Kimkim Trip Reviews for Brazil

This hotel is exceptional. Charming with a first class and very accommodating and welcoming staff. We recommend it and if we return to Paraty will plan to stay there again. Mike B.

Great location, service and accommodations at a reasonable price

The hotel was in walking distance to all the major sites and beach! So cool

Hotel was nice enough. It is far out of town so that one cannot walk to any other restaurants and the hotel only served buffet style food. The bar food was mostly fried. Staff was very friendly. Rooms were noisy. Internet was spotty at best. Couldn’t get reception in the restaurant.

Staff were kind and helpful. Pool was wonderful!

Staff was exceptional. Location was great. A bit noisy

The evening with Chef Simone was the highlight of my trip! She is so energetic and delightful!! Highly recommend this experience. I would do it again!

Met all expectations. Guide was amazing

Lovely experience

Met all of my expectations! Iguaçu has been on my bucket list for over 30 years! I enjoyed this visit!!

I enjoyed my journey! The market in Santa Amaro was fabulous!! The lunch at the ranch was very good and so peaceful. I was disappointed that we did not meet anyone of the Quilombolas community. I loved the market and the Cachoeira town, but I would change the tour description, or include a Quilombolas visit

Loved this! The guide was so knowledgeable. I learned so much++++

Pick up in town and bus ride to and fro is simply too long. Would not recommend this tour at all. Either go to Buzios for several days, or do something else in Rio.

Great tour. Beautiful views. Guide was very knowledgeable. I was the only English speaker but have a fair knowledge of Spanish and he always made sure that I understood what he was saying. Appreciated him

I thoroughly enjoyed the show! The dancing was spectacular! People told me that the food was ‘meh’ but I had the fish and it was great! Service was good

Comfortable, good breakfast and good dinner. Great location and great view and pool area .

This was a business hotel. It was comfortable . Breakfast was good. We ate dinner in the hotel our first night and it wasn’t terribly good

We only had time to see the botanic garden and only a small piece of it. That said, Alberto smartly had us rent a golf cart and a guide for an hour so I felt like we really learned something.

At first I was not up for this trip because it is a long way in a lot of traffic but in the end I am glad we went. The city is beautiful and different than Rio. The fact that there is a Bavarian styled restaurant on the way there is hilarious and the apple strudel (according to our friends) was quite tasty. The palace tour was informative but the highlight was the Santos Dumont home and the square where a replica of the airplane is placed. We have read about Santos Dumont but did not connect him to Brazil or Petropolis so that was a treat.

This was a great day with a great guide, Alberto. It was a good call to make it for 7 am because we missed some of the traffic. Every site was really interesting and the guide was really informative. We spent a lot of time in the Saint Sebastian Church and it was really unlike anything we have ever seen.

This was actually the least of the tours. In part because we arrived at 1:30. We were picked up around 2 so we had a late start. So it was kind of rushed. That said, we ate at a Belle Epoque restaurant , took a detour to see a building designed by Calatrava and were able to get to the top of the Santa Teresa neighborhood before the house museum closed.

This is a unique opportunity to be on top of the falls rather than seeing them at a distance. It can be a long day because customs is not the most efficient process on the planet.

The bird park is a must see and was a highlight of our trip. Flavio was knowledgeable about plants and birds and has a deep love the sanctuary.

Amazing location on Copacabana beach, very comfortable beds, large room, good breakfast (but very crowded/busy), incredible rooftop pool with very attentive bar service and beautiful views

I recognize this is probably the best option on an island like Isla Grande, but for the price it wasn't quite up to the normal standards - our room was too small for us to fit our suitcases (and we couldn't open them) and there were ants in the bathroom. The view from the rooms is amazing, but we couldn't enjoy the balcony as much as we would have liked because the hotel allows smoking on the balconies and the person in the room next to us smoked constantly, ruining the experience for us. The hotel is also a long walk from the pier and the main part of town which was tough with our daughter especially since it rained on us the first day. Overall it was okay, and maybe the best option available, but it was our least favorite hotel that we stayed in.

Absolutely loved this place! A ton of historic character, amazing location in the old part of Paraty, very nice swimming pool and bar, the rooms were large and comfortable, and the staff were so nice.

Very comfortable, good breakfast.

Marcelo was a wonderful guide again on this day. We loved visiting Sugarloaf. We ended up skipping the old town part of the tour because I wasn't feeling well, but we were grateful to have a private tour so we could be flexible on our plans and adapt as needed. Marcelo helped make sure everything ran smoothly and took care of everything, and recommended a great restaurant for lunch that everybody loved.

We had an amazing time with Marcelo. He was so nice and informative. We loved seeing Christ the Redeemer and many beautiful beaches in Rio. Marcelo showed us a great place to try acai and watch people hang gliding off the mountains. We loved having him as our private guide so we could be flexible and stop where we wanted. Definitely recommend Marcelo to any travelers visiting Rio!

The people running the class were so nice and made my daughter feel included. All the food and drinks were delicious and we loved the explanation of the ingredients and Brazilian culture/history. There were just a couple of issues. The class started extremely late because one of the other parties in the group was running late, and also because no one had informed the instructors that I was vegetarian, so one of them had to go to the store to buy more ingredients. Even if the class had started on time it still would have been late at night for my daughter, but with the delay, I had to take her back to the hotel before we even got a chance to eat the main dish. It was disappointing that the disorganization affected our enjoyment of the class. I wish we had been able to book something earlier in the day.

We loved the island, the boat ride, the nature - but wished a private tour had been available. There was a lot of waiting around for the group, and we were at the swimming/snorkeling areas at the same times as all the other groups, so it was very crowded. Also there was no kids snorkeling equipment available so my daughter was very disappointed by that. We also received a couple of mixed messages about the meeting time, and no one told us in advance that we would have to pay extra for snorkeling equipment, so communication could have been better. None of the guides spoke English and we relied on other people on the boat to translate for us because we had no idea what was going on.

We really enjoyed the waterfalls and distillery tour. The restaurant where they took us for lunch wasn't very good, but it was okay. We wish we had booked a private tour because being part of a group made the experience less enjoyable - there was a lot of standing around waiting for other people in the group, and the guide had to repeat all the information in multiple languages.

We had a great time walking around and exploring with our guide.

We were tired after our overnight flight, but we enjoyed the tour and our guide was very nice.

Gorgeous boutique inn in beautiful Paraty. The hotel was quaint and beautifully kept. The location was perfect to enjoy either the beach or the stunning town.

I don't have many words to describe this hotel other than exceptional! Every part of this hotel, the staff, the rooms, the food (the FOOD!), and the experiences were exquisite. It was our favourite part of the holiday, bar none.

Perfect location if you want to be in the heart of Rio's beach scene, with easy access to both Copacabana and Ipanema! Our family of 7 thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. The rooftop pool area was incredible, the included breakfast was excellent, especially for kids, and the staff were all very friendly and helpful.

This was, by far, the highlight of our family trip! We stayed at the Caiman lodge for 3 days and it was incredible in every way. Everything felt elevated: the food was exceptional, the service seamless, and the rooms were incredibly comfortable. What made the entire experience extra special, though, is that it's first and foremost a wildlife conservation area, and the commitment to conservation shines through in every part of the experience. The wildlife encounters were unforgettable, especially thanks to Luisa and Edson, our guides, who were both so incredibly friendly, fun, and knowledgeable. We were fortunate to see not one but two jaguars on our outings, and it will forever remain a core memory for our entire family. The variety of other wildlife we saw (macaws, capybaras, giant anteaters, tarantulas, etc.) went far beyond what we had hoped for. Honestly, we could have stayed much longer without hesitation. We were also able to attend a beautiful and memorable farm-to-table outdoor dinner one evening, which was another highlight of our stay at Caiman. Stunning presentation, delicious food, & live music all under a starlit sky was such a treat to experience. We would highly recommend visiting Caiman Lodge for a truly beautiful and unique experience in the Pantanal.

Of course, this is a must-see landmark! The sweeping panoramic views of Rio are incredible, and the statue itself is beautiful and iconic. Be mindful that the crowds are equally as impressive 😬. We had an amazing guide, Luiz, who was incredibly knowledgeable and made the outing that much more enjoyable.

Our family had an incredible experience visiting Favela República in Tavares Bastos. The walking tour was not only informative but genuinely inspiring. It gave us a deeper understanding of the community, its history, and the vibrant culture that exists beyond the stereotypes. Seeing the iconic FIFA Street court in person was amazing for our kids, but what stood out most was the authenticity of the experience and the warmth of the locals who shared their stories with us. It was beautiful to see how the community is using tourism in a positive and meaningful way. The funds generated from these tours are helping create purposeful and impactful educational opportunities and support for local youth. We didn't even feel that is was so much a tour as it was a chance to connect, learn, and contribute to something bigger. We’re incredibly grateful for the experience and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Rio.

Beautiful accommodations. Very nice accommodations. Bed was super comfortable, and air condition was great. Food was amazing, and staff were so attentive

This was truly the highlight of my trip. The lodge was incredible. So organized with activities, and such a variety of activites. The animals around the lodge will melt your heart. I could have stayed a month at this lodge......The food was incredible

The only issue I had with this accommodation was that the AC wasn't working, and there is no staff after hours to fix it

Beautiful lodge...... Food was very basic, but I wasn't there for the food. The scenery was incredible

Fabulous bed, and fabulous air conditioning

The pool and the room were wonderful. The bed was sensational

Amazing experience, Be prepared to get wet, which is a lovely experience in the heat

I was somewhat reluctant to go and see the falls, because I thought it would be like Niagara Falls. Well I was astonished about how different it was. These falls are surreal. You can not describe them. There is simply no comparison to Niagara falls. You must see these falls from both the Brazilian side and the Argentinian side to experience their grandeur

Incredible experience. I saw first hand about the Favela s and the drug and gun culture. I wasn't at all afraid. It is a highly functioning society, and everyone cares for each other. You must take off your sunglasses when entering as they they are worried about cameras taking pictures and reporting to the police. You also are not allowed to take pictures in the Favela. At our resting point, we danced to the carnival music, and had fabulous views of the city. There is a lot of walking up steep hills, so you need to be in good shape physically.

Spectacular experience. Make sure you wear comfortable clothing and running shoe.......

hotel room was tidy. staff was polite. Pool is TINY. If you want a pool this is not the hotel for you. Great location, one block from cococabana beach,

Absolute perfection!

This was really fun! The guides made sure we were together and safe. Highly recommend.

Beautiful destinations, polite guide.

Great experience! Lots of energy, color, culture, music!

We were expecting a private van—as had been provided for our tours in Rio—but instead two cars arrived to transport our group and luggage for a nearly three-hour trip. We were originally supposed to be a group of nine people, so it is unclear how everyone would have fit comfortably in two cars. Even with eight travelers, the ride was extremely uncomfortable, and the change in transportation was never communicated to us. This reflects very poor planning and communication. When I asked in the KimKim group chat what other details we needed to clarify, no one responded or acknowledged our discomfort during the ride to Paraty.

A bit rustic and sometimes noisy but great overall experience. Be prepared to carry your luggage from the harbor (10 minutes)

The size of the beds was HUGE … bigger than a California king … great sleep Excellent breakfast

Comfortable beds - clean - quiet Just needed an extra blanket

Great boutique hotel downtown Manaus with great beds.

The island is really a backpacker paradise - jungle & beach combo with great hikes and beautiful secluded beaches (reachable by boat). Food options are plentiful but expect to wait a long time to be served.

Beautiful city with lots to do - safer than I expected - beaches are gorgeous but crowded.

In the heart of the earths lungs … insane beauty and quiet place - farm to table food - Piranha fishing and night time boating to see caymans was brilliant

This boutique-hotel was in a perfect spot, surrounded by chapels, attractions and shops. The room itself was breathtaking, with lovely decor, tables, mirrors, sofas, a table for the custom breakfast served in the room. We stayed only 1-1/2 nights though. The staff did not speak much English but were extremely friendly.

The Amazon Tupana Lodge was the perfect place to enjoy our Amazon jungle adventure. The rooms on stilts, a common area with hammocks and comfortable chairs and of course, the buffet area and the steps leading to the port dock were all so beautiful. We saw wildlife right at the port deck - dolphins, herons, vultures, tepir and several birds. The stray dogs were too friendly and almost bit my hubby as we walked up the deck stairs. The stray cat was very cute though. The room was quite good and the fan really helped. Opening the curtains a little at the night helps cool air enter. The buffet meals were all amazing especially as they had several vegan options. They also took care to not contaminate vegetarian food with the meat - this was our highlight during the camping dinner at the forest. All the staff and guides were very friendly. The activities were all exceptional. Night or forest walks require us to wear long sleeves and pants. So, packing thin kurtis with long sleeves or thin slacks/leggings will help prevent mosquito bites.

We had a stay for a few hours in the night as we landed around midnight on Christmas. The staff was very friendly. However, we did not get any hot water in the morning. Seems like instructions to get hot water should be handy.

The room was very clean and we had ample room to open our suitcases. The staff at the hotel was exceptional as they answered all our questions and directed us to laundry service/laundromats close to the hotel. We didn't have enough time for the laundry service but the automated laundromat near the hotel saved our day.

The hotel room was very clean but the bed was so large that we had trouble opening our large suitcases on the floor. Enjoyed the breakfast with coffee, fruits, salad, cereal, hot milk and yogurt. The staff was not very friendly compared to the other places that we stayed at. It took us more than a day to figure out how to get room service or call the front desk. A paper with the key services would have helped as the icons on the phone were not very intuitive.

Our visit to the Argentine side of the Iguacu falls (called Igauzu in Argentina) was a wonderful experience with expert guidance from John, right from crossing the border to touring the falls in the Park. The hikes to the Devil's throat and Upper falls were amazing as we saw the falls from closeup. The boat tour by Gran Aventura (an additional trip) which took us under the waterfalls was an exhilarating experience. John gave us all the necessary instructions in advance and so we were prepared with an extra set of dry clothes. We also enjoyed an extra tour of the bridges across the 3 countries (Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil) and downtown.

Our trip to Brazil was unforgettable, thanks to Bruno and kimkim. Bruno helped us with our custom itinerary and was always available to answer any questions before and during the trip. The guides were very professional, knowledgeable and friendly and made our trip memorable and worthwhile. Marcelo at Rio, John at Foz do Iguacu, Carlos at The Amazon and Luiz at Salvador were our amazing guides. Our trip highlights - seeing Christ the Redeemer at Rio on a cloudy day and catching a glimpse for a few moments, Sugar loaf mountain at Rio (saw marmosets and vultures), Iguacu falls (Argentine side was our highlight) and the boat tour under the waterfalls at the Argentine side (we got soaked thrice), Bird Park near Iguacu falls, Brazil, amazing Amazon experience (canoeing, fishing, sunrise and sunset tours, forest walks), Salvador city tour. We saw exotic wildlife everywhere and endangered birds at the bird park. The hotels were all very good but with the Salvador hotel being our favorite as it was a boutique hotel located in a historic center surrounded by chapels and shops. We were able to get vegan food in all places with the Amazon Tapuna lodge being our highlight as several vegan options were available with breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had difficulty in finding vegan food in small airports. Latitude at Rio international airport was a great place for vegan food.

The most interesting part was reaching the Amazon Tapuna lodge from Manaus via 2 motorized boats and a 4*4 - a total of 4+ hrs. None of the staff or drivers spoke English and we didn't have internet coverage en route so Google translate didn't work (key takeway is to download the language package before your trip). When aboard the first small motorized boat, we feared we would be in this boat for 4 hours and so quickly wore the life jackets. Thankfully, it was only for 40 minutes or so. The driver stopped in the middle of the river and showed us flags of Peru, Columbia and Brazil. We saw that the color of the water had changed at that point too - apparently it was the meeting point of two rivers moving in different directions. We then went on the 4*4 trip for 2.5+ hrs. with one truck stop/toilet break. The final hop was a 1/2 hr. boat ride to the Amazon Tapuna lodge. The beautiful view of the lodge on stilts, the steps from the port deck and the hammocks, etc. were indeed breathtaking. We had arrived in the jungle.!!! We were greeted with a welcome drink by Carlos, our awesome guide who spoke perfect English in addition to Portuguese and Spanish. We were thrilled to learn that we would be getting vegan food for all our meals - our Brazil trip highlight. We loved doing the tours with a Japanese Brazil family and a British woman. Since we left at 7am or so from Manaus, we were at the lodge by 11:15am. We had lunch at 12:30p (the lunch time at the lodge) and had 2 tours that day. The 4pm tour on the boat was to meet a local family, learn about their hard life and taste their awesome farina/farofa (the toasted cassava flour used on all salads, rice and beans, etc). We got a demo of making farina and tapioca. After our awesome dinner at 7:30p, we left on a boat tour to see alligators. It was awesome to see a baby alligator from up-close.

Luxurious and very relaxing.

Decent, clean

Great hotel, friendly staff, excellent food. Very well planned trips such as jungle hike, piranha fishing, sunrise boat ride. We saw lots of birds, caiman and monkeys!!

Anna the chef was wonderful. Very hands on and interactive. Lucas our guide was the best! Ask for Anna.

Lucas had our fast pass tickets so we didnt have to stand in line. Gave us cool tips for pictures and drinks.

Our guide tailored this experience for our family. We experience Santa Maria, a sweet little town on the hill top. It was fantastic.

This Pousada was great. It felt very authentic and quaint. The room was lovely and had a great view. There was a coffee break we enjoyed each day with tasty treats and the breakfast was also well supplied with homemade local food.

Windsor Plaza was fine. We stayed a few nights in a room facing the main street, and a few nights facing the side street. The main street room was pretty loud and we preferred the side street room. Dining options were nice and location was convenient. We had dinner there one night and room service another and both were decent. Main complaint was the construction. We had at least 10 power outages from the work. They had to shut down 2/3 elevators for most of our stay which meant taking the stairs several times.