This holiday offers three distinct Brazilian experiences that will give travelers a taste of what this vast and varied country offers. Because Brazil is so huge, this trip inevitably involves at least one internal flight. We encourage you to use our carbon offsetting service to reduce the carbon footprint left by this trip.

The Journey

This trip begins in Brazil’s “Marvelous City,” Rio de Janeiro, where you’ll stay in a restored 19th century mansion in a neighbourhood full of artistic life bordered by the city’s lush Atlantic rainforest. After three or four days and nights exploring Rio’s sights and nightlife, you’ll head west by plane to Brazil’s famously rich wetland, the Pantanal, where you’ll stay at a working cattle ranch where guides will have you riding horses and spotting the fascinating wildlife. From the Pantanal you’ll fly north and back to the coast, this time in beautiful Bahia, where you’ll relax in your own cabin on an idyllic beach in a top-notch eco resort.

Trip Length

We recommend two weeks for this holiday.

When to Travel

Brazil is hottest in the summer, which is December though to the end of February, but the weather is warmish throughout the year, and in the north it’s hot all year round. It’s best to take this trip from March to October, which is the dry season in the Pantanal, giving you more opportunities to get out and about. Also, if you have time, the dry season will allow you to travel by road to the ranch in the Pantanal in place of a private plane, significantly reducing your carbon footprint. Bahia’s weather is always beautifully warm - or hot as hell, depending on your constitution.

Price

This trip starts from US$4,100 per person (based on two sharing) and includes all accommodation and transfers. It does not include international flights in and out of Rio de Janeiro.

Breakfast is included at Casa 32 in Rio. At Fazenda Barranco Alto, all meals, drinks, guides and activities are included. At Vila Naia three meals a day are included in the rates.

At both Casa 32 and Vila Naia, there is a choice of accommodation. Check their pages for details, and contact us with your preference.

The price is variable depending on the season, and includes three internal flights, from Rio to Campo Grande, then from Campo Grande to Porto Seguro, and finally from Porto Seguro to Rio or Sao Paulo for your flight home. It also includes transfers from the airports to your accommodation in the Pantanal and Bahia, as well as from the airport in Rio to Casa 32.

Check the pages of Fazenda Barranco Alto and Vila Naia under “getting there” to see the range of transfer options, and contact us with your preference, or any questions.

What to Do

...in Rio

One of the world’s great cities, you won’t find trouble amusing yourself here, and if you run out of ideas your gracious hosts at Casa 32 will gladly point you in the right direction. During your three days in Rio, you’ll have time to lie on the beach with the glamorous crowd at Ipanema Posto 9, sip caipirinhas and dine in the chic nightspots of Leblon, dance samba at Lapa’s clubs, explore the amazing botanical gardens and take silly pictures of yourself at the Christ statue.

Your quiet, elegant bolthole is tucked just a quick cab ride away from the tourist action in the artsy neighbourhood of Cosme Velho.

...in the Pantanal

Fazenda Barranco Alto has all you could wish for right there on its sprawling cattle ranch. You’ll share the country-style hospitality of your hosts with no more than a handful of fellow guests while exploring the most wildlife-rich area in all of Brazil. Each day begins with a discussion with your hosts on how to spend the day. The wealth of options includes horseback riding; watching the local gauchos, or cowboys, at work; riding by jeep in search of tapirs, anteaters, and deer; floating down the river to view giant otters; or trekking through the forest and grasslands. You can even opt for hunting feral pig, which might be turned into lunch the next day. Whatever you choose, you can't avoid spotting the abundant and varied wildlife. All tours are accompanied by one of the highly knowledgeable owners, along with Pantanal guides.

...at Corumbau

At Vila Naia, the question is less what to do than how to best enjoy doing next to nothing. This is your chance to relax after wearing yourself in Rio’s nightclubs and exploring the wild wetlands. Just kick back in your hammock, enjoy the fine food and wine, and bathe in the clear blue waters at your doorstep. If you are still hankering for action, though, there’s plenty to see and do. The Mato Grosso reef is close by for snorkelling and diving and there are plenty of hikes and boat trips to get you communing with nature. Diving, snorkelling, canoeing, walking and boating are all activities easily enjoyed at Vila Naia and in its environs, while local villages offer an insight into Bahia’s rich cultural mix. Whether you want to head out on adventures, ramble about the resort’s extensive grounds or simply lie in the hammock or enjoy a poolside massage, there’s plenty to enjoy.

...in Corrientes

Here you’ll be treated to the excellent hospitality of Leslie and Valeria Cook, an Anglo-Argentina family that has turned this former cattle ranch into a nature reserve. You can wander about the excellent, well-established garden and explore further afield on horseback to spot species: the alligator-like carpinchos, the elusive maned wolf and several rare species of bird. You can also enjoy fly-fishing, a spot of farm work with the local gauchos, guided walks on the reserve and canoe trips on the nearby waterways. Just like Los Potreros, Rincón del Socorro offers a special treat to riders and horse lovers, or those who’d like to give it a try, with an excellent stable of healthy, well-behaved animals to get to know.

How to Travel

This trip will see you travel by plane, car and boat.

The Route

Day 1: Rio De Janeiro

You’ll fly into Rio de Janeiro where a pre-arranged transfer will take you to your hotel, Casa 32. You’ll stay here for four nights.

Day 5: Fly to Pantana

You’ll head west to the Pantanal by getting on an early flight from Rio to Campo Grande, where you’ll either take a car transfer to the cattle ranch, Fazenda Barranco Alto (6 hours) or a flight in a private plane. You’ll stay at the Fazenda for four nights.

Day 10: Fly to Porto Seguro

You’ll head back to Campo Grande and fly to Porto Seguro on the beautiful Bahian coast, where you’ll take a transfer – either by boat and vehicle or just overland – to your cabin on the beach at Vila Naia, Corumbau. You’ll stay here for up to 6 nights.

Day 14: Fly Home via Rio

You’ll head back to Porto Seguro before heading to Rio to meet your flight home. If you need to stay overnight in Rio to meet your plane, you’ll head back to Casa 32.