• Add-on: 5 days / 4 nights Rio de Janeiro
• Extension Iguaçu Falls:
  One of the greatest natural spectacles on our planet

Whale watching in Southern Brazil

from July-October

You may not know but it is not just Canada, Baja California or Peninsula Valdez which qualifies for superb whale waching.

The Club “LES PLUS BELLES BAIES DU MONDE” (www.world-bays.com) included Praia do Rosa beach, in southern Brazil in its list of 28 chosen beaches, because of its natural beauty, conservation awareness and the APA, Environment Protected Area, of the Southern Right Whales (Franca) Eubalaena australis. During July-October the well over 40tons heavy whales come here from the southern polar regions, hence their name, to give birth and to rise their off-spring in the protected waters of the Santa Catarina coastline.When the last SRW was killed in 1973 at Imbituba whale station the species was nearly extinct. Brazil,being signatary of the Whale Protection Act, has managed to increase again the population of both SWR and hunchback whales.

This package consist of an unusual combination of 5 days of whale watching and other activities. The Praia do Rosa and other nearby beaches are among the finest in Brazil and offer also pleasant beach riding, surfing and kite surfing. A side trip to the historic village of Laguna is included. Among other historic events in the earlier times of the colonization, the Italian freedom fighter Guiseppe Garibaldi, married to Anita Garibaldi, lived and fought here.The house where they lived together is open for visitation. Laguna also features one of the rarest spectacles on earth: the mullet fishing with the “assistance” of dolphins.

The itinerary includes:

• Transfer to Praia do Rosa beach. Intro on Southern Right Whales (Franca) in Southern Brazil, delivered by the IBF Institute of Franca whales
• Daily outings for whale watching and photo safari on beaches between Imbituba,Praia do Rosa and Garobapa aboard state of the art rubber rafts
• Land excursions on 4x4 wheel drive to watch whales from Siriú and Gamboa beaches
• Dune riding
• Land excursion to the historic town of Laguna to watch mullet fishing with the assistance”of dolphins, unique in the world

You will stay comfortably in our resort that features tastefully decorated beach front bungalows, swimming pool and all modern amenities embedded in a charming atmosphere. There are good restaurants and bars in the Rosa, specially during the season, but also the food of your Hotel is very recommendable. The terrace offers a splendid view over the ocean.

Price 5 days/ 4 nights

Included:

• Transfers in/out
• 4 overnights/breakfast, sgl/dbl room occupancy, at the Vida Sol e Mar Resort, ocean view appartments
• Activities as per itinerary

Other optional activities:

• Excellent wind-and kite surf on the Ibiraquera lagoon and on the shore line
• surfers consider the beaches of Rosa, Imbituba and Garopaba the best in Brazil with Imbituba even hosting the WCT
• Surfing classes are offered at the Resort Vida Sol e Mar

Please note that the itinerary depends on prevailing weather conditions and must therefore be kept flexible.

Beach fun riding

Available throughout the whole year, but best from October through May as an extension to our São Joaquim Trail

As a perfect match of our adventurous trail riding in the high sierras of Santa Catarina, we offer now a very pleasant beach ride down the coast of Santa Catarina, at Praia do Rosa beach. Here you will cross over the giant dunes and gallop as much you wish on the endless beaches of the South Atlantic. The horses are and/or Mangalargas, Crioulos, Quarterhorses or crosses of those breeds. You will stay comfortably in our resort which features tastefuloly decorated bungalows right at the beach front, swimming pool and all modern amenities, among a charming atmosphere. There are good restaurants and bars in the area, but also the food of your Hotel is very recommendable, plus, while dining, you can sit on a beautiful terrace, with great views over the sea. There is also time for a swim in the clear waters of the Praia do Rosa and maybe get some suntan too before you hit the way back home.

Prices

Add-on: 5 days / 4 nights Rio de Janeiro

1st day: Pantanal – Rio de Janeiro

On the last day of your regular program in the Pantanal you will fly back from Campo Grande to Rio de Janeiro city airport Santos Dumont with TAM flight JJ3773/3958 CGR/SDU at 1635/2155 via São Paulo (CGH). Transfer to hotel at Copacabana or Riding Brazil’s guest house Villa Paradiso for overnight.

Rio de Janeiro

Despite of superlatives and stereotypes, Rio de Janeiro can be considered one of the world most beautiful and fascinating cities. Hosting some 10 million inhabitants, Rio is squeezed in between the green mountains of the coastal rainforest and tropical beaches at the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The city essentially shows the lifestyle of a South American metropolis, with a strong touch of tropical laissez-faire. A wide range of scenic, cultural and architectural highlights prove that the city does not strive exclusively on Samba and Carnival. A visit to the Sugar Loaf, the Corcovado Mountain and a bath at the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema is obviously a must. The visitor should not miss out, however on a stroll through the historical part of the city. Colorful, loud and busy, the city displays colonial architecture and - in contrast – hyper modern office buildings, banks and business centers. But there are also quite corners and hidden places, where one can relax and meditate; surrounded by the exuberant tropical nature that makes Rio de Janeiro so attractive, for visitors and locals alike.

2nd day

Morning at leisure. How about checking out Copacabana and Ipanema beaches? In the afternoon we take you for a cable car ride to the top of the 396 m high Sugar Loaf, world famous symbol of Rio de Janeiro, offering astonishing views of the ocean, the bay, the fortresses on the coast, the city of Niteroi on the other side of the bay, the surrounding mountains and the city itself. The exuberant tropical vegetation on this island mountain is an attraction by itself. Right underneath the Sugar Loaf is a hidden coastal path where you can take a relaxing walk, while appreciating the views over the sea and watch guenons and several species of humming birds. At night you may want to dine in one of Rio's fine specialty restaurants that we would be pleased to suggest.

3rd day: Rio de Janeiro

Our guide picks you up early this morning for a full day city tour, starting with a walk through downtown Rio de Janeiro, including the Cinelândia square with the 1909 built Teatro Municipal, which is inspired by the Paris opera house. Next is the futuristic Cathedral Catedral Metropolitana, the Petrobrás and BNDES buildings - outstanding example of modern Brazilian architecture. After a few minutes of walk you arrive at the Santo Antônio Convent, Rio's oldest baroque church with a monastery from the 17th century, located above the Largo da Carioca, where street vendors are disputing space with preachers of indefinable credos. Next stops are the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura, a splendid old library of 1888, and finally the famous Confeitaria Colombo where we break for an Espresso. Now you board the last remaining wooded tram, built 1892. The ride takes you over an aqueduct from 1750, into the hills to the idyllic artist's neighborhood Santa Teresa. Take a stroll through the small cobblestone streets with historic mansions, studios, bars and handy craft shops. On return, visit the Chácara do Céu Museum with notable works from Brazil's colonial epoch and exhibition of modern art. At night, instead of the usual tourist samba shows, you may want to go to one of the nightclubs that feature some of the best of Bossa Nova and Samba Jazz live music.

4th day

Pick up at the hotel and drive up to the 710m high Corcovado Mountain with its world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue which, together with the Sugar Loaf, are Rio de Janeiro's best known symbols. From up here the panoramic view over the city of Rio de Janeiro, including the Southern and Northern Zone, is unique. Afterwards we take the road through the Floresta da Tijuca National Park, the world's largest tropical urban forest. You will enjoy breathtaking views, waterfalls and exuberant tropical nature of the Atlantic Coastal Rainforest. The 1808 founded Jardim Botânico, is considered by many one of the most beautiful botanic gardens in the world. A leisurely stroll through leads through 7.200 species of flowers, plants and trees makes the delight of the nature loving visitor. The garden is designed as a landscape park and beautifully embedded at the foothills of the surrounding mountains. Return to the hotel. At night you dine in one of Rio’s finest specialty restaurants for seafood and barbecue. One of the better hints for the later part of the evening, is down town Lapa quarters, featuring plenty of lively bars, dance and music halls. Maybe your hips need some Brazilian swing after all that riding…

5th day: Rio de Janeiro

Depending on the departure of your international flight you may just want to spend this day at leisure, or do some more sight seeing. In this case please ask your guide for options. Transfer to the airport.

- End of the program –

Price:

€ 790 p.p. double room occupancy
Add-on single room occupancy: € 220

Included:

• 4 overnights/breakfast, single(1) or double room occupancy (2-6), air conditioned rooms
• 1x dinner 4th day
• activities as per itinerary
• entrance fees
• private multilingual guide
  

For your information, this itinerary focuses on the cultural aspects and some natural highlights of Rio de Janeiro. There are, however a number of other activities available to the more demanding client, such as hiking in the tropical mountains and rain forests that frame the city, sailing in the bay and on the coast line for several hours or even days, hang gliding at the southern slopes of the Tijuca massif, offering breathtaking views over mountains, forests and beaches, or a scenic ocean kayak ride around the sugar loaf, and much more.

Extension Iguaçu Falls:
One of the greatest natural spectacles on our planet

Day 1

Pick-up at Iguaçu airport and transfer to the Hotel San Martin. The hotel features a lush tropical park and swimming pool and is located right next to the Parque das Aves (birds park). During a one-hour walk, more than 150 different species of tropical birds, but also alligators, snakes, butterflies and monkeys, amidst a beautiful natural habitat, can be observed.

Day 2

Visit of the Brazilian side of the world famous waterfalls. The falls are located within the limits of the Iguaçu National Park, covering 185.262 ha on Brazilian and 67.000 ha on the Argentine side. In 275 cascades the Iguaçu River rushes with an average height of 60 m down the horseshoe-shape canyon over a length of almost two miles, an unforgettable natural spectacle. We suggest: a sightseeing helicopter flight (optional), which gives an even better vision of the overwhelming dimensions of the falls. In the afternoon we take you for a visit to Itaipu, where nature is tamed for the use of man and what is, until today, the world biggest hydro-electric power plant. 14.000 MW are generated here from where power is delivered to Paraguay and wider parts of southern and southwestern Brazil. This gigantic capacity is actually further increased to top the Yangtze 3 Gorges dam in China. For the rest of the day you may want to stroll through the Hotel gardens and enjoy the pool for refreshment.

Day 3

Today you head for the Argentine side of the cataracts. A mini train rails you through the National Park. A boardwalk leads to the roaring Garganta del Diablo, the devil's gorge. Our suggestion is to do the adventurous and breathtaking raft ride right beneath the falls (optional). Since you have already checked out, you transfer now straight to the airport for flight to Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo.

Note:

This itinerary may change in accordance with arrival and departure schedules.

Price:

included:

• 2 overnights w/full board at the San Martin Hotel
• excursions as per itinerary
• multilingual guide
• transfers in/out