Kimkim Trip Reviews for Brazil

Our trip was extremely well planned and organized from flights, to guides, to hotels. Everything was perfect. There was always someone to pick us up from the airport and who would stay with us until we were ready to enter security. In Brazil, people rarely speak English, so it is so important to have an English speaking guide while you are here. Thais is extremely sweet and worked so well with me to find the right excursions in our budget! Five stars!

Everything was excellent from start to finish. Planning and booking was extremely easy, accommodations were comfortable, tour guides were friendly and very knowledgeable. We had one small issue (remarkable there was just 1 on our 7 day trip!) and the kimkim dedicated WhatsApp chat team had it fixed for us in under half an hour. We made so many amazing family memories on this trip and it was such a relief to let someone else work out all the little logistical details for our family of 5.

Hotel Reviews

Sanma Hotel Foz do Iguaçu

Foz do Iguaçu

Loved it! Food was great, room was comfortable, amenities were very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mar Palace Copacabana Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Easy check in, room was ready when we arrived at 11am (huge after an international redeye!), staff was friendly, location was good, breakfast was a nice touch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Tour – Brazilian Side of the Iguaçu Falls + Bird Park (Parque das Aves)'

Foz do Iguaçu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer and Driver at disposal to Sao Jose Dos Pinhais

Curitiba

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Argentinian Side of the Falls

Foz do Iguaçu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Green Tour: Into the Tropical Urban Forest and Among the Imperial Palms'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio in a Day: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps and More'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We booked a 10-day trip to Brazil (Rio, Amazon/Manaus, and Foz do Iguacu). Ours was a group of 14 and our KimKim representative was Bruno Madeira. The trip was expensive-but we were willing to pay as we looked at this as once in a life-time experience for us.
From the beginning to the end, Bruno was excellent in responding to our messages. High points of the trip were:
1. Day 2: Visit to Corcovado and Sugar Loaf were fully worth it.
2. Hospitality of the Paroa Amazon Lodge Staff. Fillipe and Leilian were exceptional and went above and beyond in meeting our dietary needs. Food was excellent.
3. Foz do Iguacu was really wonderful, both from the Argentinian side as well as the Brazil side. Our guide Edson was very respectful, and he made sure that everyone was comfortable and safe from the time he met us until we got checked in at the airport. There was one issue that tainted this positivity and I am sure who was to blame for it (see #6 below).
4. On our request, Edson took us to Parque das Aves. We appreciated that he accommodated our request. We paid the entrance fee on our own. These little things should have been included in the package.

Here are the reasons why I did not give four stars to the Kim-Kim experience and to Bruno.
1. Kim-Kim app is very basic. We did not have access to invoices, hotel and airline vouchers via the app.
2. Our detailed daily itinerary was not available until a couple of days before the trip. At times (especially in Rio) we had to push the guide asking for the following day's itinerary.
3. Day 3 tour in Rio was tiring and we felt that some places were included just to kill the time. We felt that our guide their was pushy and disrespectful to our group members on more than one occasion.
4. We felt that we were not well informed about our Amazon experience. Even though it was termed "Amazon Safari" the actual experience fell short. We felt that a visit to the indigenous village should have been included for the price we paid, but it was not. Instead we visited a local village, which was not what we expected.
5. Except for the Arena Leme Hotel, the other hotels we stayed were just average. This is why we strongly felt that indigenous village visit could have been included to increase the value for our money.
6. Boat ride in the Argentina-side was not included in our package. Edson charged us a lot more than the price published on the ticket counter. When we informed Bruno, he asked us to resolve it with the guide. We were quite disappointed with Edson's action as well as Bruno's response.

I'm providing this feedback on behalf of the whole group, not just mine.
Bruno was very responsive, and always responded to any inquiries/questions in a timely manner. He also quickly addressed some of the issues we brought up. We are grateful for every positive thing he did.
People in the group felt that the trip was a little too pricey. This thinking is based on information available on Kimkim website and feedback from other friends who had done similar trips to Brazil with Kimkim.
Philipe and the crew at the Amazon lodge did an excellent job for us (gave us great food). Fabion, our guide at Amazon did a great job, too. The initial vehicle going to the lodge was not that good (AC wasn't working for people in the back), but Philipe got that addressed for the remaining trips.
Edson at Iguazu was an excellent guide. However, members of the group were not happy when they realized that everyone was charged a lot more than the listed price for the Argentina side boat ride.
There were some flight delays that made people tired. I think members of the group expected a little more for the price (hotel choices, drinks. meals, etc.)
Overall the trip was great, weather was nice, and everyone thought it was a successful trip. Because of the few hiccups and the cost, members of the group didn't want to give 5 out of 5 rating - but, it was a positive experience overall!

Trip Planning
Provide a detailed itinerary. The itinerary on the kimkim site was quite high level, without any details. It was only after booking that we got more specific travel details from the local specialist, Giovanna, via the messaging section of the kimkim site. Giovanna was very responsive, checking in periodically with us before and during the trip.

The first day of the Rio tour was quite interesting, particularly visiting the artistic Santa Teresa neighborhood. After visiting Sugarloaf Mountain on the second day, the tour consisted mostly of driving quickly through various neighborhoods.

I would suggest that kimkim offer a list of some suggested activities for the “free days” in Rio, such as attending the Carnival Experience, recommending museums, etc..

Flight Scheduling
For the Rio-Brasilia-Manaus journey, schedule flights earlier in the day, with ample connection time in Brasilia. Our evening GIS-BSB flight was somewhat delayed, so the 45-minute connection time was inadequate. We literally ran to the departure gate for Gol Airlines’ BSB-MAO flight, which was marked as “closed,” but the gate agent was able to quickly onboard us, and the baggage crew managed to get our luggage loaded, as well. The BSB-MAO flight landed at 10:55pm, so we didn’t arrive at our hotel until almost midnight. With a 6:30am shuttle-bus pick up the next morning, we barely got any sleep before the arduous journey to the Amazon Tupana Lodge.

Travel to Amazon
Inform travelers about the extent and methods of transportation to the Amazon Tupana Lodge. We would likely have chosen a different itinerary had we known that we would be packed into a shuttle bus for an hour, ride on an aluminum boat for 45 minutes, ride on an even smaller shuttle bus for a couple of hours, and then board another aluminum boat for 30 minutes – all while having to carry our luggage between the four travel segments.

Inform travelers who choose to go to the Amazon to pack a smaller bag for that segment and store their larger luggage at their Rio hotel.

Hotel in Rio de Janeiro
While the Windsor Excelsior has an excellent location on Copacabana Beach and the staff is quite professional and welcoming, the rooms are outdated and not well-maintained, with chips and wear-marks on the floor and the furniture. The thermostats did not work, so one’s choice was very, very cold or no air conditioning at all. The sheets on the beds really didn’t fit the mattress, and the blanket was so small that it was difficult for two people to share. The bathroom was tiny. We had to call maintenance to repair a flickering light in the room we had at the end of the trip. The walls were so thin that we could hear conversation from the room next to us. Internet coverage was spotty and quite slow. On our check-out date (August 10), the hotel had a plumbing problem so that the water pressure was very low, and we didn’t have hot water at all, which was a problem since we wanted to shower before our evening flight from Rio to Miami.

In short, the Windsor Excelsior was not even a 3-star hotel, in my book.

Amazon Tupana Lodge
The Tupana Lodge was very rudimentary, with the wood cabins having gaps in the floor, tiny bathrooms with no hot water, and only a single fan to combat the high heat and humidity. There was no “check-in” process so we were left unaware of how things worked, what services or activities were available to us or the timing of meals. The common room was closed and locked during portions of the day, so if someone (like me) opted not to go on an excursion, there was not any access to drinking water since the dispenser was inside. Additionally, internet access was turned on and off intermittently.

The staff was working on some handrails on the main outdoor walkway, but the one to our room was completely missing, which was dangerous, particularly when we were returning to our cabin after dark and there was a meter to a meter-and-a-half drop from the walkway to the ground. The hand-towel rack was falling off the bathroom wall, making it completely unusable, with shower shelf fasteners pulling out of the walls and quicky heading towards the same fate as the towel rack.

The lodge does not accept cash, and their credit card reader had difficulty connecting to their very spotty internet.

We gave the room key to the front desk at “check-out”, but they called our driver to the Manaus airport to ask if we had taken it.

Tupana Lodge Excursions
Schedules were not announced by guides. The “motorized canoe” described in the kimkim material was actually an aluminum fishing boat.

We were not informed that the evening hike into the forest was going to take 5 hours (including dinner). I abandoned the hike after 25 minutes and returned to the lodge, but the lobby was locked, so I had to search for a staff member to let me into our cabin.

We didn't learn that the Wednesday morning boat trip included fishing until we got on the boat, and we both hate fishing. We made the best of it by just reading books on our phones. When no one caught any fish, the guide was trying to find some facts to tell us about the Amazon River, pointing out the "great insight" (sarcasm intended) that water in the sun was warmer than water in the shade.

Communication from Leonardo, the Amazon guide, was lacking. Often, there was often no information provided on what we would be doing the next day, with only his comment that "I'll tell you at breakfast." When I asked what an afternoon activity was going to be, he answered that we were rowing canoes. I explained that I have a shoulder problem, and he dismissed my concern. I asked what we were going to see, and his response was "trees." Again, I opted out of the excursion. During excursions, Leonardo was often conversing with a local guide or boat operator without explaining what he was doing or trying to achieve. We guests often felt like an afterthought.

The 5:30 am boat trip was re-scheduled for our last day, when we had a long travel day ahead of us. My husband, Brad, did the tour, but I again opted out. Brad reported that there were no animal sightings and that the excursion was a waste of time. He also noted that there were only a few people on the excursion, indicating a lack of interest or poor planning in the types of activities offered by the Tupana Lodge.

The excursions were uninspired and repetitive, so I ended up skipping most of them. Consequently, for me, four days at the Tupana Lodge was way too long.

The lodge portion of the trip was a waste of time for me. Frankly, I hated being there.

Transportation
On a positive note, all the car services were on time and reliable.

Overall
Based on the low quality of this trip, we are unlikely to use kimkim’s services again.

Hotel Reviews

Amazon Tupana Lodge

Manaus

The Tupana Lodge was very rudimentary, with the wood cabins having gaps in the floor, tiny bathrooms with no hot water, and only a single fan to combat the high heat and humidity. There was no “check-in” process so we were left unaware of how things worked, what services or activities were available to us or the timing of meals. The common room was closed and locked during portions of the day, so if someone (like me) opted not to go on an excursion, there was not any access to drinking water since the dispenser was inside. Additionally, internet access was turned on and off intermittently. The staff was working on some handrails on the main outdoor walkway, but the one to our room was completely missing, which was dangerous, particularly when we were returning to our cabin after dark and there was a meter to a meter-and-a-half drop from the walkway to the ground. The hand-towel rack was falling off the bathroom wall, making it completely unusable, with shower shelf fasteners pulling out of the walls and quicky heading towards the same fate as the towel rack.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Intercity Manaus

Manaus

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windsor Excelsior Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

While the Windsor Excelsior has an excellent location on Copacabana Beach and the staff is quite professional and welcoming, the rooms are outdated and not well-maintained, with chips and wear-marks on the floor and the furniture. The thermostats did not work, so one’s choice was very, very cold or no air conditioning at all. The sheets on the beds really didn’t fit the mattress, and the blanket was so small that it was difficult for two people to share. The bathroom was tiny. We had to call maintenance to repair a flickering light in the room we had at the end of the trip. The walls were so thin that we could hear conversation from the room next to us. Internet coverage was spotty and quite slow. On our check-out date (August 10), the hotel had a plumbing problem so that the water pressure was very low, and we didn’t have hot water at all, which was a problem since we wanted to shower before our evening flight from Rio to Miami.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Last Day Jungle

The Amazon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazon Jungle day 3

The Amazon

We had already decided that we were not going to camp overnight, but we were not informed that the hike into the jungle would take 5 hours, including dinner. I abandoned the hike after 25 minutes and went back to the lodge.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazon Jungle day 2

The Amazon

We didn't learn that the Wednesday morning boat trip included fishing until we got on the boat, and we both hate fishing. We made the best of it by just reading books on our phones. When no one caught any fish, the guide was trying to find some facts to tell us about the Amazon River, pointing out the "great insight" (sarcasm intended) that water in the sun was warmer than water in the shade.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ed in Iguacu and Marcelo in Rio were both very knowledgeable and helpful.

Hotel Reviews

Miramar Hotel by Windsor

Rio de Janeiro

Not luxurious, but very comfortable. Right on Copocabana beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Foz do Iguaçu

Clearly the best place to stay

Authenticity & Character

Been there a long time

Location

Staff

Quick response

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Just went for a walk

Cooking Class in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Worth the time.

Bird Park - Parque das Aves

Foz do Iguaçu

Sugarloaf Mountain & Old Town Tour

Rio de Janeiro

Samba Class

Rio de Janeiro

Don’t know that i learned anything.

Half day Tour in Rio 6h

Rio de Janeiro

A visit to Foz de Iguacu Falls - Brazilian Side

Foz do Iguaçu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit to the Argentine side

Foz do Iguaçu

Don’t miss it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We loved this trip!! I think looking back my only change would be to reduce the number of in-country flights because they eat up too much of the vacation time - flights get in very late and then ruin the next morning. If I do a trip like this again, I would spend more time at each place and see less places overall, but I know some people really like a busy itinerary (I don't).

We loved everything about this trip - it was our first time hang-gliding (in Rio), our first time on a helicopter (over Iguazu Falls), and of course our first time in Brazil. So many memories we made, from walking along Copacabana Beach to being rained on for two days straight around Iguazu Falls to swimming with a pink dolphin at Tupana Lodge in the Amazon to eating the (gross) piranha that we caught there for dinner to listening to the great local music on Ilha Grande and waking up to the kiskadees with their characteristic loud song. We saw amazing animals and met amazing people, and it was an overall AMAZING trip!!!!

Federico was excellent and very accommodating. He delivered a first-class trip itinerary and experience for our family trip to Brazil. I recommend him to anyone wishing to organize a Brazilian holiday. Mike

Hotel Reviews

Boutique Hotel Carpe Diem

Paraty

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windsor California Copacabana Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Great location, service and accommodations at a reasonable price

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Green Paraty PRIVATE tour: waterfalls, forest and distillery'

Paraty

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer from Rio to Paraty with stop in Angra for PRIVATE boat tour '

Brazil

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Teresa & Rio Antigo'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio de Janeiro – Boteco: A Journey Through Carioca Flavors'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio in a Day: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps and More'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All our guides were wonderful. They all spoke fluid english, especially the Guide from Iguacu, Salvador and the Amazon, Antonio at the Amazon was fantastic.
Rachel did an amazing itinerary for us.
She tried to send me on Whats Up the detail itinerary and to my email, but for some reason, it just didn’t go through, but she responded immediately with the details each morning.
Rachel did an outstanding job for us in every other way and we are very much appreciative of her expertise and recommendations.

Smooth operators!
Camille Terra did an excellent job coordinating everything possible, our guide in Rio, Sergio Weinman did an outstanding job. Highly recommended!

The coordination of everything was so efficient. I really appreciated the booking of my in country flights.
RIO
The city highlights tour was very good. Sugarloaf Mountain was absolutely beautiful!
Buzios boat and beach trip. - This was the one big disappointment. The description leads you believe you will go onto several beaches when in reality you just boat to a view of the different beaches and swim. Also, the 3 hour bus ride after the full hour of picking people up all around town, was just too much. Lastly the lunch was the poorest meal I had on the trip. I would not recommend this trip. If one wants to see Buzios, I would recommend staying there for a few days to enjoy the beautiful beaches. It is just too much time on a bus.
The cooking class with Chef Simone Almeida was the highlight of my time in Rio. She is such a firecracker! I thoroughly enjoyed her stories and loved all the cooking tips I gained from her. I cannot recommend this highly enough! Obrigada, Simone!
My Rio guide Christiano Gentil was organized and very helpful.
The Martinique Copacabana was nice. The staff was very kind.
SALVADOR
Both tours on this trip - the town history, and the trip outside the city, were great! I loved the market in Santa Amaro! I would recommend having some Brazilian money so that you can buy some fruit to try. As a foodie, the market blew my mind! The lunch at the farm was very good and it was beautiful to be in such a peaceful place. The only I can say is that the description of this day says that we would meet locals from the Quilomblas community, which did not happen. I thoroughly enjoyed all that we did, but was a bit disappointed not to meet anyone from the Quilombolas community and hear of their stories.
My local guide, I’m sorry that I have forgotten his name and can’t find him in my contacts, was wonderful! He had so much knowledge of the area. I really enjoyed him. He also recommended a meal at Casa Teresa, which was by far the best meal I had in Brazil. Highly recommend the Moquecas!
The Mercure Hotel Rio Velmeho was very nice.
IGUAÇU
Met every expectation! I have been wanting to see the falls for at least 30 years. Was not disappointed.
The Hotel Via Cataratas was ok. Food was only buffet style. Bar food was pretty much just fried. Pool was beautiful. The Internet was awful. Didn’t work in the restaurant.
My local guide, Francisco, was beyond the pale!! We bonded over Italian ancestry, he was kind, gracious, and very knowledgeable. I was so spoiled by his tours. He even added a last day tour of the dam for me. And at the very end, walked me from the check in desk at the airport to the boarding area.
I learned some things on this trip and really enjoyed the kimkim specialist’s help. I have booked another trip with kimkim in August.
Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Viale Cataratas

Foz do Iguaçu

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I appreciated that they were training young people.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Salvador Rio Vermelho Hotel

Salvador

Staff were kind and helpful. Pool was wonderful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windsor Martinique Copacabana

Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

Staff was exceptional. Location was great. A bit noisy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cooking and Tasting Rio 🌴🍴✨

Rio de Janeiro

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!

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything about the experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Foz do Iguaçu: FD Argentinean Falls Excursion

Foz do Iguaçu

Met all expectations. Guide was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Parque Das Aves 🐦

Foz do Iguaçu

Lovely experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I

A visit to Foz de Iguacu Falls - Brazilian Side

Foz do Iguaçu

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide Francisco was stellar!!!

Transport

Guide Francisco was absolutely stellar!!

FD Flavors of the Recôncavo with lunch🥣

Salvador

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Salvador de Bahía: HD Historical Tour

Salvador

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Buzios Tour & Lunch

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Better info in the description of the adventure

Food

Buffet was sub par

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Was told that English was spoken by the driver, but his English was about as prolific as my Portuguese. While it is my bad to not know Portuguese, it should not be advertised as English available when it is not

Transport

Rio de Janeiro: FD Corcovado and Sugar Loaf Excursion

Rio de Janeiro

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Roxy dinner show ✨

Rio de Janeiro

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were in Brazil for a wedding and Federico helped us plan our post wedding trip to Iguacu Falls and then to Rio de Janiero. Our guide, Flavio, in Iguacu falls was terrific. He knew all the birds and plants and had good restaurant recommendations .

We arrived in Rio De Janiero and I was going back and forth with Federico about decompressing our trip since it was very busy. While he was flexible in the end we decided to continue as planned. Our guide, Alberto, was terrific. Really informative above and beyond as well as being mindful of the fact that we were 5 people of different levels of fitness.
During the trip all of our guides and drivers were where they were supposed to be and moving around was seamless. I think it was the right itinerary for the time allowed and our interests. If we go back to Brazil I would add a few things to our Rio trip but I think I would spend more time in nature. All told the trip was well planned and we felt well supported by the team on the ground . Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Windsor California Copacabana Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

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

Authenticity & Character

It is a tourist hotel. It is an authentic Rio experience for a tourist.

Location

Easy to the beach and other sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are clean and the bed is comfortable if a bit firm. Shower is excellent

Nadai Confort Hotel

Foz do Iguacu

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

Authenticity & Character

It is what it is and it was fine

Location

It was easy to get around

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rio Green Tour: Into the Tropical Urban Forest and Among the Imperial Palms'

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Day visit to Royal Petropolis'

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Rio in a Day: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps and More'

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Food

I felt like I was eating like a local sort of which was fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I thought Alberto was really interesting and clearly loves showing off his city

Transport

It was a comfortable car and I am really glad I didn't ever have to drive :)

Santa Teresa & Rio Antigo'

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roger was interesting even though I wasn't that interested in what I was seeing ( the churches) . This is on me, not him

Transport

It was comfortable

Full-Day Argentinian Side of the Falls

Foz do Iguaçu

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.

Quality of Experience

We were fortunate to turn a corner and get very close to a group of vultures just off the trail.

Food

The buffet at the Falls was particularly good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flavio was really knowledgeable and really had a love for showing people the Falls and the bird park

Transport

The mini bus was very comfortable.

Half-Day Tour – Brazilian Side of the Iguaçu Falls + Bird Park (Parque das Aves)'

Foz do Iguaçu

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.

Quality of Experience

I thought it was interesting that it is a privately owned bird sanctuary. It made me appreciate it even more.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flavio was really knowledgeable and his love for the Park was obvious

Transport

The passenger van was comfortable

We had a wonderful time in Brazil. Booking with Bruno via Kimkim was very easy. We provided a couple rounds of feedback on the itinerary until it was how we wanted. The trip itself went pretty seamlessly except for a couple of minor issues (our driver was in the wrong place at the airport, some of the group activities were a little disorganized). But overall we loved Brazil and we had a fantastic diversity of experiences - cities, rural areas, islands, hands-on activities, and free time. It's such a beautiful country and we can't wait to go back.

Hotel Reviews

Miramar Hotel by Windsor

Rio de Janeiro

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

Authenticity & Character

Not a lot of "character" as it's a high rise tourist hotel, but we didn't mind

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada Naturália

Angra dos Reis

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful setting but a long walk from town, including up a steep hill

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ants in the bathroom and smoking allowed on balconies

Sandi Hotel

Paraty

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Laghetto Stilo São Paulo

Sao Paulo

Very comfortable, good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Not a ton of "character" - it's a business hotel - but it's very nice

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Samba Class

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sugarloaf Mountain & Old Town Tour

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Tour in Rio 6h

Rio de Janeiro

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!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Class started very late because of miscommunication/delays and I didn't get to stay till the end

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half island tour by speedboat to Ilha Grande from Vila do Abraão

Ilha Grande - Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waterfalls and Cachaça Distilleries - Landmark of the Gold Trail 4×4 Jeep tour

Paraty

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour Paraty

Paraty

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Tour São Paulo

São Paulo

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was fine but the van was too large for our group and had a row of seats across the front blocking the view so we had a hard time seeing out the front window.

We had an incredible experience working with Camille to plan our trip to Brazil. From start to finish, everything was seamless and stress-free. She was amazing to work with; responsive, thoughtful, and truly dedicated to making our trip unforgettable. Camille helped us craft an itinerary that perfectly matched what we were looking for during our first trip to Brazil. Thanks to her expertise, we were able to explore so many unique regions, including Rio, Paraty, and the Pantanal.

The Pantanal, in particular, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seeing such an incredible variety of wildlife in their natural habitat, including jaguars in the wild, was something our family will never forget.

We would highly recommend Camille to anyone looking to plan a trip. We loved our experience so much that we’re already planning to return to Brazil again in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Pousada do Ouro

Paraty

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada Caiman

Miranda

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miramar Hotel by Windsor

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Days in Pantanal - Caiman Lodge

South Pantanal

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.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Corcovado & Christ the Redeemer Tour

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Favela República Experience

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bruno was incredible in planning this trip and helping me along the way. Honestly, he went above and beyond for me. He checked me in for all my flights, when I couldn't access wifi. My trip ended up being a solo trip and Bruno accommodated everything. The destinations chosen were superb, the airport transports were seamless, and the experience was incredible. I had the best guides on every part of the adventure, and they were so kind and offered excellent advice and were so very knowledgeable about the country. I just cant say enough about Bruno and the entire Kim Kim team.....
I was so nervous to make a payment to a company without speaking to anyone, but Bruno offered me security and many options to ease my fears. I have already planned my next adventure with KimKim..... I would highly recommend Bruno and Kim Kim for any trip planning. I will never forget this trip. It has truly been a hight light of my travelling adventures, and I have travelled all around the world.

Hotel Reviews

Vivaz Cataratas Hotel Resort

Foz do Iguaçu

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

Authenticity & Character

Very kid friendly. The laughter of the children was magical

Location

close to everything

Staff

Carried all my luggage to my room and set it up

Cleanliness & Comfort

I would highly recommend this hotel, especially if you have children. It was so much fun for the kids, and the adults alike

Pousada Aguapé

Aquidauana

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

Authenticity & Character

The activities, and the staff

Location

The animals and birds

Staff

Everyone was so sweet, and so accommodating to individual needs. If I wanted to sleep in, then they came later in the day to make up the room

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bahamas Suíte Hotel

Campo Grande

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

Authenticity & Character

Air Conditioning. Staff should turn on the AC before guest arrive

Location

close to a wonderful supermarket for last minute essentials

Staff

Front desk helped me set up facial recognition to allow entry to the building after hours

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazon Tupana Lodge

Manaus

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

Authenticity & Character

Truly a one of a kind experience

Location

The Amazon, what more can you say

Staff

Very attentive to each and every guests likes and dislikes

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Adrianópolis All Suites

Street Salvador, 195

Fabulous bed, and fabulous air conditioning

Authenticity & Character

I would have loved to stay longer here.

Location

Great location for an overnight to leave early in the morning

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds

Miramar Hotel by Windsor

Rio de Janeiro

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

Authenticity & Character

It was in a very safe area and offered upscale eating options

Location

Staff

Very helpful about local activities

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were comfortable and quiet, even tho it was in the heart of Coppocbanna

Activity Reviews

Macuco Safari

Foz do Iguaçu

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Foz de Iguacu Falls / Brazilian Side

Foz do Iguaçu

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jeep Tour Favela

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

I would like to have seen more of the Favela

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sugarloaf Mountain & Old Town Tour

Rio de Janeiro

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and very knowledgeable

Transport

Half day Tour in Rio 6h

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim did a wonderful job organizing and taking care of everything! Highly recommend and will use again!

Hotel Reviews

Windsor Martinique Copacabana

Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

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,

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada Aguas de Parati

Paraty

Absolute perfection!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience the Rio Carnival from the grandstands of the Sambadrome'

Rio de Janeiro

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Green Paraty PRIVATE tour: waterfalls, forest and distillery'

Paraty

Beautiful destinations, polite guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paraty: Walking Tour'

Paraty

Our guide in Rio was superb. Alberto was informed, conversational, and patient.

My overall experience in Brazil was just okay, largely due to poor planning and communication from our specialist, Federico.

First, he scheduled our departure to Paraty for 7:00 AM the morning after our Sambadrome experience. We had asked about this days in advance and were able to change the departure time to 9:00 AM. However, the itinerary listed the Sambadrome activity as running from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Upon arrival, a man met us and escorted us through to the stands. There was an issue scanning the tickets, but we were eventually able to enter. We later discovered that the person who escorted us was Federico himself. He never introduced himself or asked how our trip was going, despite the fact that we had been communicating with him for nearly a year. This felt very off-putting.

Additionally, after speaking with others, we learned that the parade typically does not end until after 5:00 AM. I do not understand why our transfer out of Rio was originally booked for 7:00 AM when he should have known the true timing of the event. This was never communicated to us. Had we known in advance, we might have chosen a different night to attend the Sambadrome.

On our way to the Sambadrome, the transportation provided was also not private as booked. The van made additional stops to pick up other passengers, causing delays. When we questioned this, we were told the van originally allotted to us had a flat tire. Again, this was not communicated in advance and reflects poor planning and transparency.

The next morning, the KimKim team/Federico also failed to notify the driver that our departure time had been changed to 9:00 AM instead of 7:00 AM. As a result, the driver arrived at 7:00 AM and hotel staff woke us to inform us he was waiting.

To make matters worse, 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.

Furthermore, as we were nearing the pier for our boat tour, the driver asked if we needed to stop at a grocery store because there would be nothing on the boat except ice. Advance notice would have allowed us to plan accordingly. When I mentioned this in the group chat, there was still no response.

Overall, while Brazil itself was wonderful, the repeated breakdowns in planning, communication, and follow-through significantly impacted our experience. I hope this feedback is taken seriously so future travelers receive the level of service and organization that was promised.

Activity Reviews

Experience the Rio Carnival from the grandstands of the Sambadrome'

Rio de Janeiro

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Specialist Federico met us there an never introduced himself

Transport

A private van since we booked a private experience

private transfer from Rio to Paraty with stop in Angra for boat tour

Brazil

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

a private van for 8 people instead of two separate cars

Half Day Favela Tour - Rio de Janeiro'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We rode in motorcycles to the top of the Favela, which was awesome!

Our first trip to Brazil was an adventure we will never forget- we put our trust in Bruno to plan this amazing trip. From the moment we arrived until the end everything was perfectly organized in a safe & fun way. At each step of our journey we were met by local guides (Sol & Luis) who took incredible good care of us. It was our first time planning a trip with KimKim and it won’t be the last. All of our wishes came true.

Hotel Reviews

Pousada Naturália

Angra dos Reis

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

Authenticity & Character

Great buffet breakfast

Location

A bit of a walk with luggage

Staff

Thanks to the staff for helping us carry our luggage

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miramar Hotel by Windsor

Rio de Janeiro

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on Copacabana… walking distance to lots of activities and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazon Premium Lodge

Manaus

Comfortable beds - clean - quiet Just needed an extra blanket

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Villa Amazônia

Manaus

Great boutique hotel downtown Manaus with great beds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

No

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half island tour by speedboat to Ilha Grande from Vila do Abraão

Ilha Grande - Rio de Janeiro

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.

Transport

Boat to and from the mainland to the island is packed and luggage is everywhere

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

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

Quality of Experience

Great to have a guide with you to experience the real thing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazon Premium Lodge 4 days/3 Nights

The Amazon

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sol was a great young dynamic and knowledgeable guide

Transport

Plan for a rough ride getting there … 2 buses & 2 boats which we didn’t know about

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.

Hotel Reviews

Pousada Solar Dos Deuses

Salvador

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazon Tupana Lodge

Manaus

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Carlos, our guide took special pains to let us know what was vegan and what wasn't. He spoke excellent English.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was overall very clean. The bathroom was slimy and we got it cleaned. But the slime came back the next day. The tiles were falling off the bathroom shower. No hot water though. So probably a good idea to take your shower during mid day instead of early morning and/or night.

Hotel Intercity Manaus

Manaus

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We did not get hot water in the early morning for our shower

Viale Tower Hotel

Foz do Iguacu

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windsor Plaza Copacabana

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Excellent location as we were very close to the beaches

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit to the Argentine side

Foz do Iguaçu

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

John was awesome. We loved the 10k walk in the Park

Transport

John made the transportation seamless for us. Crossing the border was very quick as we had tickets for the priority queues

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver José Eduardo was ready and waiting for a while as it took 1.5 hrs. or so for immigration at Rio. The flight was delayed by an hour as well. Jose helped us with our luggage and was extremely courteous.

Amazon Jungle Day 1

The Amazon

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.

Quality of Experience

Food

All the meals at the lodge were awesome and prepared so well. Loved the various vegan options, fruit (pineapple was my favorite). Loved adding farina on top of my rice and beans. The vegetable rice and soy based dish were very delicious. Various pastas were available with lunch and dinner.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone in the lodge - guide and staff were very friendly and helpful. Hats off to Carlos, our wonderful guide.

Transport

Loved the thrill of not knowing what entailed us in the 4 hour ride to the jungle.