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active 14 hours ago

Sara Martinel

Hello everyone, fellow travelers! I am Sara, born in Italy. Now I live in Rio de Janeiro, which the Brazilians themselves call the "wonderful city". 
I will be happy to help you organize your vacation in Brazil (a country that is now HOME for me), to make it unforgettable (a guarantee that Brazil gives, being rich in every variety for all tastes).

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in everything related to staying in the Brazilian territory, I organize transfers, accommodation, tours, national flights, all within the Brazilian territory for a 360 degree experience in this wonderful country that has a lot of variety to offer."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I have always been a traveler, after I came of age I started living abroad with university exchanges to study in other European countries, and in other continents to volunteer. I traveled alone and then with my husband, setting foot on almost all continents. 
I love the colorful life of travel, I love to paint tailor-made itineraries, sewn according to the wishes of each of us!"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"A travel experience that I will truly never forget, it is difficult to choose. Each trip gives you emotions that remain forever. 
The most totalizing and profound experience abroad was certainly the period of volunteering in India, where I lived among the last and saw so much poverty, it was enlightening and very emotionally overwhelming. 
however, the country that immediately stole my heart, made me fall in love from the first time, and made me want to go back again, was Brazil! 
the USA and Asia have also fascinated me as travel, but usually I don't want to go back to where I've been before, I think it's a waste of time when the still unknown world is so big to explore. But Brazil for me is never tired and it is never enough!"

Sara is part of the following groups: Brazil Travel Agents
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Recent trip reviews for Sara

Wonderful trip...
Brazil | Jun 15 - Jun 22, 2025

Adriene
Adriene A.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Jul 01, 2025
Wonderful trip! Sara was an excellent communicator and planner and we found the itinerary to be interesting and fun, and I thought the price was fair, especially considering the fact that it included transportation, lodging and meals (*there was a daily budget per meal we did not know about, so ask your guide) across a vast area. We did see many jaguars- which is a thrill with Noor and Pedro Paulo from the UESO chalana. We saw the beautiful rocks and waterfalls of Chapada dos Guimaraes and... Read more

Wonderful trip! Sara was an excellent communicator and planner and we found the itinerary to be interesting and fun, and I thought the price was fair, especially considering the fact that it included transportation, lodging and meals (*there was a daily budget per meal we did not know about, so ask your guide) across a vast area. We did see many jaguars- which is a thrill with Noor and Pedro Paulo from the UESO chalana. We saw the beautiful rocks and waterfalls of Chapada dos Guimaraes and learned about the flora and fauna from our guide, Yann. Yann also introduced us to "pizza pantaneira" which was probably some of my favorite food on the trip. *Pro tip: ask your guide to tell you when you will need your bathing suit- you can swim in some of the waterfalls, but some are only to look at.* It was of course, hot, but that is what was expected. We enjoyed swimming in the beautiful clear streams of Nobres. We did get to see anteaters, lobete (little foxlike animals), bats, rhea, lots of caiman and capybara. We had a good trip. You may want to clarify what to bring and when you are meeting, just to ensure no miscommunications for your trips. The service was good overall and people were kind.

Hotel Reviews
Cantos da Mata
Chapada dos Guimarães

We had a lovely time. Sandra is a very gracious hostess. We enjoyed breakfast and her beautiful garden as well as the coffee tree by our door.

Authenticity & Character
The plants she has chosen to plant on her property are so beautiful.
Location
I liked feeling like we were in the forest. I heard the Howler monkeys in the morning, which I thought was great.
Staff
They were very nice at breakfast. Sandra is very kind. She made us feel welcome and gave us ice when one of our group pulled a muscle on the hike.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Probably would have been a 5/5 if there had only been 2 people, but we squeezed 3 in and it was a little tight (less comfortable.)
Reino Encantado Pousada
Nobres - MT

This place is beautiful. I loved the wooden ceilings and architecture of the main area. We had our first cachaca here. They have burrowing owls everywhere and resident monkeys (variable visibility).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
UeSo Pantanal Lodge

Very nice little lodge with resident blue macaw and capybara family as well as many green parrots. It seems to mainly cater to German speaking tourists, but they did have 2 guides that spoke English. Roxy at reception is very nice. The breakfast is plentiful and the serving staff from the kitchen also seem very pleasant. The wifi works and the price is reasonable. You will have to buy your water/drinks. They offer coffee and juice at breakfast, but not other times. They have tea at times. I bought postcards from them, and it seemed pretty reasonable, but they do not have stamps. The laundry service is good but be careful about humidity and rain. One thing I did not know prior to going is that although the Pantanal is swamp, all the non-water areas seem very dry and dusty. It looked smoggy coming into the Pantanal area because of the dust of the road and other motorists. We enjoyed the activities that were based from there: walking around the area, the lookouts they have built to look into the canopy, the jaguar tour, and paddling. Not high-octane, but doable for multiple ages and ability levels. The horseback riding was a little different from other rides I have done. I was really hoping to see more animals on it because of the decreased threat of being on a horse, but we did not see many.

Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Jul 02, 2025

Good morning Adriene,
thank you so much for your detailed review. Reading your vivid and engaging words, I felt as if I had experienced the journey alongside you. I truly appreciate the trust you placed in me by choosing my organization to plan this adventure.
If you ever wish to explore other areas of Brazil in the future, I’d be delighted to assist you again.
See you soon, and thank you once more for taking the time to write this review.
Sara

Read all Brazil reviews

First Time to Brazil
Brazil | Jun 2 - Jun 17, 2025

B
Benita A.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 01, 2025
Being that this was my first trip to Brazil, I wasn't sure what to expect. But while all the sights were most gorgeous and fascinating, the most overwhelmingly and welcome aspect was the organization and work Sara did in the organization of all the parts, of which there were many. She planned this trip and all its myriad details so that I didn't have to think of anything - except, of course, the time changes. The guides always arrived to pick me up for a tour way before the scheduled... Read more

Being that this was my first trip to Brazil, I wasn't sure what to expect. But while all the sights were most gorgeous and fascinating, the most overwhelmingly and welcome aspect was the organization and work Sara did in the organization of all the parts, of which there were many. She planned this trip and all its myriad details so that I didn't have to think of anything - except, of course, the time changes. The guides always arrived to pick me up for a tour way before the scheduled time. They were always where they needed to be. They were kind, polite, and respectful but most of all knew English! Probably the best moment ever was being just about 10 feet away from a jaguar in the Pantanal. He/she acted as if we weren't even there in the boat following him/her. To this lover of all things feline, it was a most spectacular moment. We saw four different jaguars that day along with capybaras, monkeys, caimans and many, many birds there and on the Rio Negro in the Amazon. While I would definitely advocate for someone who loves to watch wildlife take this tour, I would also advocate their visitation to places like Rio, Salvador and Iguassu Falls. Thank you, Sara and the entire KimKim team for these good memories of the beautiful Brazil country.

Hotel Reviews
Windsor Palace
Rio de Janeiro

Hotel was clean and comfortable with varying degrees of accommodation by hotel staff (mostly good).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A regular hotel, but I thought there should have been bottled water available that didn't cost so much.
UeSo Pantanal Lodge

Needs renovation; rather run down. The air conditioner was located right above the bed and the cold air blew on me all night long and made it hard to sleep. Food was pretty good and always enough to eat. The horses looked a little thin, but it might be because the "grass" doesn't seem to be anything but weeds and they need some more nutritious supplementation.

Authenticity & Character
What is authentic for that part of the world?
Location
I don't know whether it was a worse or better location than anywhere else. I've never been there. It took a while to get there.
Staff
They were very pleasant and caring.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Jaguar full day safari - from Ueso Pantanal
Jaguar full day safari - from Ueso Pantanal
North Pantanal
Day 3 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
Day 3 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon

Somehow, I was being bitten up by bugs; 20-30 bites. They itched like crazy and there was nowhere to buy anything (finally got to a drugstore in Iguassu) I ran out of shampoo and was using soap in the cold shower. We didn't have any hot water which made it a problem because the bugs had somehow made a nest in my suitcase, infecting all the clothes. With no hot water and no way to wash the clothes free of whatever bugs they were and no way to dry the clothes even if I had had the means to wash them, I had to wait until I got home for some relief. While I wore long pants and long-sleeved shirt, they still got onto my skin.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
All the must-sees of Rio in one day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Staircase and city tour
All the must-sees of Rio in one day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Staircase and city tour
Rio de Janeiro
Santa Teresa & Rio Antigo
Santa Teresa & Rio Antigo
Rio de Janeiro
Rio Green Tour: in the tropical urban forest and among imperial palms
Rio Green Tour: in the tropical urban forest and among imperial palms
Rio de Janeiro

Would have liked to spend a little more time there.

First day at the Ueso Pantanal Lodge
First day at the Ueso Pantanal Lodge
North Pantanal
Day 1 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
Day 1 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon
Last day at Ueso Pantanal Lodge
Last day at Ueso Pantanal Lodge
North Pantanal
Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Jul 02, 2025

Good morning dear Benita,
thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a beautiful review. It was an honor for me to organize your trip, and I truly appreciate your trust and preference. I’m very happy to know that you’ll be going home with wonderful memories of this vast and diverse country. I also want to thank you for all the notes and observations you shared about the places you visited.
Thanks again, and I hope to hear from you in the future if you decide to explore other areas of Brazil. Have a safe journey home!
Sara

Read all Brazil reviews

Adventure in the Pantanal
Brazil | Jun 15 - Jun 22, 2025

Dave
Dave W.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 01, 2025
Overall we had a great time. The locations were varied and interesting. The guides and staff were friendly and accommodating, the food was delicious, and we enjoyed the activities and for the see lots of wildlife. It's a trip we'll remember for a long time. 2 areas could use improvement: 1. Managing guests' expectations. Sometimes we weren't informed about things that would have made the experience better, like that we were to spend one night on a houseboat in Porto Jofre. B/c no one told... Read more

Overall we had a great time. The locations were varied and interesting. The guides and staff were friendly and accommodating, the food was delicious, and we enjoyed the activities and for the see lots of wildlife. It's a trip we'll remember for a long time.

2 areas could use improvement: 1. Managing guests' expectations. Sometimes we weren't informed about things that would have made the experience better, like that we were to spend one night on a houseboat in Porto Jofre. B/c no one told us this, including Sara, we didn't pack clothing for the next day, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and medication. Luckily we did ok and the staff helped once they realized the situation. But all we needed was 1 guide to tell us we were going to be spending a night away from the lodge and we would've packed properly. That said, staying overnight in Porto Jofre is a must as you need to be up early to see the animals and it's too far from the lodge.

2. One guide, Yann, needs more guidance in dealing with people. He's knowledgeable in plants and animals and he did a great job helping my partner w/ a bad hip get up and down from a difficult view location and on other trails. But he could've provided more info on what we should expect, how long things take, and difficulty. By not telling us that we could swim at some waterfalls, we neglected to change into bathing suits. On a hike around the lodge, he didn't take opportunities to check in with us to see how we were doing. There was a place about halfway where my partner and another guest with a bad hip could've turned back to the lodge. Instead they ended up continuing too far and struggled to make it back. He also needs to learn to take responsibility for mistakes and apologizing. One night he told 3 of us we'd need to be up the next morning at 4:30 to take a sunrise hike when he meant 5:30. Maybe he got the numbers mixed up in English but 3 of us heard him say 4:30. He refused to acknowledge his error and apologize which made things awkward going forward.
Otherwise great trip.

Hotel Reviews
Cantos da Mata
Chapada dos Guimarães

This is essentially a collection of guest rooms run by a woman named Sandra. It's a fairly convenient location near the town and also the scenic locations in the area. Breakfast is included and was well prepared. The rooms were fine for sleeping. The shower was adjacent to the toilet and required squeegeeing to push the water down the drain and away from the toilet. This place is about 1 km down a washboard road from the main highway so be prepared for a bumpy ride to and from

Authenticity & Character
Location
Near the town and also scenic stops
Staff
The woman who prepared breakfast was very nice and did a good job
Cleanliness & Comfort
Reino Encantado Pousada
Nobres - MT

If you're going to Nobres, this is a cool place mostly b/c of easy access to the Saloda River for snorkeling. Also near the lake where macaws go at sunset. Comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and delicious food, plus lots of animals, like burrowing owls, curaçao, and macaws on the grounds.

Authenticity & Character
You'll def know you're in Brazil
Location
Has easy snorkeling and not far from lake w/ macaws
Staff
Friendly and served good food and drinks
Cleanliness & Comfort
UeSo Pantanal Lodge

UeSo is a nice place to stay in the Pantanal w/ comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and delicious food, plus lots of animals, like macaws, capybara, and caiman, on the grounds. There's also a tower you can hike to to get a bird's eye view of the landscape. But be warned, it's quite far from Porto Jofre on a washboard road where you'll spend at least 1 night on a houseboat to see jaguars, otters, and other animals. The houseboat is also comfortable, though beds are small, and also delicious food. Just be prepared for the long journey there and back.

Authenticity & Character
Well decorated, many animals around the grounds
Location
Far from Porto Jofre but that can't be improved
Staff
Most were great, one guide needs improvement
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Last day at Ueso Pantanal Lodge
Last day at Ueso Pantanal Lodge
North Pantanal

Yann led us on a tour around the lodge before we had to depart for the airport. He did say the hike was 2 km but at the halfway point didn't check in to see how we were doing. This would've been a point where those who were tired could turn back toward the lodge. Instead we kept going and it was too much for some. My partner and I went a bit further but ended up leaving the tour and heading back to the lodge on our own. The ride to the airport in Cuiaba was faster than I thought. Thought it would be 3 hrs, Pedro Paolo made it in 2.

Quality of Experience
Checking in w/ guests halfway through the hike
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide could check in w/ guests halfway through the hike
Transport
Got to airport faster than I thought
day 3 at Ueso Pantanal Lodge
day 3 at Ueso Pantanal Lodge
North Pantanal

I did a hike w/ Nour to the tower while my partner rode a horse. We saw a lot of caiman. In the afternoon we kayaked on the river.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jaguar Full-Day Safari – From UeSo Pantanal
Jaguar Full-Day Safari – From UeSo Pantanal
North Pantanal

This was the best day of the tour. More jaguars including one swimming. A family of giant river otters. A capybara w/ birds in its ears. We felt lucky that we got to see all these animals. Followed by a long drive back to Ueso but Nour did his best to make it go fast

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They're good at spotting animals
Transport
Day 2 at Ueso Pantanal Lodge
Day 2 at Ueso Pantanal Lodge
North Pantanal

We left Ueso for what we thought was a full day excursion but would return that night. Surprise! We ended up spending the night on the houseboat in Porto Jofre. Seeing jaguars was amazing.

Quality of Experience
Jaguars, wildlife along the road
Food
Food on the houseboat was good
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wish they'd told us in advance we were overnighting on the houseboat but they were very nice once they figured out we didn't know about it
Transport
Wildlife along the way. It's a long drive.
First day at the Ueso Pantanal Lodge
First day at the Ueso Pantanal Lodge
North Pantanal

It's a bit of a drive from Nobres. We stopped at a pasteleria for lunch. which was good. One of the pastels had caiman, tastes a little like chicken. We arrived at UeSo right before dinner. Nour greeted us w/ Caipirinhas which is a good way to start the experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Pastels are interesting. Food at Ueso is delicious and there's a lot of variety
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Nobres - tours
Welcome to Nobres - tours
Mato Grosso Norte

Snorkeling in a river is different and cool. The current just takes you along. The lake where people go to watch the sunset is really to see dozens of macaws gather

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wish Yann had told us in advance about macaws, but he was good at positioning binoculars over phone camera lens to take closeup pix
Transport
Discovering the Chapada dos Guimarães full day
Discovering the Chapada dos Guimarães full day
Chapada dos Guimarães

A long hike to a beautiful waterfall we could swim in. The plateau at sunset.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to the Chapada dos Guimarães! First tour
Welcome to the Chapada dos Guimarães! First tour
Chapada dos Guimarães

Chapada dos Guimarães is a small cute town w/ a covered main street w/ restaurants and boutique shops. Outside the town is a scenic plateau where people gather at sunset to gaze down at the valley. There are also trails that lead to waterfalls where you can swim. It's a good intro to this part of Mato Grosso. We enjoyed the variety. It was also our first opportunity for sucos and sorvete.

Quality of Experience
Waterfalls to swim in, nice hikes
Food
Got our first taste of suco, pastel, and sorvete
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yann was informative but wish he'd share more info ahead of time
Transport
Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Jul 03, 2025
Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for your incredibly detailed review – it’s extremely helpful both for us to improve and for future travelers. We really appreciate the time you took to share your feedback. I’m very sorry to hear that the guide assigned to you at the lodge in the Pantanal wasn’t as empathetic and communicative as they should have been. I want to clarify that the organization of the activities included in the lodge package is managed and arranged directly by the lodge itself. This... Read more

Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for your incredibly detailed review – it’s extremely helpful both for us to improve and for future travelers. We really appreciate the time you took to share your feedback.

I’m very sorry to hear that the guide assigned to you at the lodge in the Pantanal wasn’t as empathetic and communicative as they should have been. I want to clarify that the organization of the activities included in the lodge package is managed and arranged directly by the lodge itself. This means that it is the responsibility of the on-site guide to coordinate and align daily activities with the guests, providing all relevant information such as schedules, logistics, and practical advice once the guest has arrived at the lodge.

As a result, it’s not possible for us, as DMC, to know in advance the detailed and final daily schedule-times, because these activities are discussed, agreed upon, and finalized directly between the guide and the guests. Everything related to the activities, accommodation, and so on is handled directly by the lodge.

I’m also very sorry that we weren’t informed by the lodge that they had decided to add – and essentially took the initiative to include – an overnight stay in the Porto Jofre area during your safari. We had been informed it would be a day trip, and as mentioned, any changes or adjustments are managed by the lodge and should be directly communicated and agreed upon with the guests by the guide. In your case, the guide clearly failed to do so, and we thank you for bringing this to our attention.

As soon as we found out now, we immediately informed the lodge that they failed to notify us – as the organizers and purchasers of the package you used – about this change. This was not what had been previously agreed upon for your stay. All the emails exchanged with the lodge prior to your arrival clearly stated that you would be staying at the lodge in the Poconé area only, taking a day trip to Porto Jofre to spot the jaguar round trip from morning to dawn to evening, full day tour that always works for all our customers as a day tour (it has never happened that customers have to sleep in Porto Jofre, the tour is always scheduled with round trip on the same day)

Once again, we’re very sorry the lodge made this change without informing us and you, and that your guide failed to clearly explain what was happening.

Best regards,
Sara

Brazil is such a passionate and vibrant count...
Brazil | Mar 23 - Mar 28, 2025

Kathy
Kathy C.
East Moline, IL | Reviewed on Apr 04, 2025
Brazil is such a passionate and vibrant country. It was too big though for us to figure out how see what we wanted and know how to do it. Enter Sara Martinel. We all worked together closely to answer her questions of what we like to do, time we had available, budget and pace we like to run. Then she did her magic!!! She presented her plan. We did some tweaking and ended with a perfect plan What we couldn’t have done (and Sara could) is find the guides we had. I believe these Best of... Read more

Brazil is such a passionate and vibrant country. It was too big though for us to figure out how see what we wanted and know how to do it. Enter Sara Martinel. We all worked together closely to answer her questions of what we like to do, time we had available, budget and pace we like to run. Then she did her magic!!!

She presented her plan. We did some tweaking and ended with a perfect plan

What we couldn’t have done (and Sara could) is find the guides we had. I believe these Best of the Best are somehow hidden from the general public.

Erika (our Sao Paulo guide) was full of energy and passion. And more information and details (which we love) than our little brains could hold. She zipped us al over the place giving us such a great overview of the city. We dipped into small neighborhoods. We Ate. We laughed. We made a new friend

Then we made it to Rio where we were blessed to meet Alberto. This guy is clearly a local tour guide legend. We were stopped a number of times by other tour guides letting us know how lucky we were to have him. We felt it and we knew it. Alberto just has a humble, easy going way about him and he made the very full day in Rio so enjoyable. Our driver Márcio was awesome too. Fun to chat with. Very principled man. Always taking pics and videos so we could enjoy the moment

I don’t think we could have pulled off such a great trip with amazing guides on our own.

Grateful to Sara and KimKim on curating a lovely Brazilian vacation!!

Kath + Brett

Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Apr 04, 2025

Hi Kath & Brett
thanks to you who chose to entrust your trip to Brazil to KimKim and our local agency!
I hope you want to come back in the future to explore another piece of this vast territory, you are very nice and I was happy to meet you!
see you on the next adventure.
Sara

Read all Brazil reviews

Highly recommend! Trip of a lifetime.
Brazil | Jan 17 - Jan 25, 2025

A
Anita B.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Feb 01, 2025
Highly recommend! We just completed the trip of a lifetime, with the help of our wonderful travel planner Sara! Our itinerary was Bonito-Pantanal-Iguazu-Rio and I cannot say enough about the places we saw and the people who guided us. All of them were so deeply knowledgeable and gracious. We sought out the help because we knew we wanted to travel in the interior of the country and not knowing the language, we were not sure we could manage it on our own. It was the right call. Throughout the... Read more

Highly recommend! We just completed the trip of a lifetime, with the help of our wonderful travel planner Sara! Our itinerary was Bonito-Pantanal-Iguazu-Rio and I cannot say enough about the places we saw and the people who guided us. All of them were so deeply knowledgeable and gracious. We sought out the help because we knew we wanted to travel in the interior of the country and not knowing the language, we were not sure we could manage it on our own. It was the right call. Throughout the trip, Sara was always able to answer questions and provide reassurance.
Bonito: come for the snorkeling, stay for the lovely town. Our guide Gabby was fantastic, teaching us about the conservation efforts in the area and taking care of us like her own family members. She recommended the best restaurants and shopping. Turquesa is wonderful for vegetarians (and probably others as well!), as is Bonito Beer & Pizza. Udu Ceramica is a gem of a place -- if Bonito were our last stop rather than our first, I would have bought much more.
Pantanal: what a special place. Our guide Lillian is a naturalist extraordinaire, spotting birds and teaching us about the flora and fauna of the region. Pousada Aguape provided a unique experience we won't soon forget.
Iguazu: this place dwarfs anything you have ever seen. Our wonderful guide Diego took us past the long lines and right to the falls. You will appreciate not being in a large tour group! Stay at the Belmond (don't let anyone talk you out of it) and walk down to the falls in the evening. It is an unforgettable experience. Then treat yourself to dinner at Restaurant Y. You won't regret it.
Rio: an experienced guide makes all the difference! It was the end of our trip. We didn't want to deal with crowds, and Alberto knew just what to do. He took us to the Selaron steps first so the crowd was truly minimal, and then arranged for us to join a "Carnaval experience" tour, which taught us so much about this event (it's so much more than a parade!).

Activity Reviews
HD tour Brazilian side of the waterfalls + Aves Park
HD tour Brazilian side of the waterfalls + Aves Park
Foz do Iguaçu

Parque des Aves is such a special place. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the Atlantic rainforest.

RIO DA PRATA - SNORKELING WITH LUNCH + BURACO DAS ARARAS
RIO DA PRATA - SNORKELING WITH LUNCH + BURACO DAS ARARAS
Bonito MS

Bonito is a lovely idyllic place! Our guide Gabby was absolutely fantastic, so knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and the conservation efforts in the region. Buraco das Araras is not to be missed and the snorkeling is amazing!

Quality of Experience
Food
more veg options
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable, skilled, patient
Transport
how does the stay package work at Pousada Aguape in the south pantanal
how does the stay package work at Pousada Aguape in the south pantanal
South Pantanal

Beautiful place. Our guide Lillian is an amazing naturalist, so knowledgeable and a wonderful teacher.

Quality of Experience
Food
more veg options
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lillian is amazing.
Transport
FD Argentinian side of the falls
FD Argentinian side of the falls
Foz do Iguaçu

It made such a difference to have a personal guide. Diego knew where to take us so we could get the best views, and also enabled us to avoid crowds to the extent possible.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dinghy trip from the Argentinian side ´Gran Aventura´
Dinghy trip from the Argentinian side ´Gran Aventura´
Foz do Iguaçu

Fantastic! Not to be missed.

All the must-sees of Rio in one day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Staircase and city tour
All the must-sees of Rio in one day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Staircase and city tour
Rio de Janeiro

Our experience was good because our guide tailored it to our needs and preferences on that day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alberto is wonderful -- so knowledgeable about the history of Rio and the people who have made it the city we see today.
Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Feb 09, 2025

Hello Anita
It was a great pleasure for us to organize your trip and be part of it in some way.
I am fascinated by your detailed and enthusiastic review!
Every feedback is important to us and also to the next travelers who will rely on us to visit Brazil..
so thank you very much for taking the time to leave your travel story.
I wish you and your husband a peaceful return to your routine at home.
warm greetings
Sara

Read all Brazil reviews

30th birthday
Brazil | Jan 11 - Jan 17, 2025

Jonette
Jonette I.
Brookhaven, GA | Reviewed on Jan 29, 2025
Sara did an amazing job planning my 30th birthday trip!!! From the beginning to the end she was with my mom and I every step of the way!! I appreciate you curating this trip exactly how we wanted it to be!! My favorite part I would say was the cooking class and going to see Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain that was an amazing experience! Shout out to Hyza from Cooking in Rio you were great!! I also really enjoyed the samba experience, next time I will have to come back for some... Read more

Sara did an amazing job planning my 30th birthday trip!!! From the beginning to the end she was with my mom and I every step of the way!! I appreciate you curating this trip exactly how we wanted it to be!! My favorite part I would say was the cooking class and going to see Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain that was an amazing experience! Shout out to Hyza from Cooking in Rio you were great!! I also really enjoyed the samba experience, next time I will have to come back for some samba classes!! Shout out to all the drivers/ service workers/ maids/ cleaners!! Special shout out to Ismael and Jonathan from the Windsor hotel and Isabella and Kaüo from Pousada do Ouro!!! You guys were awesome and I thank you for all the birthday love. Everyone was so so helpful and kind I appreciate everyone.

Thank you for a memorable 30th birthday!!! I will definitely be back to Rio for Carnival!! My mom and I really enjoyed the trip!!

All the best,
- Jonette

Hotel Reviews
Pousada do Ouro
Paraty

Beautiful colonial hotel!!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Central!!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Windsor Califórnia Copacabana Hotel
Rio de Janeiro

Good hotel!! Ismael and Jonathan were great!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Central on the beach!!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Rio: Little Africa Unveiled: Vibrant Afro-Brazilian Heritage
Rio: Little Africa Unveiled: Vibrant Afro-Brazilian Heritage
Rio de Janeiro

Was okay wish I learned a little more but was interesting

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
All the must-sees of Rio in one day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Staircase and city tour
All the must-sees of Rio in one day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Staircase and city tour
Rio de Janeiro

Must see!!! Get there early!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
All you can eat dinner in the best meat and fish churrascaria in Rio
All you can eat dinner in the best meat and fish churrascaria in Rio
Rio de Janeiro

Wow!!!!! AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING buffet style authentic Brazilian experience what more can I say all you can eat!!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Behind the scenes of the carnival
Behind the scenes of the carnival
Rio de Janeiro
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Recipe Brazilian Cooking Class in Rio de Janeiro
Recipe Brazilian Cooking Class in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro

Hyza was excellent!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Jan 31, 2025
Dear Jonette the story of your trip sounds like an indelible memory that you and your mother will always carry in your hearts! the human warmth of the Brazilians and their hospitality warms the heart, isn't it? I'm sure that for both of you, your thirtieth birthday was a very emotional event and having lived it together in such a special way excites me both as a mother and as a daughter... thank you for choosing to travel with KimKim. If you want to return to Brazil I will be happy to... Read more

Dear Jonette

the story of your trip sounds like an indelible memory that you and your mother will always carry in your hearts! the human warmth of the Brazilians and their hospitality warms the heart, isn't it?

I'm sure that for both of you, your thirtieth birthday was a very emotional event and having lived it together in such a special way excites me both as a mother and as a daughter... thank you for choosing to travel with KimKim.

If you want to return to Brazil I will be happy to follow your next trip (there is still an immense vastness of things to discover in the enormous country of Brazil.)

abraços
Sara & Team

Read all Brazil reviews

Amazing trip to such a gorgeous country.
Brazil | Nov 20 - Nov 30, 2024

R
Renee P.
Brea, CA | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2025
Amazing trip to such a gorgeous country. I cannot say enough about how wonderful our entire trip was. We traveled with a 5 year old, 10 year old and 14 year old. Frpm the moment our flight arrived into Brazil, we were greated at the airport with friendly staff who made us feel safe and comfortable. We traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Foz, Manaus and the Amazon Rainforest. Sara was amazing at customizing an once in a lifetime vacation for my family that allowed us to see the most amazing sites... Read more

Amazing trip to such a gorgeous country. I cannot say enough about how wonderful our entire trip was. We traveled with a 5 year old, 10 year old and 14 year old. Frpm the moment our flight arrived into Brazil, we were greated at the airport with friendly staff who made us feel safe and comfortable. We traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Foz, Manaus and the Amazon Rainforest. Sara was amazing at customizing an once in a lifetime vacation for my family that allowed us to see the most amazing sites of Brazil from Christ the Redeemer to the Iguazu Falls and topped off by a unique stay at a 5 star ecolodge lodge in the Amazon Rainforest. I greatly appreciate how Sara was able to customize our travel requests so that we were able to accomplish all the activites that our hearts desired. She worked hard to coordinate and customize our hotel requests and made sure our travel was as seamless as possible. Our tour guides spoke English and were very patient with our whole family . Jess was such a sweet, caring and flexible tour guide. My children greatly enjoyed her througout the tour and we loved listening to her own music. In the Amazon, Nelson was such an amazing guide, he made sure we all were able to see and experience the wonders of the beautiful Amazon rainforest from hiking and learning about the wonders of the forest to piranha fishing and to caimen spotting and petting. I cannot say enough amazing things about how much we appreiate your travel team. We had a large gap in the ages of our children and a ton of dietary restrictions (Celiac (gluten free), Tree Nut allergy, a vegetarian and two meat-eaters) and our trip from the start to the end was perfect. My daughter even found two fully Gluten Free restaurants in Brazil that are her new favorites.

Thank you Kim Kim travel for such an amazing adventure....till next time

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Intercity Manaus
Manaus

Our stay at Hotel Intercity Manaus was comfortable. Initially, we were again given two rooms on different floors, but they quickly adjusted it for us. The early morning arrival and short stay before heading to the Amazon were not ideal, but the staff managed to accommodate us nicely, considering our needs.

Wyndham Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguacu

We stayed at the Wyndham Foz do Iguaçu and had a bit of a challenge with room arrangements. As a family of five, we had to book two rooms, but they initially placed us on different floors, which was concerning given our young children. After some negotiation, we managed to get rooms on the same floor. The hotel itself was decent, but the room arrangement issue and the initial reluctance from the front desk were a bit of a hassle.

Juma Amazon Lodge
Autazes

What a beautiful and unique eco-lodge. Nestled in the Rainforest, this place is just gorgeous. The rooms were well maintained, the food was impecable and the staff was amazing and respectful. The lodge was clean and comfortable. The chef and team was able to navigate my families very specific dietary restrictions, which I cannot commend enough. My 10 year old daugther has celiac disease (gluten free). My 14 year old son has a tree nut allergy. I am a vegetarian. My 5 year old and husband eat meat. That being said, the chef was able to make food for every meal that kept everyone asking for more. Nelson was our guide for our stay and was such a joy to be around. He was helpful, informative and very patient with my 3 children. I loved this lodge and willl recommend it to everyone.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Nelson was our guide for our stay and was such a joy to be around. He was helpful, informative and very patient with my 3 children. Hayasoun and Neslon were so helpful on the canoe. I am grateful they kept us safe on our hikes and time in the water.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Jan 04, 2025

bom diaaaa ... awesome! thank you family for the preference!
I am sure that this holiday will remain forever in the hearts of each of you ... this is the most precious thing.
warm greetings
Sara and Team

City Beach Waterfalls and Rainforest
Brazil | Nov 15 - Nov 23, 2024

Tarsem
Tarsem B.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Dec 02, 2024
This is one of the best adventure holidays I've ever been on, we were celebrating 50th, 40th and 25th milestones. We left all the itinerary planning to kim kim, Sara was very informative kept us updated she understood our budget and all the things we'd like to do. Once we handed in Brazil everything went exactly as the itinerary said completely seamless we had Rio de janeiro, Foz Do Iguazu and the Amazon Rainforest on the plan. So had 7 internal flights. All airport transfers were on time... Read more

This is one of the best adventure holidays I've ever been on, we were celebrating 50th, 40th and 25th milestones. We left all the itinerary planning to kim kim, Sara was very informative kept us updated she understood our budget and all the things we'd like to do. Once we handed in Brazil everything went exactly as the itinerary said completely seamless we had Rio de janeiro, Foz Do Iguazu and the Amazon Rainforest on the plan. So had 7 internal flights. All airport transfers were on time and the vehicles provided was enough for the luggage we had. We had 3 tour guides Alberto in Rio, Marcelo in Foz and Fortunato in the Amazon Rainforest. I would give all three 5 star rating as they were very friendly and were very informative.

Hotel Reviews
Windsor Copa Hotel
Rio de Janeiro

This was our favourite hotel of all the hotels we stayed at, Room bathroom and shower was amazing. The breakfast provided in the morning was of very good standard. The staff was attentive.

Authenticity & Character
You can't fault this hotel
Location
Very close to the cocacabana beach
Staff
Very friendly and helpful overall
Cleanliness & Comfort
This hotel provided the best room for 3 persons the shower and bathroom facilities were very good.
Amazon Turtle Lodge

I would say this had the character of what I was expecting in a Rainforest, the room was clean spacious. The toilet and shower facilities let it down. The staff were very friendly for our entire stay.

Authenticity & Character
The character was as expected for a Rainforest resort
Location
It right in the middle of the Rainforest amazing views
Staff
They were very friendly and informative.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The pool area was in need of update and the toilet and shower in our room was poor
Hotel Saint Paul
Manaus - AM

This was our least favourite hotel thankfully we were only there 10hours to sleep. The room wasn't great too crampt for 3 guests. The breakfast was ok.

Authenticity & Character
overall decor
Location
There was no restaurants for food when we arrived
Staff
The night staff was unable to assist us with places to eat
Cleanliness & Comfort
Overall decor
Del Rey Quality Hotel
Foz do Iguaçu

This hotel had better pool and bar facilities than the room itself but it fit our budget. Breakfast was great.

Authenticity & Character
The room and corridor decor needs updating
Location
Close to restaurant and bars
Staff
They were friendly and provided information for the local food and entertainment
Cleanliness & Comfort
The decor in the room and bathroom needs updating
Atlantis Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro

Not a bad hotel to be fair it fit our budget and was very close to the cocacabana beach. Great shower and breakfast was good. The pool facilities could have better needed updating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to the main beach in Rio cococabana
Staff
On the whole they were friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Swimming pool
Activity Reviews
Last day at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
Last day at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon

We did the sunrise tour unfortunately it was too cloudy but it was peaceful and tranquil

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day 2 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
Day 2 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon

We done trekking in the jungle with survival skills loved it. Dolphin watch, Piranha fishing and Alligator watch and actually held one in our hands.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day 1 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
Day 1 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon

This was proper jungle adventure when we arrived after 2 car journeys and 2 boat journeys it was worth waiting for. Great views and amazing staff

Quality of Experience
Food
Food was average but very fresh
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We had fortunate the best guide for this type of trip
Transport
Loved the speed boats
HD tour Brazilian side of the waterfalls + Aves Park
HD tour Brazilian side of the waterfalls + Aves Park
Foz do Iguaçu

The Brazil side of the waterfalls was amazing if I had to choose i would say Argentina side was abit better.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
FD Argentinian side of the falls
FD Argentinian side of the falls
Foz do Iguaçu

You can't put in to words the awesomeness the beauty of this place... it is a bucket list place to visit

Quality of Experience
We
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
our guide marcelo was amazing funny and informative all in one. He there was on time every morning to pick us up.
Transport
The vehicles provided were very adequate for space and reliability
The 3 must-haves: the Christ, Selaron stairs and Sugarloaf Mountain
The 3 must-haves: the Christ, Selaron stairs and Sugarloaf Mountain
Rio de Janeiro

We loved the excursion to the main parts of Rio especially going up to the christ redeemer statue

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We had Alberto he was the best very friendly informative and provided a suitable car for entire day.
Transport
We had our personal car and also skipped the queue access to all the places we visited
Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Dec 02, 2024

hey Tarsem ...
wow, what can I say, your thoughtful comments on every aspect of the program are super helpful to me and the team to know where to improve and to reward ourselves for the work that has been successful!
on behalf of all of us, thank you very much for taking the time to write this review!
I'm so happy that you came home so excited for the extraordinary things you saw!
thanks again for your preference, see you next time!
abraços

Flawless Trip to Brazil
Brazil | Nov 15 - Nov 23, 2024

V
Veeran B.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Nov 30, 2024
I can’t speak highly enough about my experience with KimKim for our trip to Brasil. Sara was fantastic with communicating with us throughout the booking process, she provided a number of different itineraries and tweaked them to our liking and budget. The trip it’s self was stress free and fantastically organised, all guides (Alberto, Rio - Marcelo, Foz - Fortunato, Manaus/Amazon), the fact that we had a 24/7 support contact (Thiago) was very reassuring. I was able to speak with Thiago... Read more

I can’t speak highly enough about my experience with KimKim for our trip to Brasil. Sara was fantastic with communicating with us throughout the booking process, she provided a number of different itineraries and tweaked them to our liking and budget.

The trip it’s self was stress free and fantastically organised, all guides (Alberto, Rio - Marcelo, Foz - Fortunato, Manaus/Amazon), the fact that we had a 24/7 support contact (Thiago) was very reassuring. I was able to speak with Thiago when preparing for our various transfers and he was able to coordinate with our drivers efficiently. The additional experiences/excursions offered to us throughout the trip were also fantastic, truly can’t recommend KimKims services enough!

Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Dec 02, 2024

Hi Veeran
what a great satisfaction to read your words.. I really thank you for leaving this comment about your experience here!
we are truly grateful for your preference, and happy that you are returning home with indelible memories!
We look forward to seeing you next time you want to explore other areas of Brazil!
warm greetings
Sara and the Team

The trip to Brazil more than met our expectat...
Brazil | Oct 18 - Oct 30, 2024

D
Dave S.
Mccormick, SC | Reviewed on Nov 04, 2024
The trip to Brazil more than met our expectations. We had a few glitches from weather and airline delays, but KimKim was great about rescheduling. I cannot remember the names of our guides, but all were great. The Rio guide was able to work around rain and clouds so we eventually got to see the Christ statue and Sugarloaf. The guide at Iguacu Falls was terrific, making sure we got to see everything. We spent four days at Turtle Lodge in the Amazon. This was amazing !! Finally we only... Read more

The trip to Brazil more than met our expectations. We had a few glitches from weather and airline delays, but KimKim was great about rescheduling. I cannot remember the names of our guides, but all were great. The Rio guide was able to work around rain and clouds so we eventually got to see the Christ statue and Sugarloaf. The guide at Iguacu Falls was terrific, making sure we got to see everything. We spent four days at Turtle Lodge in the Amazon. This was amazing !! Finally we only got to spend one afternoon in Salvador because of a flight cancellation, but the guide made sure we got the full experience. We were met at the airports with no problems at all and our hotels were very nice. All in all, a great trip !! I give Sara lots of credit for putting it all together and being able to adjust our schedules as needed. We certainly will be using KimKim for future travels.

Hotel Reviews
Amazon Turtle Lodge

Better than we hoped ! The lodge is several hours from Manaus so we really felt like we were in the Amazon. Our rooms were very nice and meals were terrific. We especially enjoyed all of the local fish. Our guide did a great job of explaining everything we saw.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arena Copacabana Hotel
Rio de Janeiro

Nice hotel in a great location across the street from Copacabana beach.

Authenticity & Character
Location
On the beach
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Nov 06, 2024

Dear Dave and Kris

It was exciting to read your comments about this trip and I thank you for your words!
I am very happy that your experience in Brazil was positive and memorable for you and that it contributed to increasing your desire to travel with KimKim!
Your comments and reviews are essential for us, to always improve and to inspire future travelers who want to explore Brazil!
We are waiting for you for a next adventure..

warm greetings from Rio
Sara