The Exclusive #1 Beach in the World, Marvelous Rio de Janeiro and the Mighty Iguazu Falls
This Trip's Photo Summary
Discover the unique marine wildlife of Fernando de Noronha, an island declared Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO
Why Guests Choose to Travel with Us
Read trip reviews from guests
whom you can contact!
Enjoy the peace of mind of a Worry‑Free trip
Experience unparalleled personalized care 24/7
Hand-picked tour guides to guarantee a First‑Class experience
Contact over 200 Past Guests for firsthand accounts.
See their booked itinerary and trip photos.
No other travel company can offer this!
see all »
WHERE WORRY‑FREE MEETS FIRST‑CLASS: EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL EXPERIENCES.
"A truly unique, first class and worry free experience!" - Michelle Bonnet & Family
"Fred and Exploration Journeys is the only way to travel first class and stress free in Argentina." - Betty and Paul Boram
"We have never been so impressed with a tour company, and we have been traveling the world endlessly for six years." - Sally & Wayne Schmidt
Hear It from Those Who've Lived It: Explore Our Guests' Reviews! »
Your Itinerary at a Glance
(everything mentioned below is included in your trip price)
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 included:
9 days / 8 nights.
Lodging for 8 nights Included.
4 First‑class tours with the best tour guides included
(3 of them are private tours). All necessary entrance fees to national parks included.
Includes all needed airport transfers detailed below.
8 breakfasts included in this trip.
3 Destinations included:
![Icons]()
Iguazu Falls
(Selected by 100 Million Voters as One of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature"): 2 nights![Icons]()
Fernando de Noronha
(Exclusive haven for marine wildlife and home to the #1 beach in the world): 3 nights![Icons]()
Rio de Janeiro
(Breathtaking landscapes & home to one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"): 3 nights
Day-by-Day Itinerary
 DAY 1: YOU ARRIVE IN IGUAZU (staying for 2 nights, with 2 tours included) |
Flight arrival in Iguazu. Depending on your flight arrival time you will have time to go first to your hotel or you will be taken directly to your tour and then to your hotel. |
|
Behold the Breathtaking Panoramic Views of Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian Side (private tour) With 80% of the falls located on the Argentine side, it is only from the Brazilian side that one can see almost all of them at once, in full, breathtakingly panoramic views. The Brazilian side offers majestic scenic views of the beauty and entirety of the falls; this is because the Brazilian footbridge lies across the river from the falls, offering a unique perspective and epic scenic views, making the Brazilian side different and absolutely complementary to the experience from the Argentinean side. This is a half-day private tour. |
DAY 2: IGUAZU |
|
Witness the Unique Power & Might of the Iguazu Falls from the Argentine Side (private tour) “You might have seen the photos. Even read about it. You might have visited other great waterfalls before. But you probably still have no idea what to expect when you come face to face with the almighty Iguazu Falls,” stated CNN in their article “Iguazu Falls: Why this natural wonder should be on everyone’s bucket list". To put that into perspective, Iguazu Falls is nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls and nearly three times as wide. The late U.S. First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, was reportedly so impressed by the sight of Iguazu Falls that she exclaimed “Poor Niagara!” In 1984, Iguazu Falls became a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and in 2011, it was selected as one of the 7 winners of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” worldwide competition in which more than 100 million votes were cast. Their size and scale are unlike any other waterfall on Earth. Made up of a system of 275 waterfalls, they have a staggering water flow of up to almost 3.5 million gallons (13 million liters) per second – enough to fill five Olympic swimming pools! Unlike Niagara Falls, which is surrounded by developments such as casinos, a revolving restaurant, and coffee shops, Iguazu Falls are located within one of the few remaining inland rainforests in South America, the Atlantic rainforest, which is a haven for more than 2,000 plant species, about 400 birds species, and 80 types of mammals! This is a full-day private tour. |
DAY 3: LAST DAY IN IGUAZU |
Transfer in group vehicle to Iguazu airport. |
 DAY 3: YOU ARRIVE IN FERNANDO DE NORONHA (staying for 3 nights, with 1 tour included) |
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 4: FERNANDO DE NORONHA |
|
Discovering the Best Beaches in the World & Snorkeling in a Unique Oasis for Marine Life 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 a balmy 79F (29C) year round.
This is a full day group tour (maximum of 10 people in the group) but you’ll have a private guide speaking your language just for you. Before this tour you’ll be taken to pick up your snorkeling equipment (mask, fins and life vest), |
DAY 5: FERNANDO DE NORONHA |
DAY 6: LAST DAY IN FERNANDO DE NORONHA |
Transfer with private vehicle to Fernando de Noronha airport. |
 DAY 6: YOU ARRIVE IN RIO DE JANEIRO (staying for 3 nights, with 1 tour included) |
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 |
|
Rio’s Most Iconic Highlights: the Corcovado Mountain, its "Christ the redeemer" Statue, and the Sugarloaf (private tour) 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 8: RIO DE JANEIRO |
DAY 9: 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. |
Full-size photos & tour details »
Lodging for 8 nights Included
SUGGESTED COMFORT CATEGORY LODGING
- In Iguazu Falls: Grand Crucero Hotel (standard category room): 2 nights
- In Fernando de Noronha: Pousada Lua Bela ("deluxe" category room): 3 nights
- In Rio de Janeiro: Arena Copacabana Hotel (deluxe with front sea view): 3 nights
SUGGESTED DELUXE CATEGORY LODGING**
- In Iguazu Falls: Amerian Iguazu (standard category room with river view): 2 nights
- In Fernando de Noronha**: Pousada do Vale (superior room): 3 nights
- In Rio de Janeiro: Hilton Copacabana Hotel (room with front sea view): 3 nights
SUGGESTED UNIQUE & EXCLUSIVE CATEGORY LODGING
- In Iguazu Falls: Melia Iguazu Hotel (deluxe category room with falls view): 2 nights
- In Fernando de Noronha: Pousada Teju Açu ("teju" bungalow on ground floor): 3 nights
- In Rio de Janeiro: Fasano Rio de Janeiro Hotel (deluxe category room with sea view): 3 nights
** In Fernando de Noronha, our Deluxe Category pricing does not include Deluxe category lodging, since none comply with our Deluxe standards. We are including for Fernando de Noronha in our Deluxe Category pricing what we call a "Comfort Plus" category lodging, which is somewhat nicer and thus more expensive than our Comfort category (usually it's a higher category room in our comfort category hotel).
Meals Included
8 BREAKFASTS
While Argentina is famous for its delicious steaks it also has a great variety of delicious vegetarian dishes!
6 Airport Transfers Included
Private airport transfers included in the following destinations:
- In Fernando de Noronha: 2 private transfers
- In Rio de Janeiro: 2 private transfers
Group airport transfers included in the following destination:
- In Iguazu Falls: 2 group transfers
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 |
|---|---|
| Foz do Iguaçu (Brazilian side) to Fernando de Noronha | 9 hours (there is no direct flight, 2 flight connections are needed) |
| Fernando de Noronha to Rio de Janeiro | 4 hours and 35 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.
Prices per Person in US Dollars
(price does not include flights)
| PRICE PER PERSON FOR ALL GROUND SERVICES (Prices do not include flights. Click on prices below to change currency) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort Category Lodging | Deluxe Category Lodging (except in Fernando de Noronha*) | Unique & Exclusive Category Lodging | |
Double occupancy room:  | |||
| Triple occupancy room: | |||
Our prices above include all hotels, tours and airport transfers mentioned in this itinerary. Discounts available for groups of 4 or more travelers. To get a quote for Our prices do not include international or domestic airfare. | |||
* In Fernando de Noronha, our Deluxe Category pricing does not include Deluxe category lodging, since none comply with our Deluxe standards. We are including for Fernando de Noronha in our Deluxe Category pricing what we call a "Comfort Plus" category lodging, which is somewhat nicer and thus more expensive than our Comfort category (usually it's a higher category room in our comfort category hotel).
We accept Paypal Credit: finish paying your trip up to 4 months after your trip starting date, paying no interest or fees.
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
The total price for all 2 domestic flights needed for this trip starts at $ 402 per person, subject to availability at the time of booking.
Our airfares include a luggage allowance of 1 carry-on and 1 piece of checked luggage (up to 50 pounds / 23 kilos), and also they allow reserving seats in advance, at no additional cost. Most airfares for domestic flights in Brazil don't include allowance for checked baggage and some don't include seat reservation, but we always book airfares that allow these. Also, we use flexible airfares which allow us to make any needed flight changes (with no additional cost if the new airfare booked is not higher than the issued airfare).
This is a promotional rate, please note that regular airfares can be significantly higher. This means that the sooner you book your trip, the greater our chances of booking this, or similar, airfare.
As soon as we receive your feedback about your itinerary we'll check for flights availability and let you know which are the best flights for your trip and which is the lowest airfare available.
Prices for domestic flights depend exclusively on their availability at the time of booking, usually with much lower rates available for flights booked well in advance. So the sooner you book your trip, the lower the airfare you'll pay (the most expensive airfares are a lot higher than the most promotional ones).
As soon as we receive your feedback about your itinerary we'll check for flights availability and let you know which are the best flights for your trip and which is the lowest airfare available.
For your comfort and peace of mind, we can take care of booking your domestic flights for you. Our services include: checking for all possible flight options to suggest the best flight itinerary and rate for your trip, flight bookings and issuing, 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 flight arrangements if there is any delay, change or cancellation before or during your trip.
Letting us take care of your domestic flight arrangements will let you enjoy a worry‑free travel experience, as it is very common for local airlines to make flight changes before (and sometimes during) a trip.
NOTE: All services are subject to availability and subject to price modifications until the trip booking is requested and confirmed.
Our Renowned Travel Booklet
We will provide you with the perfect travel companion: our renowned Travel Booklet!
This one-of-a-kind sidekick is full of useful information and personalized tips,
to help you make the most out of your trip experience.
"I received the Travel book and it is absolutely the best trip plan that I have received in over 40 years of traveling. Not only are the daily trips described, but the essential data travelers seek as climate, clothing and phone contact numbers are included. Wonderful job." - Mitch Samuelson and Joan Raskin
"The travel booklet was beyond helpful, from the restaurant recommendations to the tipping guidelines, to the suggested clothes to bring. They answered all our questions before we even had them." - Sophia Yuen & Liza Chau
"The customized booklet prepared for us was with us every step of the way. What a terrific source of information from places to eat and shop, to hints on tipping, etc." - Neal & Barbara Eisner
"The Travel Booklet was the best travel tool ever. I cannot think of any way to improve this excellent hand guide book." - Joan McGirr
"The travel booklet had all sorts of additional important information and recommendations for shopping and dining. I had never seen anything like this before and it proved to be very helpful resource throughout our trip." - Neill Allen and Nancy Van Gelder
"The travel booklet was excellent and it had all the information we needed for the trip so there was no need to do extensive research" - Irina Mindel & Mitchell Olshansky
In your Travel Booklet you'll find lots of useful information and tips personalized for your specific trip itinerary such as:
Contact information for our local assistance team, who will go above and beyond in providing you with prompt, precise and meaningful assistance during your trip.
Day-by-day itinerary with detailed tour descriptions, pick-up times, etc.
Our favorite restaurant suggestions for each visited destination.
Full information about your hotels: addresses & phones, check-in / check-out times, distance to downtown and to airport, Wi-Fi availability, etc.
Detailed weather information for your travel dates and destinations, such as average rainfall and minimum and maximum temperatures expected.
Our clothing suggestions for each destination in addition to specific suggestions for some tours.
All the information you'll need for your flights: airline and flight number, flight times, luggage weight limits, cost for extra weight, available mileage programs, etc.
Taking your mobile phone to Brazil, how to dial to and from every destination, etc.
Helpful tips and other useful information to make the most out of your vacation: time zones, pointers on currency exchange, tipping, advice on museums & art galleries of note, useful info to make the most out of your free time, shopping tips, electricity & voltage information, etc.
All the necessary travel vouchers for your trip.
The Travel Booklet is designed and sent to you after full trip payment has been made. We will send you a printed version via FedEx, as well as a digital version via e-mail. Many guests download their digital version to their mobile phone (iPhone, Android, etc.) or tablet, which they bring on their trip.
Also Included in the Trip Price
All taxes for the ground services are included, except in Iguazu.
In Iguazu there is a city tax which depending on the hotel category and time of the year it's of about 90 Argentine pesos (approximately USD 0.6) per person and per night (charged for a maximum of 2 nights) that can only be paid directly at your Iguazu hotel.
These amounts may vary subject to the municipal policy.
To provide a worry‑free trip experience 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.
Iguazu Falls
- Entrance ticket to Iguazu National Park for the "Witness the Unique Power & Might of the Iguazu Falls from the Argentine Side (private tour)" tour
- Entrance ticket to Iguaçu National Park for the "Behold the Breathtaking Panoramic Views of Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian Side (private tour)" tour
Fernando de Noronha
- Snorkeling gear (mask, fins and lifejacket) for the "Discovering the Best Beaches in the World and Snorkeling in a Unique Oasis for Marine Life" tour
Rio de Janeiro
- Admission tickets to the Corcovado Mountain and to the Sugarloaf Mountain for the "An Exploration of Rio de Janeiro’s Most Iconic Highlights" tour
Not Included in the Trip Price
International airfare to and from Brazil is not included.
Domestic flights for this trip are quoted separately from ground services. Prices for domestic flights depend exclusively on flight availability at the time of booking, with much lower rates available for flights booked well in advance. This means that the sooner you book your trip, the lower the airfare will likely be.
The total price for all 2 domestic flights needed for this trip starts at $ 402 per person, subject to availability at the time of booking.
Our airfares include a luggage allowance of 1 carry-on and 1 piece of checked luggage (up to 50 pounds / 23 kilos), and also they allow reserving seats in advance, at no additional cost. Most airfares for domestic flights in Brazil don't include allowance for checked baggage and some don't include seat reservation, but we always book airfares that allow these. Also, we use flexible airfares which allow us to make any needed flight changes (with no additional cost if the new airfare booked is not higher than the issued airfare).
This is a promotional rate, please note that regular airfares can be significantly higher. This means that the sooner you book your trip, the greater our chances of booking this, or similar, airfare.
As soon as we receive your feedback about your itinerary we'll check for flights availability and let you know which are the best flights for your trip and which is the lowest airfare available.
Prices for domestic flights depend exclusively on their availability at the time of booking, usually with much lower rates available for flights booked well in advance. So the sooner you book your trip, the lower the airfare you'll pay (the most expensive airfares are a lot higher than the most promotional ones).
As soon as we receive your feedback about your itinerary we'll check for flights availability and let you know which are the best flights for your trip and which is the lowest airfare available.
For your comfort and peace of mind, we can take care of booking your domestic flights for you. Our services include: checking for all possible flight options to suggest the best flight itinerary and rate for your trip, flight bookings and issuing, 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 flight arrangements if there is any delay, change or cancellation before or during your trip.
Letting us take care of your domestic flight arrangements will let you enjoy a worry‑free travel experience, as it is very common for local airlines to make flight changes before (and sometimes during) a trip.
Tips to hotel staff, tour guides, etc.
Visa issuing expenses to enter Brazil. Travelers who have passports from the following countries do not require a visa to enter Brazil: United States*, Canada*, Andorra, Argentina, Australia*, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong (with English passport), Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, the Vatican and Venezuela.
*IMPORTANT: Brazil has recently announced the reinstatement of tourist visa requirements for visitors from the USA, Canada, and Australia. Originally scheduled to take effect in April 2024, this policy change has now been postponed and is set to be implemented on April 2025.
We provide full assistance to our guests in the Brazil visa application process, ensuring a 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 Our Booking Process Works
The trip booking process generally takes from 3 to 5 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 25% to 35% of the total trip cost, with final payment due 60 days before your trip start date.
We accept all major credit cards (we use Paypal as a credit card processor but you won't need a Paypal account to make your credit card payment), 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.
Important: If you use PayPal account as your payment method, they are running a promotion called "PayPal credit", where you’ll have up to 6 months to complete the payment of your trip (without any interest or extra fees). You can choose to apply during the payment process and your application will be subject to their approval. This is a great way to finance your trip payment, without any extra cost.
For more details please visit: https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/paypal-credit
Our Trip 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.
If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your travel insurance policy, you may be able to claim these cancellation charges through your insurance company.