Brazilian adventure!
Brazil | Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2023

S
Stephen M.
Washington, DC | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2024

Our Brazilian adventure was amazing! There was a drought in the Amazon that impacted our visit in that it maybe reduced our chances of encountering wildlife but it did not diminish the overall excitement of our experience. Sara was an expert and accommodating specialist (as was her entertaining husband who drove us to our hotel in Rio and greeted us before our final departure). The lodging in the Amazon was great, with decent meals and comfortable (and cool-temperatured!) accommodations. Highlights included piranha fishing, caiman spotting, pink dolphin sighting, a jungle hike and lots of fun boat rides on the river. At the end of our trip, a sumptuous lunch in Manaus and time with a fun local guide left us very contented.
I had high expectations for our time in Rio, and they were exceeded! The hotel near Copacabana was in a perfect location and provided a terrific breakfast. The best part of the trip was spending the day with local guide Albert Cardoso! He expertly led us through the main attractions with the perfect amount of narration and personal descriptions of life in Rio, got us to our exhilarating hang gliding experience, and, after an enjoyable lunch showcasing the best of Brazilian cuisine, showed us other wonderful highlights, sometimes wandering off the beaten path. We finished with an evening ascent to Sugarloaf that was quite a finale. Another very kind guide led us on a hike up Morro Dois Irmaos. A somewhat scary motorbike ride to the starting point and a delicious lunch in a local favela restaurant after our climb made for an adventure that we still reminisce about fondly! I fell in love with Rio and will never forget our trip there. Thank you, Sara, for all you did to assure we had the trip of a lifetime iin your spectacular country!

Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Jan 20, 2024

Bom diaaaa Stephen
reading your review made me cry! thank you very much for this detailed description of your magical moments!
Brazil is a country that touches your heart, isn't it?
I am honored to have contributed to making your stay unforgettable and my greatest reward is seeing my travelers excited and happy with their trip here!
a big hug from warm Rio! and see you on the next adventure.
abraços
Sara