Alma Brasileira – From Rio to Costa Verde

Your English speaking guide will meet you at Rio airport and take you to your hotel (time and flight number to be specified). He knows everything about his city and will tell you all his secrets and good tips. Night at the B&B Villa Laurinda. Suite.   Included: english speaking guide, arrival transfer with english-speaking guide, room & breakfast

At 09:00am start a city tour with your English-speaking guide, firstly private visit of Rio’s city center, from a colossal avenue framed by imposing glass buildings to quaint, small streets and their little affordable shops. Many styles, one spirit, is the best definition to describe the architectural cocktail of the center, where past and modernism coexist in harmony. Among the possible visits (to be coordinated with the guide depending on opening times, your preferences, or eventual manifestations organized that day): Imperial Municipal (replicate of the Opera Garnier in France), foundation Banco do Brasil, casa da França (old custom house), national History museum, largo da Carioca, convento Santo Antônio, metropolitan cathedral, plaza Tiradentes... Later, going up to Santa Teresa, which used to be one of the wealthiest residential neighborhoods of Rio, when the town was the capital of Brazil and all the principal institutions were located there. Surrounded by the agglomeration, the neighborhood has lost its former character, and the wealth of the area has moved to the Southwest of Rio, to Barra da Tijuca. Santa Teresa now shelters a diverse population in the bohemian quarter of the modern Rio.   Walk through this area to get a taste of its quaint and old atmosphere. During the trip to Lapa, visit the colored stairs or "Escadaria do Convento da Santa Teresa", decorated by Jorge Selarón.   Return to the hotel at 05:00pm. Note 1: Entrance fees not included. Note 2: For the visit of the center, avoid Sundays and bank holidays.   Night at the B&B Villa Laurinda. Suite.   Included: english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

Your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel at 09:00am to start the city tour. Today, you will start by going to one of the icons of the city: The Corcovado (el. 700 m.a.s.l.), world known symbol of Rio. Once up there, take the time to appreciate the unique and amazing panoramic view of the "cidade maravilhosa" (wonderful city).   On your way to the next visit, the guide will show you a panoramic view of the famous beaches of Rio, going by Ipanema and Copacabana. You can also choose another region to visit after the Christ, like Santa Teresa or downtown Rio if you want, don’t hesitate to decide together with the guide.   To finish your day, you will take the cable car that leads to the top of the famous Sugarloaf Mountain (400 m alt.) symbol of Rio, which marks the entrance to the bay of Guanabara, and enjoy the view from the top.   Return to the hotel at 05:00pm. Night at the B&B Villa Laurinda. Suite.   Included: english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

Your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel at 09:00 for an electric bike tour of the Tijuca Forest. Your day begins with a ride through the lush Tijuca Forest, one of the largest urban forests in the world. You'll be amazed by the diversity of flora and fauna.   Along the way, your guide will show you the highlights of the forest, including waterfalls, picturesque paths and breathtaking views over the city of Rio de Janeiro. You will also have the chance to relax and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this unspoilt environment.   Optional: Around lunchtime, you will pause to enjoy a traditional Brazilian picnic in the heart of the forest.   After lunch, we will continue our exploration by electric bike, visiting other fascinating sites in the Tijuca Forest.   Return to the hotel at 5 p.m.   Night at the B&B Villa Laurinda. Suite.   Included: english speaking guide, public transport, picnic lunch, bike rental, room & breakfast

Your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel at 09:00am to start the city tour. Today, you will visit the favela of Santa Marta in the Botafogo neighbourhood with your guide as well as a local who lives in the favela. These neighbourhoods are the result of the chaotic expansion that Rio lived through in the 20th Century. At the heart of these popular and "lawless" suburbs (the favelas are originally illegal land occupations), Brazilians organize themselves and live in a dignified and solitary manner.   No voyeurism, you are welcome in the favelas where inhabitants want to make sure that their neighbourhoods aren't reduced to clichés such as drug trafficking or dangerous life. This visit will give you a different reality of Rio, a more real and complete view of the life of Cariocas different than the images of violence poverty which usually shown by the medias lacking of originality.   The most extraordinary thing about favelas is how close they are from the fancy neighbourhoods.   Return to the hotel at 01pm.   Night at the B&B Villa Laurinda. Suite.   Included: english speaking guide, private transport, entrance fees mentioned in the program, room & breakfast

At 09:00, your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel. You will be taken to an area of Rio de Janeiro's port known as ‘Little Africa’.   This was the name of the historic area that was home to the Afro-Brazilian community in Rio. The area became ‘Little Africa’ following the abolition of the slave trade in 1831. Between 1850 and 1920, this district became a refuge for freed black and African communities from Bahia and the interior of Brazil, in search of work and community life.   On this tour, you will discover this important page in Rio's rich African history.   The tour begins in front of the MAR museum and continues towards the ‘Pedra do Sal’, Rio's oldest black neighbourhood, recognised in 2005 as a ‘quilombola’ community. You will walk along the Rua do Valongo, which linked the Quai Valongo to the Largo do Depósito, where shops selling slaves and articles related to the practice of slavery were located.   Continue on to the Church of Our Mother of the Rosário and Saint Benedict, known as the Church of the Blacks; popular stories tell that many famous Afro-Brazilian figures were buried in this church.   Continue on to the Place dos Estivadores, where the Largo do Depósito was the ‘fattening centre’ for slaves newly arrived in Brazil before being sold.   Finally, you will discover the archaeological remains of Quai Valongo, which was Rio's busiest slave market, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2017).   Return to the hotel at 13:00.   Night at the B&B Villa Laurinda. Suite.   Included: english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

Departure from the hotel to drive to Conceição de Jacarei with your local driver. 2-hour drive on a paved road along the Green Coast, a vegetation corridor between ocean and mountains. Board in a boat for the crossing to Ilha Grande (0h20 crossing). Night at the pousada Naturalia (breakfast included). Standard room. Included: boat ticket, shared transport, room & breakfast

Trek - 6 to 7-hour hike – elevation gain 1000 meters – moderate. At 09:00am, get on the track with your English-speaking guide for the legendary Ilha Grande trek. You will head towards the beach of Dois Rios before turning towards the heart of the island and its highest point (982 m.a.s.l.), the Pico do Papagaio (or "Peak of the Parrot", because of its hooked beak like shape). The climb is steady and strenuous.   Once on the summit, you will be rewarded by a breathtaking 360 degree panoramic view, over the saco do Ceú, Abraão, Lopes Mendes and Dois Rios, and even further, the island of Jorge Grego. With good weather you can even see the Pedra da Gávea, in Rio !   Return to Abraão at the end of the day.     Night at the pousada Naturalia (breakfast included). Standard room. Included: guide (hiking), lunch (no drinks), room & breakfast

Depart your pousada for the quays of Abrãao, where you will board a boat specially designed for the excursion and sail to the oyster-farming fazenda located near Praia da Longa. When you arrive, you will be greeted by the owner of the fazenda, who will explain the oyster, scallop and mussel farming process. Then it's time to taste the fresh produce harvested on the fazenda. After lunch (not included) you will return to the boat for an excursion around Ilha Grande. Your guide will take you to explore the island's most beautiful spots, including secluded beaches, hidden coves and panoramic viewpoints.   You'll have the chance to snorkel in crystal-clear waters and discover the region's colourful marine life.   Return to your pousada in the late afternoon.   Option: Night at the pousada Naturalia (breakfast included). Standard room. Included: private transport, english speaking guide, entrance fees mentioned in the program, room & breakfast

Free day to explore the island and its many beaches. Different activities are available like hiking trails like the Feiticeira waterfall, Lopes Mendes beach, Pico do Papagaio, kayaking, boat tour to Lagoa Azul or Lagoa Verde, among others. Night at the pousada Naturalia (breakfast included). Standard room. Included: room & breakfast

Your local driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive you in a regular van to the pier of Angra dos Reis (1 ½-hour trip). Board in a fastboat for the crossing to Ilha Grande (30 min crossing – unaccompanied by a guide). Your English speaking guide will pick you up at 2:00pm at the hotel for a walking tour of the historical centre of the village. Nestled between the sea and the first foothills of the Serra do Mar, Paraty is home to one of the most beautiful colonial legacies of Brazil, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.   Along the narrow, cobbled streets, you will discover this exceptional legacy, testimony to the splendours of the 17th and 18th centuries. Sublime residences, 4 superb baroque churches, including Santa Rita de Cassia, which today houses a museum of sacred art.   Paraty is also a very lively town day and night, and has many beaches in its surroundings. Note: 4h tour   trip 04:00hrs. Night at the Pousada do Ouro. Standard room.   Included: boat ticket, shared transport, english speaking guide, room & breakfast

Your guide will collect you from the hotel for a transfer on foot to the quay, where you will board a traditional fisherman's boat. Sail for around two hours towards the small, isolated fishing village of Ponta da Joatinga, in the heart of the ecological reserve. You arrive at the community in this little corner of the world, nestling into the mountainside.   Settle into Alessandra and her family's house on the seafront.   After lunch, you'll set off to discover your surroundings and immerse yourself in the life of the fishermen. Fishing activity and visit to the local community.   Overnight in a Caiçara fisherman's house with basic comforts (shared shower and toilet - no hot water or electricity).   Your guide will accompany you.   Included: breakfast, dinner (no drinks), local guide, lunch (no drinks), sea transport (private), english speaking guide

After breakfast, you will set off by motorboat to the Sitio de Bijiquara, the starting point for the hike. Walking time approx. 4h30 - Moderate difficulty - approx. 400m ascent   You walk through the Atlantic forest for around 1h30 before reaching the beach at Sumaca, set between mountains and vegetation. This is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the region.   Free time to enjoy the serenity of the surroundings. Picnic lunch on site. Return to the village on foot.   You leave the community of Ponta da Juatinga and board a fisherman's boat in the morning to reach the village of Pouso de Cajaiba.   You leave the community of Ponta da Joatinga and board a fishing boat in the morning to reach Cajaiba. Night with a local host (basic comfort, no hot water).   Included: breakfast, local guide, picnic lunch, sea transport (private), english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

Trek - 4 to 5-hour walking - 550 meters of elevation gain - strenuous Departure around 08:30. The path runs along the coast on the inhabited side of the Joatinga peninsula. Villages, encounters and beaches follow one another until you reach Praia Grande. One kilometer of fine sand licked by turquoise water. Nearby, a lagoon of crystal clear water and a waterfall offer the satisfied hiker a perfect place for a well-deserved rest. You enjoy a little bit of the beach before leaving.   The ascent is steep (550 m of elevation rise), a narrow and sometimes uncertain path leads you to the Mamangua reserve, certainly the wildest place in the region. There is a scent of adventure.   From the pass, you discover the Saco do Mamangua, this tropical fjord in the heart of the green vegetation of the mata Atlantica. This breathtaking natural setting is home to a hundred or so caiçara families. You are far from everything.   After breakfast, you leave the village and meet Daniel, a native Caiçara who will be your Portuguese-speaking captain for the next few days. A true sailing enthusiast, you will embark on his fishing boat to discover the region from the community of Pouso de Cajaiba to the Saco de Mamanguá. This adventure will take you to discover the hidden treasures of this unspoilt region of Paraty, where natural beauty blends with Brazilian history and culture.   There's no great luxury on board, just simplicity and caiçara charm to help you soak up the local atmosphere. The itinerary is not set in stone, but can be adapted according to your wishes and his good advice.   Dinner and overnight on board (very simple cabins with a small fan, no hot water or bathroom - shower to be taken at the back of the boat).   Included: lunch (no drinks), dinner (no drinks), excursion (private), local guide, room & breakfast (shared bathroom), sea transport (private), english speaking guide

Wake up to the gentle lapping of the waves. Today, you will be exploring the Saco do Mamanguá by kayak - a stretch of sea surrounded by the lush green vegetation of the mata Atlantica. This breathtaking natural setting is home to around a hundred caiçara families. You are a long way from anywhere. Here and there, between rocky coastal areas covered in bromelias, appear small sandy beaches, clearer at the entrance to the saco de Mamanguá and muddier as you head towards the bottom. The islands shimmer like emerald-green jewels set against the sea. On the rocks formed by the islets and around the islands, oysters and other organisms slowly encrust, fertilised by the nutrients brought in by the ebb and flow of the tides. The water mirror is a backdrop for the spectacular flights of brown gannets and seagulls diving for food.   You leave your kayak on the beach to climb Mamangua Peak, also known as the "Sugar Loaf of Mamangua", which rises to 440 metres for a bunker hike.   Walking time approx. 3h30 - Difficulty steady - approx. 440m ascent   The climb takes around an hour and a half to reach the summit, from where you can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view of the Saco do Mamangua. Take time to enjoy the scenery before taking the same route back down to the beach for a well-earned swim.   A peaceful evening in the Saco. At any time of day and from any side, the fascinating scenery gives you a pleasant feeling of lightness.   Dinner and overnight on board (very simple cabins with small fans, no hot water or bathroom - shower to be taken at the back of the boat).   Lunch at local restaurant. trip 02:00hrs.   Included: dinner (no drinks), excursion (private), local guide, room & breakfast (shared bathroom), sea transport (private), lunch (no drinks)

After breakfast, you can choose to swim, snorkel or simply bask in the sun. Lunch is included (on an island or beach). In the afternoon, you begin your return journey to Paraty, from island to island, from beach to beach. The day is devoted to discovering the bay of Paraty.   Daniel will show you his favourite spots, far from the hustle and bustle of the big tourist boats.   Stops are planned at various sites ideal for swimming or snorkelling amid a myriad of fish: ilha Comprida, saco da Velha, praia Vermelha... Equipped with mask and snorkel, you can take your time admiring the underwater life.   You arrive in Paraty in the late afternoon. Transfer on foot to your pousada.   Lunch at local restaurant. trip 02:00hrs. Night at the Pousada do Ouro. Standard room.   Included: excursion (private), local guide, sea transport (private), lunch (no drinks), room & breakfast

A unique birdwatching experience in Paraty at sunrise with your English-speaking guide and a birdwatcher on the fringes of society. This immersion offers you an exceptional opportunity to discover the natural beauty and biodiversity of this region while helping to preserve the environment. It's suitable for bird lovers of all levels, from beginners to experienced ornithologists, and will leave you with unforgettable memories of Paraty's wilderness. Let yourself be carried away into the world of Luis da Mata.   Return to your pousada in the middle of the afternoon.   Night at the Pousada do Ouro. Standard room.   Included: entrance fees mentioned in the program, english speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast

Departure from the pousada 7 hours before departure for your transfer to the airport. Flight from Rio (airport, flight time and number to be confirmed).   Included: private transport, departure transfer