Best of Brazil: Rio de Janeiro & North Pantanal - 7 Days

Highlights

• See all of Rio de Janeiro from the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain
• Take a guided tour of Vidigal, Rio's well-known favela community
• Enjoy views of exotic wildlife in the Pantanal wetlands
• Explore North Pantanal via horseback like a true pantaneiro

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Rio de Janeiro

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro! Upon arrival at the airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. The "Cidade Maravilhosa" (Marvelous City), as Rio is known, is a sprawling harbor city known for its beaches, festive culture, and raucous entertainment. On the drive into the city from the airport, you'll catch views of Mount Corcovado's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, as well as Sugarloaf Mountain, where cable cars transport visitors up its towering peak to enjoy expansive city views. 

Once you get settled in your beachfront hotel, you can take a stroll along Ipanema or Copacabana beach to enjoy the sunset. There are also plenty of great restaurant options in the city where you can enjoy a traditional Brazilian dinner.

Day 2: Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Mountain

Today's guided tour covers some of Rio's most iconic landmarks. First, you'll head to the top of Mount Corcovado to visit Christ the Redeemer, a 98-foot (30 m) Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ overlooking the city. Commissioned by a local Catholic group in 1920, it was built to symbolize the welcoming spirit of Rio and Brazil. The statue took almost 10 years to complete, and it remains an icon seen almost anywhere in the city. Once you arrive at the summit of the 2,310-foot (704 m) Corcovado and the base of the statue, you'll see panoramic views of Rio and the beaches of Guanabara Bay.

After descending Mount Corcovado, head to the Urca neighborhood and the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Here, you'll hop a cable car up to Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain). This nearly 1,300-foot (396 m) mountain peak unsurprisingly gets its name because it resembles a mound of sugar. From its summit, you'll enjoy a 360-degree view of the rainforest, beaches, cityscape, and local monuments. Upon completion of the tour, your guide will return you to your hotel, and the rest of your evening is free.

Day 3: Tour of Two Brothers Peak & Vidigal Favela, Explore Rio by Bike

In the morning, you'll take a guided tour of one of Rio's favelas. These neighborhoods, comprised of low-income residents living in shacks and shanties, have earned a reputation for being dangerous slums. However, the less sensationalist reality is that these are mostly working-class communities, home to local families. Some favelas have even become hot tourist destinations in their own right. This is the case with Vidigal, one of Rio's most-visited favelas and your destination for today. Located on Morro Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers Mountain), the top of Vidigal reveals some of the best views of the Brazilian coast.

The tour begins with a walk along the seaside, where your guide will share the history of the favelas. Once you reach Vidigal, you'll hop in a van and ride up steep hillsides and winding streets to the beginning of the Two Brothers trail. From there, you'll hike to the 2,165-foot (660 m) peak, where you'll be rewarded with stunning views of the city and can take plenty of photos. Your return takes you back down the mountain along Vidigal's many staircases.

For a different view of the city, an afternoon bike tour of Rio takes you along the beaches and lagoon, all while keeping your wheels on flat ground! The excursion starts in Rio's Flamengo District and goes to the beach of Leblon, a fairly easy route that varies in distance from 10-15 miles (15-25 km). You'll pass by the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, which connects to the ocean, as well as the popular beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Enjoy beautiful views of these landmarks and take advantage of the many photo-ops. Afterward, you'll have a free evening in Rio before you depart for tomorrow's adventure. 

Day 4: Transfer to North Pantanal, Nocturnal Wildlife Tour

Your journey continues today with a transfer to Brazil's Pantanal, a 68,000-mile (109,435 km) stretch of wetlands that is fed by tributaries of the Paraguay River. The Pantanal is the world's largest freshwater wetland, with more than 250 species of fish inhabiting it and a huge population of animals that live along its waterways. 

Your driver will take you to the airport for your flight to the city of Cuiabá. From there, you'll be transported directly to your hotel in North Pantanal. The two-hour drive takes you along the Transpantaneira Highway, where you'll enjoy views of the countryside and potentially catch a glimpse of some of the area's wildlife.

After dinner, your guide will pick you up for an evening wildlife excursion. This 1.5-hour tour takes you into the Pantanal at night—the best time to see the region's nocturnal animals awake and active. Your guide will stop at various points along the way, using a spotlight to aid in the search. Some animals you're likely to see include capybaras, anteaters, foxes, and caimans. You may even spot an ocelot—a reclusive big cat that's one of the most incredible nocturnal animals in the region.

Day 5: Horseback Riding & Pantanal Boat Tour

While the Pantanal is known for being the largest wetland ecosystem in the world, the primary industry here is actually cattle ranching. The region is home to thousands of cattle ranches, with millions of cattle that are tended to by the region's pantaneiros (cowboys). These men still work the land in the same way their ancestors did hundreds of years ago. 

You'll get to see all of this up close and personal on a morning ride at the aptly named Pantaneiro Bay. Your cowboy guide will set you up with some basic riding instructions, and then you'll trot off around the Largo do Pepé. This region is comprised of both dry savanna and forested wetlands, with beautifully diverse scenery and topography. Your ride also doubles as a wildlife tour, as you're sure to spot endemic animals like deer, collard peccaries, and the red-footed tortoise. Keep an eye on the trees to see plenty of exotic birds.

Day 6: Hiking Tour of the Pantanal, Driving Wildlife Safari 

Today, you'll lace up your hiking boots for a three-hour guided walking tour of the Pantanal. You'll meet up with a local guide and travel the nature trails of the wetlands, viewing the region's flora and fauna. The hike takes you through scenic lakes and wooded savannas, and it's not uncommon to spot wild animal tracks or the animals themselves—so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for capybaras, tapirs, monkeys, and macaws along the way! 

If you'd prefer a drive over hiking, opt for a wildlife safari. This two-hour tour showcases even more of the Pantanal's diverse wildlife. Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning, where you'll hop in his open-topped vehicle and travel along a 10-mile (16 km) stretch of the Transpantaneira Highway, home to a variety of Pantanal wildlife. You're likely to see both howler and capuchin monkeys, capybaras, deer, caimans, anacondas, and more. Your guide will stop for photo-ops along the way, sharing their insight and experience with the different animals. Afterward, it's back to your hotel for your final night in Brazil.

Day 7: Sunrise in the Pantanal, Transfer to Cuiabá & Depart

On your final morning in North Pantanal, you'll enjoy an early breakfast, then meet up with a local guide. Your guide will take you to the river port, and you'll board a traditional Pantanal canoe, heading out on the water while it's still dark. As you paddle along the river, you'll witness the majesty of the sun rising over the forested wetlands, gilding both sky and water. This amazing view will be accompanied by the songs of the various bird species that inhabit the Pantanal, including waterbirds like the jabiru stork or bright blue macaws.

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