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 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