Overview
This week-long journey to Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls is perfect for the traveler who only has a limited amount of time to spend in Brazil. Enjoy privately guided tours of Sugar Loaf Mountain with a visit to the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, and savor a taste of Brazil’s multicultural heritage at a samba show. Take a day trip to view the historical relics of Petropolis and relax on a boat ride in the Sepetiba Bay. You also have plenty of opportunities to enjoy Rio’s beautiful beaches and sample the local specialties. Board your flight to Foz do Iguaçu and get an up-close view of these spectacular waterfalls during a nature hike. Discover the wildlife of the nearby Iguazu Falls National Park on a Macuco Safari before your journey comes to an end.
Itinerary
Your Itinerary

RIO DE JANEIRO
You are met upon arrival at the airport in Rio de Janeiro and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure as you rest and re-energize from your long flight, and prepare for the exciting adventure that lies ahead.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Depart the hotel this morning after breakfast for a full-day privately guided tour of the city’s most famous landmarks. After a scenic drive along Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, arrive at the bottom of Corcovado Hill in the Tijuca Forest and board a comfortable train which will climb the mountain where the statue of Christ the Redeemer is located (2,300 ft above sea level).
The statue is known as the “wonder of Rio” and was recently elected one of the seven winners of the “New Wonders of the World”.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Enjoy breakfast and spend your day at leisure, relaxing at the hotel or exploring the vibrant city of Rio. Tonight, you are treated to a spectacular Samba show with singers and dancers in elaborate costumes who present Brazil’s rich folkloric traditions and capture the famous rhythms of Carnaval. The show also includes dinner. Return to the hotel and get a good night’s sleep as you dream about what exciting adventures await in the days to come. (B, D)

RIO DE JANEIRO
This morning after breakfast, you are picked up from the hotel and driven to Petropolis, located just one hour from Rio de Janeiro in the forested hills of the Serra dos Orgaos.
Your first stop is the Imperial Museum, which served as the summer residence of the Imperial family during the 19th century. You may view various historical pieces such as the scepter and crown of Emperor Don Pedro II, historical documents, and priceless jewelry and pieces of art that belonged to the Imperial family. The tour also includes a visit to the Crystal Palace and the Sao Pedro de Alcantara Neolithic Cathedral.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Your full-day tropical islands tour begins with a drive along the Santos River Highway, with its sinewy contours that span the distance between the Atlantic Forest and the Atlantic Ocean. Arrive at the city of Itacuruca, 96 km from Rio de Janeiro, and take a relaxing boat ride along the calm waters which are protected from the open sea by a sandbar of the Marambaia Restinga and form the Sepetiba Bay.
The Sepetiba Bay is home to dozens of islands which are true tropical paradises and possess various inlets, beaches, restingas and flagstones covered with dense vegetation.

FOZ DO IGUAçU
Check out of the hotel this morning after breakfast and board your scheduled flight to Iguazu Falls. You are met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Spend some time at leisure this afternoon before you are taken to dinner at an international restaurant. Following the meal, you are treated to a musical performance that mixes Broadway with traditional folklore of the region. This theatrical performance showcases various traditional dances of Argentina (Tango, Bloeaderas, Malambo, Milonga), Brazil (Samba, Chorinho, Bossa Nova), and Paraguay (Harpa, Botellas, Guaranias). Return to your hotel after the show. (B, D)

FOZ DO IGUAçU & IGUAZU FALLS
This morning, proceed to the Iguazu National Park, driving through the lush, subtropical vegetation of the park en route to the famous Iguazu Falls. The Iguazu National Park along with its “sister” park in Argentina form the most significant remaining rainforest in the southern cone of South America which along with the waterfalls have been declared a National Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Stroll along the trail descending the canyon that offers a panoramic view of the more than 240 spectacular falls. Take the glass elevator up the cliff face for an exquisite view from the upper deck.
FOZ DO IGUAçU
Transfer to the airport this morning after breakfast and board your departure flight home. (B)
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Terms & Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions & Tips
Exotic Brazil is an 8-day, 7-night journey: five nights in Rio de Janeiro followed by two nights at Iguazu Falls. It is designed for travellers who have only a limited amount of time in Brazil but want to see its two most famous highlights.
Day 1 is arrival in Rio, day 2 a full-day tour of Corcovado and Sugar Loaf, day 3 a free day with an evening samba show, day 4 a morning in Petropolis, and day 5 a boat trip in Sepetiba Bay. On day 6 you fly to Iguazu for a dinner and folklore show, day 7 explores the falls and a Macuco Safari, and day 8 is departure.
Day 2 is a full-day privately guided tour. After a drive along Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, a train climbs through the Tijuca Forest to the statue of Christ the Redeemer, about 2,300 feet above sea level, with panoramic views of Rio. The day also includes Sugar Loaf Mountain.
On the evening of day 3 you attend a samba show where singers and dancers in elaborate costumes present Brazil's folkloric traditions and the famous rhythms of Carnaval. Dinner is included with the show, and the rest of the day is free to relax or explore Rio.
Petropolis, the imperial city of Brazil, lies about an hour from Rio in the forested hills of the Serra dos Orgaos. The day 4 tour visits the Imperial Museum, the former summer residence of the imperial family with the crown and sceptre of Emperor Pedro II, plus the Crystal Palace and the Cathedral of Sao Pedro de Alcantara, returning before lunch.
On day 5 you drive to Itacuruca, about 96 km from Rio, for a relaxing boat ride on Sepetiba Bay, whose calm waters are sheltered from the open sea by the Marambaia sandbar. The bay has dozens of tropical islands, and the trip stops for lunch and for swimming and snorkelling by one of them.
On day 6 you fly from Rio to Iguazu, are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After some free time, you are taken to dinner at an international restaurant followed by a theatrical show featuring traditional dances of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, such as tango, samba and bossa nova.
On day 7 you drive through the Iguazu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the falls. A trail descends the canyon with panoramic views of more than 240 falls, and a glass elevator takes you up the cliff face to an upper viewing deck.
The Macuco Safari is an excursion inside Iguazu National Park on the Brazilian side, included on day 7 after your visit to the falls. It introduces you to the wildlife and subtropical rainforest of the park, which together with its sister park in Argentina forms the largest remaining rainforest in the southern cone of South America.
The Rio sightseeing is described as privately guided, starting with the full-day Corcovado and Sugar Loaf tour, and you are met at the airport on arrival in both Rio and Iguazu. A travel specialist can confirm which excursions are private and which are shared for your dates.
Breakfast is included each day, dinner is included with the samba show on day 3 and with the folklore show at Iguazu on day 6, and lunch is served on the Sepetiba Bay islands trip on day 5. Other meals are at your own expense.
The itinerary includes boarding a scheduled flight from Rio to Iguazu on day 6, with airport transfers at both ends. Please confirm with a travel specialist whether this domestic flight is included in your quote, as international flights to Rio and home from Iguazu are arranged separately.
Exotic Brazil is offered in Deluxe and Luxury classes, which differ in the category of hotels used in Rio de Janeiro and at Iguazu Falls. A travel specialist will confirm the hotels that apply to your chosen class and dates.
Day 1 is at leisure after your arrival, day 3 is free until the evening samba show, and the Petropolis tour on day 4 returns before lunch, leaving the afternoon free. That gives you plenty of opportunities to enjoy Rio's beaches and local specialities.
A 25% deposit secures your booking of Exotic Brazil. The balance is due 65 days before departure, so if you book within 65 days of travel the full amount is normally payable at the time of booking.
Yes. Child pricing uses two bands based on age on the day of departure: under 5, and from 5 to under 12. Children aged 12 and over pay the adult rate. The beaches, boat trip and wildlife make it a good choice for families.
No fixed departure dates are currently listed on this page, so the tour is quoted on request for your travel dates. Prices are per person sharing in USD and depend on whether you choose Deluxe or Luxury class. Single occupancy is available on request with a supplement.
Yes, that is exactly who it is designed for. In eight days you see Rio's most famous landmarks, the imperial city of Petropolis, the tropical islands of Sepetiba Bay and Iguazu Falls, with transfers arranged and free time built in so the pace stays relaxed.
Bring swimwear and sun protection for the islands trip, which includes swimming and snorkelling. At Iguazu, comfortable walking shoes are useful for the canyon trail, and light rain gear or a change of clothes helps, as the spray near the falls can be heavy.
Email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, answered by a travel specialist or our AI assistant. Any departure listed on this page can be booked directly online, and if none suits you, the team will quote your preferred dates.
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