Pantanal and Rio de Janeiro: Home of the Jaguar and Unique Mammals and Wonderful City
7 Days · Pantanal · Rio de Janeiro

Your trip overview

2 destinations included:

  • 3 nights in Pantanal (Best place to see jaguars and largest wetlands on Earth. Home to the highest concentration of wildlife in the Americas) - YOUR STAY HERE IS ALL-INCLUSIVE (breakfast, lunch, and dinner included, with non-alcoholic beverages. Also snacks during tours.)
  • In the Pantanal we work with the most exclusive lodge in the area, called Refugio Ecologico Caiman. This place is the only area where you have a significant chance to spot jaguars year-round, and because of the high density of jaguars in and around the hacienda, and their habituation to the place, sightings are more probable, and encounters tend to be closer and longer than in other spots in the Pantanal. Besides running a very nice lodge with good food, Caiman takes their tours professionally: every tour is guided by a local "Pantaneiro" who has the expertise to track any of the unique animals found there, and also by a naturalist, some of them having had academic training in biology.

  • 3 nights in Rio de Janeiro (Breathtaking landscapes & home to one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World")

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:
7 days / 6 nights.
Lodging for 6 nights included.

8 first‑class tours with the best tour guides (1 of them are private tours). All necessary entrance fees to national parks included.

4 airport transfers included (all private)

6 breakfasts + 2 lunches + 2 dinners included.

Print your itinerary

Starting price: $ 3,086 per person

Day-by-day itinerary

Pantanal

Staying for 3 nights, with 7 tours included

Day 1: You arrive in Pantanal

Flight arrival in Campo Grande. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the Pantanal lodge with private vehicle and guide.
Note:
the order of the tours are determined by Caiman Refuge a few days before the tour dates, so they won’t necessarily be in the same order as listed here. The staff will hand you the program for your stay when you arrive.

Depending on your flight arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time.

Getting Acquainted with "Caiman Ecological Refuge": 130,000 Acres of Wetlands and Wildlife

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It’s time to immerse yourself with a newfound knowledge and understanding of how the Caiman Ecological Refuge’s work with conservation and eco-tourism helps provide an amazing balance between humans and nature. We’ll learn all about the inner-workings of the refuge and the Pantanal’s history and ecosystem, as well have the awesome opportunity to closely observe the spectacled caimans who call the wetland waters home.

 

This is a half-day group tour.

Day 2: Pantanal

A 4x4 Jeep Safari Excursion through the Pantanal Wetlands

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The exotic and exciting wildlife of the Pantanal wetlands awaits, as it’s time to explore on a jeep safari the mosaic of flooded grasslands, savannas, and tropical forests that make up this richly diverse and vast expanse of land! We’ll travel through open fields, lagoons and flooded areas in search of the many intriguing animals that call these wetlands home, including the royalty of the Pantanal... the jaguar!

This is a half-day group tour.

A Sunset Canoeing Expedition to Spot Wildlife around the Pantanal Lakes

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It’s time for an up close and personal experience with the lush vegetation, majestic wildlife and the cacophony of nature’s sounds of world’s largest wetlands as we paddle our way through marshes and lagoons on a canoeing adventure that involves witnessing a beautiful sunset while on the waters of the Pantanal.

This is a half-day group tour.

Pantanal in the Dark: a Night-Spotting Experience

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As darkness falls upon the Pantanal wetlands and we return on our vehicle to the lodge from our afternoon tour, we’ll experience the unique orchestra of sounds of the Pantanal’s wildlife, and we’ll take this opportunity to spot the animals that wake up and become active as the coolness of the night sets in. Beneath the starry skies of these exotic wetlands, we may see owls, brocket deer, tapirs, foxes and waters filled with caimans, whose eyes glow in the dark under the moonlight.

This is a 20 to 30-minute group tour.

Day 3: Pantanal

Through the Lens: Pantanal Photo Safari Experience

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Immerse yourself in the vibrant, lush wetlands scenery while capturing awesome shots of Pantanal wildlife with your lens as you embark on a photo safari. Get your camera ready as we cruise through open fields and flooded areas in search of the perfect picture!

This is a half-day group tour.

A Hike Through Pantanal: The World’s Largest Wetlands

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The incredibly diverse and exotic wildlife of the largest wetlands in the world and a sense of adventure awaits us as we take a trek through the Pantanal in search of fascinating biodiversity, including the star of Pantanal: the majestic jaguar!

This is a half-day group tour.

Pantanal in the Dark: a Night-Spotting Experience

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As we return from our afternoon tour, we’ll ride our safari-adapted vehicle in a mini-excursion to spot the night-time wildlife of the Pantanal.

This is a 20 to 30-minute group tour.

Day 4: Last day in Pantanal

Transfer with private vehicle and guide to Campo Grande airport.

Rio De Janeiro

Staying for 3 nights, with 1 tour included

Day 4: 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 5: Rio De Janeiro

Rio’s Most Iconic Highlights: the Corcovado Mountain, its "Christ the redeemer" Statue, and the Sugarloaf

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Get ready to marvel at the most important icons and most eye-popping panoramic views in Rio de Janeiro! You’ll get a up-front look at 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. And we’ll embark 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. On our way, we’ll go through the Tijuca Tropical Forest, the largest tropical forest in an urban setting in the world, and one of the main reasons why Rio was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 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 full day private tour.

Day 6: Rio De Janeiro

Free day to relax and enjoy your own explorations.

Day 7: Rio De Janeiro

Transfer in private vehicle and guide to the airport.

We look forward to welcoming you again in Brazil!
IMPORTANT: The order of the activities in each destination can change depending on weather conditions or other circumstances.

Your hotels

6 hotel nights, each with breakfast included.

You have 3 hotel categories to choose from:

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comfort category lodging

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 book and actively manage your domestic flights so you travel worry-free: the best flight schedule, daily monitoring, online check-in, and rebooking right away if the airline changes or cancels a flight.

Flight Route Total Flight Duration
Campo Grande to Rio de Janeiro5 hours and 25 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 and assistance with your flights arrangements if there is any flight delay, change or cancellation before or during your trip.

Brazil Map

Start enjoying your trip before you even arrive

Before you leave, we put a little of Brazil in your hands. Your personalized travel booklet invites you to start discovering: what to order at a Brazilian steakhouse, where to wander on a free afternoon, and the stories behind local customs.

Built around your route and travel dates, it brings your daily plans together with local knowledge and practical advice. A companion to spark your curiosity before you go—and help you feel prepared, at ease and connected to Brazil as you travel.

What is inside
1

Packing Made Simple

Unsure what to bring? Our Travel Booklet offers packing tips tailored to each destination and specific suggestions for your tours.

2

All About Flights

Everything you need: airline info, flight details, luggage allowances, and mileage programs to ensure a seamless and worry-free trip.

3

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.

4

Tipping Made Easy

Clear tipping guidelines for tour guides, drivers, restaurants, and more. Know the customary amounts to show your appreciation.

5

Savor Local Cuisine

Discover the best local restaurants with our curated list, including menus, addresses, phone numbers, and payment options.

6

Explore Like a Local

Discover the best local tips, insider advice, and must-see highlights to make the most of your free time in every destination.

7

Stay Powered Up

Keep your devices charged with all the essential details you need about voltage, plug types, and adapters used in Brazil.

8

Your Hotel Essentials

Everything you need to know about your hotels: addresses, phone numbers, check-in/check-out times, breakfast hours, and more.

9

Your Day-by-Day Itinerary

Your go-to guide for every day of your trip, featuring detailed activities, tour descriptions, pick-up times, and transfer schedules.

And more!

What guests say about it
I’ve received the travel booklet and it’s absolutely the best trip plan I have received in over 40 years of traveling. Wonderful job.
Mitch Samuelson & Joan RaskinCowan Heights, California

You’ll receive your Travel Booklet in two formats: a printed version via FedEx and a digital version via email.

What traveling with us feels like

The itinerary is only the beginning. Here’s what our guests notice, from the first conversation until they’re back home.

A trip shaped around you

No two trips we plan are alike. Each one is made just for you—the pace you enjoy, the experiences that excite you, anything that needs special care and the kind of hotel you look forward to coming back to.

Everything we suggest is chosen with that in mind, and we keep fine-tuning the details with you until the trip feels unmistakably yours.

Janice & Paul Laevens on their trip
As we were beginning to plan our trip, the Exploration Journeys team listened closely to our interests, preferred travel approaches and some mobility considerations. They offered carefully curated options for us to tailor our overall itinerary, and were highly responsive and very helpful selecting pace and experiences to best match our needs.
Janice & Paul Laevens
Markham, Ontario, Canada

No two trips we plan are alike. Each one is made just for you—the pace you enjoy, the experiences that excite you, anything that needs special care and the kind of hotel you look forward to coming back to.

Everything we suggest is chosen with that in mind, and we keep fine-tuning the details with you until the trip feels unmistakably yours.

Janice & Paul Laevens on their trip
Janice & Paul Laevens
Markham, Ontario, Canada
As we were beginning to plan our trip, the Exploration Journeys team listened closely to our interests, preferred travel approaches and some mobility considerations. They offered carefully curated options for us to tailor our overall itinerary, and were highly responsive and very helpful selecting pace and experiences to best match our needs.

Hear what made their trip special

Our guests share what it was like to plan and travel with us.

Roxanne Lippel
Roxanne Lippel
“The best trip I have ever taken.”
Lee Hansen
Lee Hansen
“They really are the best.”
Varsha Solanki
Varsha Solanki
“The best travel company we came across.”
Mark Zucherman
Mark Zucherman
“Fred is just unbelievably responsive.”
Michelle Geil
Michelle Geil
“It was the trip of a lifetime.”
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Exploration Journeys 20 Years of Worry‑Free, First‑Class Travel
Hillary Jacobson
Hillary Jacobson
“They responded within minutes.”
Kundan Sen
Kundan Sen
“Worry-free, stress-free, white glove service.”
Elaine Baden
Elaine Baden
“Every guide was professional and on time.”
Mala Garg
Mala Garg
“Every trip Fred recommended was remarkable.”
Exploration Journeys 20 Years of Worry‑Free, First‑Class Travel
Roxanne Lippel
Roxanne Lippel
“The best trip I have ever taken.”
Lee Hansen
Lee Hansen
“They really are the best.”
Varsha Solanki
Varsha Solanki
“The best travel company we came across.”
Mark Zucherman
Mark Zucherman
“Fred is just unbelievably responsive.”
Hillary Jacobson
Hillary Jacobson
“They responded within minutes.”
Kundan Sen
Kundan Sen
“Worry-free, stress-free, white glove service.”
Elaine Baden
Elaine Baden
“Every guide was professional and on time.”
Mala Garg
Mala Garg
“Every trip Fred recommended was remarkable.”

Guests who took a trip like yours

Read their stories, explore their itineraries, and discover what made each trip special. They’re happy to share more, too—ask us for an email introduction whenever you like.

Jodi & Nathan learning to cook & savoring Brazilian dishes in Rio

Nathan & Jodi Adolf

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

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!

Contact This Guest

Peace of mind

Looked after, every step of the way

The people who plan your trip stay by your side while you travel. When something unexpected happens, you have a team who already knows you—and knows what to do next.

Before you even know there's a problem
“Traveling with Exploration Journeys is like traveling with a guardian angel. One of our domestic flights was cancelled by the airline. Before we even knew about the cancellation, Fred had worked with the airline to check us into another flight that worked just as well. It truly was amazing.”
Roxanne Lippel and Karen Ziner
Los Angeles, California
Story 1 of 10

Wherever you look

5.0 rating across major review platforms

Not a single negative review in 20 years.

20 years of expertise in one call

Speak directly with the founder

Fred Schejtman — Founder & CEO of Exploration Journeys
Fred, our founder, framed by the Spegazzini Glacier in El Calafate.
Fred Schejtman Founder & CEO

I founded Exploration Journeys in 2006 to offer first-class, worry-free Brazil trips with the kind of personal care that makes you feel like family. Twenty years later, that still guides every trip we plan.

You’ll work closely with our team, and you’ll hear from me, too. I stay personally involved in designing and overseeing your trip, from your first inquiry until you’re back home.

Whether Brazil has been on your mind for years or you’re just beginning to explore the idea, I’d love to hear what’s drawing you here. Let’s talk about the trip you’d love to take.

Fred Schejtman
Founder & CEO
Let’s talk about your trip
A complimentary conversation with Fred.

Price per person in U.S. dollars
does not include flights

Prices below include all hotels, tours, airport transfers and meals mentioned in this itinerary. Domestic airfare is not included.

Room BasisComfort Category LodgingSee hotels »Deluxe Category
Lodging
See hotels »
Unique & Exclusive
Category Lodging
 See hotels »
Double occupancy room 
$ 3,086$ 3,601$ 4,169
Triple occupancy room 
$ 3,756$ 3,903$ 4,451

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 credit card payments with no surcharge. Our prices are final — you won’t have to pay anything extra, no matter what payment method you use.
Our prices do not include international or domestic airfare.

Domestic flights1 domestic flight neededStarting price per person$ 81Airfares vary with availability — the sooner we book your flights, the lower the airfare.

Our airfares include:

  •  1 checked bag + 1 carry-on per person
  •  Advance seat selection at no additional cost
  •  Flexibility to make flight changes at no additional cost, as long as the new fare is not higher than the original

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:

  • Optimizing your flight schedule for the best departure times and lowest airfare
  • Daily monitoring of flight status and schedule changes
  • Online check-in
  • Immediate rebooking if the airline changes or cancels any flight — we secure the best available alternative right away

We actively manage your domestic flight arrangements so you can enjoy a worry‑free travel experience.

* For this itinerary the Unique & Exclusive accommodation is only available in Rio de Janeiro. For Pantanal the hotels included are the ones mentioned in the deluxe category.

Make this trip yours

We’ll tailor it to your dates, pace and interests and send your custom itinerary in under 24 hours, with no planning fees.

Customize this trip Email us

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

See a preview of your Travel Booklet »

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.

How does the booking process work — and how do I pay?

First we tailor this trip to you: tell us your dates and what you’d like, and we’ll send your own itinerary in under 24 hours, with no planning fees.

When you are ready to proceed with booking your trip, please go to the trip booking form in your itinerary and fill out the required information to begin the process. A non-refundable down payment of USD 250 (or USD 400 for trips booked with very short notice) is required to process your booking. This down payment will be credited towards your total trip payment. Regardless of the number of travelers, only one down payment is needed.

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.

Customize this trip »

Can I make changes to this trip?

Yes, absolutely. Every sample itinerary is a starting point, and we tailor it to you — your dates, your pace, the hotels you prefer and the activities you enjoy.

Customize this trip »

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).

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 Brazil trip?

In 20 years of organizing trips, our guests have consistently rewarded us with a 5.0 rating across Google, Facebook and Yelp. More than 750 of them have published their testimonials on our website, with their full names, itineraries and trip photos, and have agreed to be contacted by future travelers.

We are a 3 generational family, group of 10 and have been all over the world together. Fred and his team were by far the best travel experts we have used.
Karen Mintzer
New York

Read their stories, and if you’d like to talk with any of them before you decide, we’ll introduce you by email.

What makes Exploration Journeys different from large multi-country travel agencies?

Most big international operators selling Brazil 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.

We have been very fortunate to work with some of the well-known ‘name’ travel companies and their affiliates for trips to Africa, Australia, China and Italy. No company or individual has ever provided anything close to the perfection we received from Fred and his team.
Arthur Muchin and Claire Levenberg
Illinois
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.

Our guides were exceptional and, in fact, some of the best guides we have ever had in our international travels.
Donald and Jill Miller
New York
Do we need a visa for 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.

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.

Not quite this one?

See other Brazil sample itineraries. Each one is a starting point we’ll reshape around you.