Historic Capitals and the Land of the Jaguar

DAY 1: WELCOME TO RIO DE JANEIRO

Arrival in Rio de Janeiro. Meet and greet at the airport with your guide, followed by a private transfer and check-in at the Hotel Arena Copacabana in a Luxury Sea View Double Room (check-in at 3:00 PM). Briefing on your Carioca stay and customisation of your tours.

Hotel transfer with an Italian-speaking guide

DAY 2: RIO – THE MARVELOUS CITY (Cidade Maravilhosa)

Guided tour of the first metropolis designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its cultural landscape – a masterpiece of nature and human intervention. Highlights include the iconic Christ Redeemer, surrounded by the Tijuca Forest, and Sugarloaf Mountain (Pao de Açucar) with its breathtaking views over Guanabara Bay (Entrance fees not included).

6-hour City tour with an Italian-speaking guide

DAY 3: EXPERIENCE RIO DE JANEIRO

Fee day with our suggestions on how to experience the “Cidade Maravilhosa.” In the evening, we recommend exploring the elegant neighbourhoods of Ipanema and Leblon with their characteristic “butecos” (local bars). For live music, head to Lapa – don’t miss Carioca da Gema or Rio Scenarium.

DAY 4: TRANSFER TO CUIABÁ AND TRANSPANTANEIRA SAFARI

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuiabá. Upon arrival, meet your driver and depart for Porto Jofre. The transfer includes a 140 km off-road safari along the famous Transpantaneira highway. Accommodation in a Standard Room at Pousada Porto Jofre.

Airport transfer with an Italian-speaking guide / Transfer Cuiabá-Porto Jofre (4-6 hours)

DAY 5-6: PANTANAL EXPEDITION

Days dedicated to the Jaguar Boat, featuring river safaris on the Cuiabá River in search of jaguars. Experience the wild nature and rich fauna of the Pantanal, including various species of reptiles, mammals, amphibians, and birds. The activity program also includes night safaris and horseback riding (optional).

DAY 7: OFF-ROAD SAFARI AND TRANSFER TO SALVADOR

Off-road safari transfer along the Transpantaneira back to Cuiabá for your flight to Salvador. Meet your guide at Salvador airport. Transfer and check-in to a Special Room at Hotel Catharina Paraguaçu in Rio Vermelho. This neighbourhood is a local favourite, famous for the “Baianas do Acarajé” – women in traditional dress preparing acarajé, the icon of Afro-Brazilian cuisine.

Transfer Cuiabá-Porto Jofre (4-6 hours) with a Portuguese-speaking driver

DAY 8: SALVADOR – LA ROMA NEGRA

Visit the “cradle” of Brazil, the former capital of the Portuguese colony, where cultural and religious syncretism still permeates the culture of the largest Afro-Brazilian population in the country. The historic part of the city is divided into the Upper City (Cidade Alta) and Lower City (Cidada Baixa). Highlights include the Pelourinho – the most important colonial architectural complex in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage site – and the Lower City with the iconic Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim and Brazil’s oldest market, Feira de São Joaquim.

8-hour city tour with an Italian-speaking guide

DAY 9: EXPERIENCE SALVADOR

Free day with our tips on how to experience the “Black Rome.” On Tuesday evenings in Pelourinho, you can experience the Terça da Benção (Blessing Tuesday), a festival where the sacred and the profane meet. Attend a historic Mass in the first church in Brazil built for enslaved people, which uniquely blends Catholic rites with cultural elements of African tradition. After Mass, take a stroll through the alleys of Pelourinho, brought to life by percussion bands.

DAY 10: RETURN TO ITALY WITH SAUDADE

Airport transfer for your return flight

Airport transfer 4 hours before departure