Stage 1

Stage 1 - Rio The tour starts in Rio de Janeiro, to catch your breath before travelling to the interior of Brazil. You will be met at the airport, and driven to your hotel on the seafront From the Sheraton, the only beach-front hotel on the entire Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon coastline; you'll have unrestricted access to 6,000 sq m of unspoilt sandy beach During the first three days, you’ll visit the peaks of Corcovado Mountain, upon which stands the towering statue of Christ, the Redeemer; and Sugarloaf Mountain, 1300' above sea level; from which some of Rio’s 300+ tropical islands can be viewed We’ll also charter a schooner to several of these islands and, depending upon the season and feeding conditions, it is possible to see dolphins, macaws, giant kingfishers and turtles on the one-day trip The last morning in Rio can be spent at its famous Botanical Gardens, home to 7,200 species of tropical plants in a wonderfully natural environment Evenings in Rio are at your leisure, but one will be reserved for a magnificent Samba show, before making the trip to the interior of the country