Brazil 15 Days: Rio Highlights, Iguazu Falls, Amazon & Salvador

Points of Interest : Rio de Janeiro

You are met at Rio de Janeiro airport according to your arrival time from Europe and transferred to your hotel. On the way, you get your first impressions of this lively city, framed by beaches and mountains. An English-speaking companion ensures smooth communication and helps you settle in.

Once at the hotel, take time to relax after your journey and look forward to the adventures ahead.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night in a 3* hotel in Rio de Janeiro

Points of Interest : Rio de Janeiro

Known as “the incredible city”, Rio is a feast for the senses, surrounded by white-sand beaches and dramatic peaks. Today you visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, the city’s most famous landmark, ride up Sugarloaf Mountain, and explore the historic districts of Santa Teresa and Lapa.

Throughout the day, your bilingual companion and guide share background stories and ensure you make the most of each viewpoint and neighborhood.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night in a 3* hotel in Rio de Janeiro

Points of Interest : Rio de Janeiro

Today is free for you to enjoy Rio at your own pace. You can choose from a selection of optional excursions curated by your local agency, or follow these top five suggestions:
• Hike the Morro da Urca trail for spectacular views over the bay, then take the cable car down.
• Visit the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow (Museu do Amanhã) and admire the Kobra graffiti at the nearby MAR museum area.
• Join a guided favela tour for insight into daily life in Rio’s hillside communities.
• Explore the Zona Sul by bicycle on one of the many guided bike tours.
• For an early-morning activity, try stand-up paddleboarding at Posto 6 on Copacabana Beach.

The rest of the day is yours to discover more beaches, bars and viewpoints.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night in a 3* hotel in Rio de Janeiro

Points of Interest : Rio de Janeiro

You have another free day to soak up Rio’s vibrant atmosphere. Wander through colorful streets where street vendors sell typical Brazilian snacks, or simply relax on one of the famous city beaches.

Try the well-known Globo biscuit, a sweet snack sold on Rio’s beaches, or opt for a healthier choice such as an açaí bowl, a thick smoothie made from red berries topped with oats and peanut butter.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night in a 3* hotel in Rio de Janeiro

Points of Interest : Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguaçu

Today you fly from Rio to Foz do Iguaçu (domestic flight not included in the trip price). On arrival, an English-speaking driver welcomes you and transfers you to the San Martin Hotel & Resort, located about a 10-minute walk from the entrance to the Brazilian side of the national park.

The rest of the day is free. If time allows, you can already visit the Brazilian side of Iguazu National Park. A typical visit takes around 2–3 hours, and the park is open until 6 p.m.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night at Hotel San Martin Resort & Spa in Foz do Iguaçu

Points of Interest : Foz do Iguaçu

Today you discover the Argentine side of Iguazu National Park. After crossing the border, you board the park’s small train, which serves two circuits. The lower trail, about 1.7 km long, runs parallel to several falls down to the river level. The upper trail, roughly 650 m, includes suspended walkways with panoramic viewpoints.

Both routes culminate at the most spectacular section of the falls: the Devil’s Throat. Here, water plunges 90 meters into a roaring chasm, creating mist and rainbows—an unforgettable backdrop for photos.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night at Hotel San Martin Resort & Spa in Foz do Iguaçu

Points of Interest : Foz do Iguaçu, Manaus, Amazonas

In the morning, you take a domestic flight to Manaus, the opulent capital of the Brazilian Amazon (flight not included in the trip price). A driver greets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure. A short walk brings you to the magnificent Amazon Theatre (Teatro Amazonas) and its surrounding square, where you can enjoy the lively atmosphere and choose among numerous excellent restaurants for dinner.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night at Hotel Adrianópolis in Manaus

Points of Interest : Manaus, Amazonas

From your hotel, you are transferred to the Ceasa river port, where you board a speedboat to the village of Careiro da Várzea. Here you see the famous Meeting of the Waters, where two rivers with different colors and temperatures run side by side without mixing, creating an impressive natural phenomenon.

You continue by boat for about an hour to your Amazon lodge, spotting wildlife along the way—alligators, fish, birds, snakes and monkeys. Lunch at the lodge showcases the richness of Amazonian cuisine, with freshwater fish, beef, chicken, salads and exotic fruits from the basin.

In the afternoon, you head out on a motorized canoe trip to explore the flooded forest and observe the region’s flora and fauna, often a highlight for nature lovers. Back at the lodge, a dinner of regional specialties awaits.

• Meals included : Full board (except breakfast on the first lodge day and dinner on the last lodge day)
• Accommodation : Night in an Amazon jungle lodge (e.g. Tupana Lodge near Manaus)

Points of Interest : Amazonas

You are woken at around 5:30 a.m. for an early-morning boat outing to watch the sunrise and observe birds awakening in the rainforest canopy—a magical experience that makes the early start worthwhile.

After breakfast, you set off on a jungle walk combined with basic survival training led by experienced guides. Learn how to make ropes from vines, climb trees safely, and locate water and edible plants in the forest.

Around midday you try your hand at fishing for piranhas, and after dark you head out again to search for caimans. With the help of your guide’s flashlight and techniques, you spot the animals’ red eyes glinting above the water’s surface.

• Meals included : Full board
• Accommodation : Night in an Amazon jungle lodge (Turtle Lodge / similar)

Points of Interest : Amazonas, Manaus

On your third day in the rainforest, you visit a local indigenous community to gain insight into traditional ways of life along the river. You learn about their customs, crafts and relationship with the forest.

On the way back to Manaus, you stop at a cassava plantation. Cassava is a staple food in Brazil and is typically served with rice, beans or fish. You see how the root is grown and processed before returning to the city.

• Meals included : Full board at the lodge, then breakfast at the hotel
• Accommodation : Night at Hotel Adrianópolis in Manaus

Points of Interest : Manaus

After breakfast, you set out by canoe onto the river, gliding quietly through narrow channels, flooded forests (igapós) and lakes. The goal is to spot pink and grey river dolphins, listening to the sounds of the forest as you paddle.

A final lunch is included during this excursion, giving you one more chance to enjoy Amazonian flavors before you return to your hotel in Manaus. The rest of the day lets you savor a last feeling of adventure in the rainforest gateway city.

• Meals included : Breakfast and lunch during the excursion; breakfast at the hotel
• Accommodation : Night at Hotel Adrianópolis in Manaus

Points of Interest : Manaus, Salvador

A private transfer takes you from your hotel in Manaus to the airport for your flight to Salvador de Bahia, one of Brazil’s most historic and atmospheric cities (domestic flight not included in the trip price). Upon arrival, an English-speaking companion welcomes the group and transfers you to your charming hotel in the historic center.

The rest of the day is free. You might head out in the evening to experience Salvador’s lively nightlife, with music, bars and restaurants in the old town streets.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night at Pestana Convento do Carmo in Salvador de Bahia

Points of Interest : Salvador

Today you explore Salvador’s main historical sights. You start at the iconic Farol da Barra lighthouse, which guards the entrance to the bay. Then you continue through the upper city (Cidade Alta), passing the Corredor da Vitória, Campo Grande and Piedade.

The tour then focuses on Pelourinho, the largest colonial architectural ensemble in Latin America, with brightly painted houses, baroque churches and cobbled streets. From the Lacerda Elevator viewpoint, you enjoy sweeping views over the upper city, the lower city (Cidade Baixa) and the labyrinth of old town alleys and rooftops.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night at Pestana Convento do Carmo in Salvador de Bahia

Points of Interest : Salvador

You have a full day at leisure in Salvador. Stroll through the charming streets of the old town, return to Pelourinho for more churches and museums, or ride the Lacerda Elevator again to browse the markets in the lower city.

Sample local specialties such as acarajé or moqueca in traditional eateries, and in the evening find a spot to watch the sun set over the Bay of All Saints (Baía de Todos os Santos).

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Night at Pestana Convento do Carmo in Salvador de Bahia

Points of Interest :

Depending on your flight schedule, you have free time for last walks or souvenir shopping in Salvador before your departure. Then you are transferred from your hotel to the airport for your onward or return flight.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Transfer to the airport from your hotel in Salvador de Bahia