to meet Brazilian homemakers of African descent, whose passion is sharing their culture and experience with their guests and teaching to cook Bahian specialties. Then you’ll enjoy together a home-made lunch (which you’ll help prepare) consisting of the signature Bahian dishes and desserts.
This is a half-day private tour and includes lunch without alcoholic beverages.
Exploring the Afro-Brazilian & Colonial Heritage of Salvador da Bahia: the Largest Slave Market Ever in the Americas (private tour)
The millions of slaves captured in Africa and brought to Brazil by the Portuguese brought with them a culture rich in music, dance, cuisine, and religion that’s still present and mainstream in Salvador da Bahia. This city was the epicenter of the largest slave market ever in the Americas, in fact, seven times more slaves were brought to Salvador alone than to the entire United States!
Get ready for a journey to Salvador’s historic center, declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and let us help you discover the singular Afro-Brazilian and Portuguese heritages of Salvador da Bahia.
In this city, steeped in Afro-Brazilian, colonial and indigenous heritages, you’ll get to admire the greatest collection of Baroque architectural heritage in Latin America, the first urban elevator in the world, as well as appreciate the sight of multicolored colonial and baroque houses and mansions that make up the city’s historic center.
This is a half-day private tour.
Day 9: Salvador Da Bahia
A Colorful and Enchanting Evening of Afro-Brazilian, Indigenous and Popular Dance and Folklore
Behold a performance by the renowned Afro-Brazilian dance company: Bale Folclorico da Bahia, which has toured in more than 180 cities worldwide and has and has gained both local and international acclaim It has obtained the “Best Dance Company in Brazil” award by Fiat Industries and “Best Performance of the Year” award by the Brazilian Ministry of Culture.
With its mesmerizing choreography and feverish rhythms, complete with gorgeously elaborated costumes, the performance features the three cultural pillars of Bahian culture: the mystical religion of Candomble, the acrobatic Capoeira (a dance and martial art), and the colorful and rhythmic Samba dance.
We’ll be treated to diverse Afro-Brazilian dances that includes flips, spins, high back kicks, fast-paced rhythms, and the boundless energy of rapid-fire footwork.
This tour includes dinner without beverages and with private transfers.
Day 10: Last day in Salvador Da Bahia
Transfer with private vehicle to Salvador de Bahia airport.
Amazon Rainforest
Staying for 3 nights, with 8 tours included
Day 10: 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).
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 11: Amazon Rainforest
Hands–on Survival Techniques and Trekking in the Thick of the Amazon Rainforest (private tour)
Get ready for a most adventurous afternoon and dinner 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 trees.
For dinner we’ll make a genuine Amazonian chicken and fish barbecue served with sides and fruits.
At the end of the evening, you can choose to have your night’s rest either back at the lodge, or on hammocks tied between trees, with canopies to protect yourselves in case of rain. (There is an ecological bathroom on site.)
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 starts in the afternoon. It includes dinner with non-alcoholic beverages.
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, sleeping over on the hammocks is optional and you can make this decision on that same evening during the tour.
Day 12: 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 Amazonian Waters (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. 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!
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 13: 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.
A late checkout is included, you can use your room until 2 PM on your checkout date.
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).
The normal check-out time at Amazon Ecopark Lodge is at 10:30 AM. However, your trip includes a late check-out at so you can use your room (depending on your flight departure time) until 2 PM, and the lodge's facilities until the airport transfer time.We look forward to welcoming you again in Brazil!
Lodging for 12 nights Included
suggested comfort category lodging
- Rio de Janeiro: 3 nightsArena Copacabana Hotel
Arena Copacabana Hotel - deluxe with front sea view: 3 nights
Deluxe with front sea view - Fernando de Noronha: 3 nightsPousada Lua Bela
Pousada Lua Bela - "deluxe" category room: 3 nights
"deluxe" category room - Salvador da Bahia: 3 nightsWish da Bahia Hotel
Wish da Bahia Hotel - superior category room: 3 nights
Superior category room - Amazon Rainforest: 3 nightsAmazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge
Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge - "superior" category bungalow: 3 nights
"superior" category bungalow
suggested deluxe category lodging**
- Rio de Janeiro: 3 nightsHilton Copacabana Hotel
Hilton Copacabana Hotel - room with front sea view: 3 nights
Room with front sea view - Fernando de Noronha**: 3 nightsPousada do Vale
Pousada do Vale - superior room: 3 nights
Superior room - Salvador da Bahia: 3 nightsVilla Bahia Hotel
Villa Bahia Hotel - deluxe category room: 3 nights
Deluxe category room - Amazon Rainforest: 3 nightsAmazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge
Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge - "superior plus" category bungalow: 3 nights
"superior plus" category bungalow
suggested unique & exclusive category lodging*
- Rio de Janeiro: 3 nightsFasano Rio de Janeiro Hotel
Fasano Rio de Janeiro Hotel - deluxe category room with sea view: 3 nights
Deluxe category room with sea view - Fernando de Noronha: 3 nightsPousada Teju Açu
Pousada Teju Açu - "teju" bungalow on ground floor: 3 nights
"teju" bungalow on ground floor - Salvador da Bahia: 3 nightsFasano Salvador Hotel
Fasano Salvador Hotel - junior suite with front sea view: 3 nights
Junior suite with front sea view
** Deluxe Category note: In Fernando de Noronha, hotels meeting our Deluxe standards aren't available. For these destinations, our Deluxe pricing includes "Comfort Plus" lodging — typically an upgraded room category in our best Comfort hotels.
* For this itinerary the Unique & Exclusive accommodation is only available in Rio de Janeiro, Fernando de Noronha and Salvador da Bahia. For The Amazon Rainforest the hotel included is the one mentioned in the deluxe category.
Domestic Flights Duration & Route
Brazil is a huge country, the 5th largest in the world, so flights tend to be long, because of the long distances. Also many flights have connections. Needless to say, traveling by land is unfeasible in almost every case.
We can take care of booking all the needed domestic flights for your trip.
| Flight Route | Total Flight Duration |
|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro to Fernando de Noronha | 4 hours and 40 minutes (there's no direct flight, so a connection is needed) |
| Fernando de Noronha to Salvador da Bahia | 3 hours and 45 minutes (there is no direct flight, so a connection is needed) |
| Salvador da Bahia to Manaus | 6 hours and 10 minutes (there is no direct flight, so a connection is needed) |
For a worry‑free travel experience, we strongly advise letting us take care of your domestic flights. It’s common for local airlines to make several flight changes before (and sometimes during) a trip. Taking care of domestic flights will allow us to closely monitor any flight changes, adapting your trip itinerary as needed.
Our flight issuing service includes: flights booking, daily tracking of flight status and changes, reconfirmation with the airline of each flight before each departure, booking of your flight seats, web check-in (not available for all flights) and assistance with your flights arrangements if there is any flight delay, change or cancellation before or during your trip.
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Our goal is that you don't have to worry about a thing. We take care of:
We actively manage your domestic flight arrangements so you can enjoy a worry‑free travel experience. |
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Starting Price per Person in U.S. Dollars
(does not include flights)
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Prices below include all hotels, tours, airport transfers and meals mentioned in this itinerary. Domestic airfare is not included. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Room Basis | Comfort Category Lodging | Deluxe Category Lodging (except in Fernando de Noronha *) | Unique & Exclusive Category Lodging ** |
| Double occupancy room | |||
| Triple occupancy room | |||
Discounts available for groups of 4 or more travelers. Request a quote for 4 or more travelers or for a single traveler. Prices vary based on travel dates, season, and availability. We accept all major credit cards with no surcharge. Our prices are final — you won’t have to pay anything extra. The starting price for the 3 domestic flights needed is $ 483 per person. Airfares vary with availability — the sooner we book your flights, the lower the airfare. Our airfares include:
Most travel agencies and flight websites quote airfares that do not include any of the above, nor the possibility to book seats in advance, but we always book all-inclusive airfares that allow these. Our goal is that you don’t have to worry about a thing. We take care of:
We actively manage your domestic flight arrangements so you can enjoy a worry‑free travel experience. * In Fernando de Noronha, our Deluxe Category pricing does not include Deluxe category lodging, since none comply with our Deluxe standards. ** For this itinerary the Unique & Exclusive accommodation is only available in Rio de Janeiro, Fernando de Noronha and Salvador da Bahia. For The Amazon Rainforest the hotel included is the one mentioned in the deluxe category. Looking for the most exclusive and luxurious rooms and tour experiences? | |||
Frequently Asked Questions
Pricing, Booking & Payment
What’s included in the price?
- All hotels, tours, airport transfers and meals mentioned in this itinerary proposal
We include all the necessary entrance tickets to national parks, as well as all other tour-related fees, which are sometimes not included or even mentioned by other travel agencies.
And beyond the travel services themselves, your trip price includes:
- A worry-free experience — our 24/7 assistance team, plus local representatives in every destination, taking care of you and every detail during your entire trip
- Full concierge service before and during your trip: restaurant suggestions and bookings, local tips, and any special arrangement you need — no request is too big or too small
- Close monitoring of all your flights — online check-in handled for you, and immediate rebooking if an airline changes or cancels anything
- Your personalized Travel Booklet, full of useful tips and information to help you make the most out of your trip experience, delivered as a printed copy by FedEx and a digital version
What’s not included in the price?
International airfare to and from Brazil.
Domestic flights for this trip are quoted separately from ground services.
Tips to hotel staff, tour guides, etc.
Visa issuing expenses to enter Brazil. Travelers from USA, Canada, and Australia are required to obtain a visa to visit Brazil. We'll provide full assistance with the Brazilian visa application process, ensuring a seamless and worry-free experience.
Anything not expressly mentioned in this itinerary proposal. Also, please note that the following items are not included:
Fernando de Noronha
- There's a fee charged in Fernando de Noronha by the Municipal Government for staying on the island. At the time of this quote, it is about $20 US Dollars per day per visitor.
- The Fernando de Noronha National Park authority charges an environmental conservation fee that, at the time of this quote, is about $60 US Dollars per adult, for a 10-day maximum stay. Kids 11 or younger are exempt. As this and the above fees are paid on-site, your private guide will take you to the payment stands either upon your arrival on the island or before your first tour.
How does the booking process work — and how do I pay?
The trip booking process generally takes from 2 to 4 business days. Once all services are booked, we will send you an invoice with the trip booking confirmation and payment instructions. If your trip start date is in fewer than 60 days, we’ll request a full trip payment. If not, we’ll request a first payment of about 40% of the total trip cost, with final payment due 60 days before your trip start date.
We accept all major credit cards. You can also pay with bank wire transfers or check deposits. Our prices are final, you won't have to pay anything extra no matter what payment method you use.
Can I change my itinerary after booking?
Before booking, everything is adjustable — dates, hotels, tours, destinations. That’s the point of a personalized itinerary: we’ll go back and forth with you until it’s exactly the trip you want.
After booking, we always book flexible domestic airfares: flights can be changed to future dates with no change penalty as long as the same airfare is available for the new dates (if not, you only pay the airfare difference). For hotels and tours we’ll always do our best to accommodate changes, subject to availability and the conditions of the service suppliers.
What is your cancellation policy?
For all payments which have already made at the time we receive written notice that you must cancel your trip, the following fees will be charged:
- » When only the first payment (approximately 25% to 40% of the total payment depending on the trip) has been made: up to 80% cancellation fee over the first payment will apply, as most domestic flight tickets are non-refundable after being paid for and issued.
- » After your total payment has been made and longer than 60 days to the trip starting date: up to 50% cancellation fee over the total payment will apply. Or up to 60% if the itinerary includes the Pantanal (as lodges have stricter cancellation policies).
- » After your total payment has been made and 36 to 60 days before the start date of the trip: up to 70% cancellation fee over total payment is applicable. Or up to 80% if the itinerary includes the Pantanal (as lodges have stricter cancellation policies).
- » After your total payment has been made and 20 to 35 days before the start date of the trip: up to 90 % cancellation fee over total payment is applicable.
- » After your total payment has been made and 19 days before the trip starting date, or later: there will be no right to refunds.
We’ll always try our best to get as much of a refund as possible, depending on the trip cancellation date, and the conditions of the service suppliers.
Important note: certain hotels, boats, lodges and airlines may have deposit terms and cancellation policies which vary from our own. We may need to collect an additional deposit from you to hold some reservations. The cancellation penalties on payments will be determined by these individual organizations and will override our policy.
Refunds will only be issued to you once we have received the funds back from the supplier(s). Generally, flight tickets cannot be refunded if they are partially used. We are not responsible for a supplier’s failure to pay a refund.
Should I buy travel insurance?
We strongly recommend travel insurance covering trip cancellations (reimbursement of non-refundable costs if you must cancel due to illness, family emergencies or other unforeseen events) and flight disruptions (extra expenses if flights are canceled or rescheduled due to weather, strikes or other uncontrollable circumstances).
Important: health insurance is mandatory for traveling to Argentina. Your plan must include coverage for medical expenses due to accident or illness, as well as emergency evacuation and repatriation. Health insurance is usually bundled with cancellation insurance.
We do not endorse any specific provider, but we have seen US guests choose companies like Travel Guard or Travel Insured.
Why Exploration Journeys
Why should I choose you for my Argentina trip?
In 20 years of organizing Argentina trips, our guests have consistently rewarded us with a 5.0 rating across Google, Facebook and Yelp. And more than 750 past guests — who published their testimonials on our website with their full names, itineraries and trip photos — have volunteered to speak directly with future travelers, so you can ask them anything you’d like before deciding. We believe there’s no better way to earn trust than letting our past guests speak for us.
Don’t take our word for it — read our guests’ testimonials and contact any of them directly.
What makes Exploration Journeys different from large multi-country travel agencies?
Most big international operators selling Argentina rely on third-party companies to actually run your trip on the ground. We don’t. We design and operate every trip directly — the team planning your itinerary is the same team taking care of you and every detail while you travel. This allows a level of personalized care that companies that outsource simply cannot achieve. And we have specialized in just Argentina for 20 years, while most operators sell dozens of destinations, without the deep Argentina expertise we’ve built.
What if something goes wrong during the trip — a cancelled flight, someone gets sick?
Our team monitors your trip 24/7 and is ready to help with anything you need. We closely monitor all your flights — and if an airline changes or cancels anything, we immediately secure the best available alternative and rearrange any ground services as needed. In many cases, we’ve solved it before you even know about it.
We meticulously select, train, and monitor all our service providers — our top priority is that your trip runs smoothly and you take home the best memories.
The same goes for anything personal during your trip — a doctor, a pharmacy, a translation, or help with anything needed or unexpected: our team is one call away at any hour, and we stay on it until it’s solved. Our goal is that every guest feels cared for like family.
Other Questions
Are there fixed departure dates? Do I travel with a group?
You can choose any start date you wish for your trip, because all of our trips have private departures. That is, you won’t be traveling as part of a group.
How do you select your tour guides? Do they all speak English fluently?
We don’t just plan your days — we choose who you spend them with. Every guide is hand-picked, and most have worked with our guests for over 10 years, so they know exactly what we expect in terms of experience and care. And yes: all our guides speak fluent English.
After 20 years of operating trips, we keep working only with the guides our guests consistently rate as exceptional — 95% of our guests complete a detailed satisfaction survey after their trip.
Do we need a visa or vaccines for Argentina?
US citizens do not need a visa for tourist visits to Argentina, and your passport only needs to be valid during your stay — Argentine immigration requires no minimum validity period. No vaccinations are required to enter Argentina, though health insurance is mandatory (see the insurance question above).
How does money work in Argentina — cash, credit cards, tipping?
Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops in all the destinations you’ll visit (Visa is the most common, followed by Mastercard), though a few popular restaurants only take cash. US dollars are also widely accepted — bring newer-design bills in excellent condition, plus small bills for tipping — and some Argentine pesos are practical for taxis, markets and small purchases.
Tipping is customary and not included in the trip price: up to 10% at restaurants for good service (less than the 15–20% typical in the US), and no tip expected in taxis. Your Travel Booklet includes our complete, current guidance on money, exchange rates and tipping for every situation — guides, drivers, transfers and hotels.
How fit do we need to be? Can you accommodate mobility or dietary needs?
Your itinerary is designed around you — including its pace. All tours have detailed information on their difficulty, and almost every experience can be adapted. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us and we’ll plan accordingly; our guides are exceptional at making sure nobody misses a thing.
Dietary restrictions are no problem either — vegetarian and other dietary needs are handled at restaurants and on tours; just let us know in advance.
Your Travel Booklet — a Preview
Every trip we organize includes a personalized Travel Booklet — a printed copy delivered to your home by FedEx, plus a digital version for your phone. It’s written for your exact trip: your dates, your hotels, your tours. A taste of what’s inside yours:
- Your Day-by-Day, Organized: your complete itinerary with pickup times for every tour and transfer.
- Always Just a Call Away: our 24/7 assistance contacts, plus local representatives in every destination you’ll visit.
- All About Flights: airline info, flight details, luggage allowances, and mileage programs for a seamless, worry-free trip.
- Manage Money Like a Pro: make the most of your money — secure the best rates, when to use credit cards or cash, avoiding fees and much more.
- Tipping Made Easy: clear tipping guidelines for tour guides, drivers, restaurants, and more.
- Savor Local Cuisine: the best local restaurants with our curated list, including menus, addresses, phone numbers, and payment options.
- Master the Parrilla: your insider’s guide to Argentine grills — navigate the menu and order the perfect steak like a pro.
- A Taste of Local Culture: how to make “mate”, Argentina’s beloved traditional drink — and our easy empanada recipe to bring Argentina’s flavors home.
- Packing Made Simple: packing tips tailored to each destination and specific suggestions for your tours.