Day 1

RIO DE JANEIRO - Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to Astoria Palace Hotel. Afternoon free.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Breakfast at hotel

Cultural Rio Tour. We will leave Copacabana by subway to Downtown Rio! The area offers a sensational mix of history, booming commerce and cosmopolitan locales. Pass through the heart of the city and enjoy its national landmarks, museums, parks, shops and restaurants. Then, cross Guanabara Bay on the Balsas, the commuter ferry used everyday by thousands of Cariocas. Your trip via boat last just twenty minutes and provides an unrivaled opportunity to enjoy some of Rio's greatest views from afar, including the bridge between Rio and Niteroi, the downtown skyline and Santos Dumont Airport. On the other side of your journey lies Niteroi, Rio's neighboring city filled with excellent sights. Here your guide will show you the best this incredibly interesting city has to offer. Return to Copacabana by subway. Duration: 8 hours

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Breakfast at hotel

Full day tour to Sugar Loaf and Corcovado - Corcovado, which houses the Christ the Redeemer statue, is the symbol of faith and sympathy for many Cariocas – Rio’s natives. Sugar Loaf, on the other hand, is a tourist complex with a prime location that provides for beautiful panoramic views. This tour starts with an early morning departure from the hotel and a visit to Sugar Loaf, where guests can experience a panoramic view of Guanabara Bay, Copacabana, Urca, Botafogo, Flamengo and their surrounding neighborhoods. The visit continues in an air-conditioned vehicle, passing through Flamengo Park, Downtown Rio, and Maracanã Stadium. In the afternoon, we will stop for lunch (optional, price not included) before ascending Corcovado in a historical train ‘Carro Elétrico’, stopping a few meters from the stairway to the Christ the Redeemer Statue. From there, visitors will have views of the entire city of Rio de Janeiro, including its breathtaking beaches and mountains. To end the tour, we will drive by the beaches of São Conrado, Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana. Duration: 08 hours and includes a local guide.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4

Breakfast at hotel

Check-out and transfer to the airport where you will embark on your journey to the most African city of Brazil, Salvador and our last stop.SALVADOR - Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Pousada do Pilar for your 3 overnights stay.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5

Breakfast at hotel

We will then depart for the Historic African Oriented City Tour. We trace the African roots of Salvador on a city tour which combines the newer, modern section and the older Historical Center of Salvador, the Pelourinho area, named after the pillory which stood in the main square, in front of the central slave market. We visit the Afro-Brazilian Museum and trace the West African origins of the city and observe the superb wooden, sculpted panels of the orixá's by Salvador's most celebrated artist, Carybé. We visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, the famous Black church, built with meager resources over a period of almost 100 years. We look in on artists and sculptors at work and let the senses do the rest as we soak up the feeling of this vibrant city. The buildings may be European but the spirit is truly African.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Breakfast at hotel

Today we have a Full Day Cachoeira Tour with Lunch. We leave the city behind to explore the farming hinterland on the western side of the All Saints´ Bay. This is the land of sugar cane plantations, peaceful colonial towns and busy country markets, a day full of insight into the lifestlye of rural Brazil. We drive north out of the city and head westwards, stopping at the country market town of Santo Amaro. We continue our drive westwards through rolling hills to Cachoeira, the jewel of the Bahian hinterland nestled deep in the valley of the Paraguaçu River. After lunch we take a walking tour of the town, with opportunities to browse in some local wood carvers stores’. Like Salvador, Candomblé plays an integral part in the life of the town, epitomized by the Sisterhood of the Boa Morte, a sorority which traces its origins back to the time of slavery. We cross to the western bank of the slow moving river and visit the Danemann Cultural Center where world class cigars being expertly rolled. A journey back in time to the Brazil of yesterday. Duration: 8 hours

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7

Breakfast at hotel

Check out and transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

• - "From" prices expressed in US dollars per person based on Double Room occupancy, minimum of 2 travelers;
  
  
• - Hotel accommodations include daily breakfast and taxes;
  
  
• - Rates valid for individual reservations only and are subject to change based in specific hotel availability at time of booking. Not valid during holidays, special events, Carnival or New Year's;
  
  
• - Airfare not included; let us quote your best customized airfare based on your specifications; contact us for details.