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20-day journey through nature Brazil

20 days - from € 9.650 per person

nature - active - animal life - Pantanal - beach​

  • Enjoy fabulous views from the cliffs of Chapada dos Guimarães
  • Search for the rich wildlife in the Pantanal wetlands
  • Explore the sounds of the Amazon rainforest
  • Visit Atlantic Coast rainforest at Tijuca near Rio de Janeiro
  • Unwind in style at tropical island Fernando de Noronha

Day 1: Amsterdam - São Paulo

Today is the beginning of your unique journey through Brazil. You will board your flight to São Paulo and, once arrived, one of our local staff will take you from the airport to your accommodation. You will stay near the airport so that you can travel on to your next destination the next morning.
Accommodation: Mercure Guarulhos Aeroporto | bed & breakfast

Day 2: São Paulo - Cuiabá - Chapada dos Guimarães

In the morning you will be picked up and taken to São Paulo airport for a domestic flight to Cuiabá. Upon arrival in Cuiabá, one of our local staff will welcome you and take you to your accommodation in the Chapada dos Guimarães National Park. The Chapada dos Guimarães is a plateau surrounded by impressive steep walls. On the plateau, with an average altitude of 800 metres above sea level, lies the Jesuit village with the same name, founded by the Jesuits in 1872. For wealthy Brazilians from Cuiabá, Chapada dos Guimarães is a popular refuge, as its altitude makes it cooler. However, the main attraction of the area is not the village, but the beautiful nature of the nearby national park with spectacular steep walls, fabulous views, waterfalls and plenty of peace and quiet. You will stay in Pousada do Parque for the next few days. Pousada do Parque is an eco-lodge situated in the national park, on a private property of 500 hectares. On the grounds there are several footpaths, two seasonal waterfalls (from December to July) and a watchtower.
Accommodation: Pousada do Parque | bed & breakfast

Day 3: Chapada dos Guimarães

After breakfast you will explore the national park of Chapada dos Guimarães together with your English speaking guide. After driving 5 kilometres by car, you will start the walk in the middle of the savannah-like area. You will walk along the old service road, across paths and rocky fields, which are characteristic for the area. You will find high mountain plateaus (ranging from 600 metres to 800 metres), old rock formations, caves, numerous waterfalls, picturesque paths and plenty flora and fauna. During the day, you can stop for a refreshing shower at the main waterfalls of the park. You will also visit the Cidade das Pedras (literally translated ‘city of stones’), a small sandstone cave carved out by the river. Legend has it that this place served as a shelter for the Coluna Prestes (a social rebel movement) during the military uprisings of the 1920s, but also for fugitive slaves. Nowadays it is a shelter for bats and other small animals.
Accommodation: Pousada do Parque | bed & breakfast

Day 4: Chapada dos Guimarães

Today you will go to the vantage point of Cidade de Pedra situated at the top of the highest cliffs in the area. Afterwards you will go to Vale do Rio Claro which has a very varied vegetation and where you can take a refreshing dip in the crystal clear waters of the Poço Azul and Poço Verde. You will end the day at the viewpoint Crista de Galo, from where you have a 360° view of the national park.
Accommodation: Pousada do Parque | bed & breakfast

Day 5: Chapada dos Guimarães - Cuiabá - Alta Floresta

In the morning you will travel further to the Southern Amazon. From the Chapada dos Guimarães you will be brought to the airport of Cuiabá. Then you will take a domestic flight to Alta Floresta. After arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by a local employee of the lodge and brought to your lodge. Along the way you will drive through a varied landscape and you will see many birds and animals, such as capybaras and caimans. The Cristalino lodge, with only 16 guesthouses, is part of the Cristalino reserve. This is an area of primary rainforest, which in terms of surface area is about twice as large as Manhattan. The lodge is located directly on the crystal clear Cristalino River and can only be reached by boat. In this area you will find a very varied flora & fauna, such as special trees, orchids and bromelias, but also many unique animal species such as capybaras, jaguars, bats, reptiles, fish, butterflies and various insects.
Accommodation: Cristalino Lodge | full board incl. offered activities

Day 6 and 7: Alta Floresta

These days you can enjoy the surroundings where you are staying by participating in the excursions offered by your accommodation. The Cristalino Lodge offers one of the most unique and exciting opportunities for wildlife observation, with a wide variety of high and low zones, different types of forests, lakes, micro-living environments, about 600 species of birds and various neo-tropical fauna. From the carnivorous predators at the top of the food chain, such as the jaguar, harpy and giant otter, to the herbivores at the bottom of the pyramid, such as the capybara and agouti. All organisms have been evolving for millions of years and that is what makes the Amazon so unique! Its location near the junction of two rivers - one a "White water" and the other a "Black water" river - creates a combination of two different soil types which in turn translates into an enormous diversity of flora and fauna.
Accommodation: Cristalino Lodge | full board incl. activities offered

Day 8: Alta Floresta - Cuiabá - Pantanal

In the morning, you will be taken to the airport of Alta Floresta to fly to Cuiabá. Upon arrival in Cuiabá, one of your lodge staff will take you to the Pantanal. Your lodge is situated 132 kilometres from the city of Cuiabá in a very unspoiled nature reserve. The road to the lodge is an experience in itself, because along the way (with a little luck) you will see many animals, such as capybara's, hyacinth macaws and caImans. You will stay in the small-scale Pousada Araras Eco lodge. This rustic decorated lodge is situated in a truly enchanting environment of swamps, rivers and some crystal clear lakes. Here you will find nests of hyacinth macaws, so your chance to see these animals is great! The team of professional guides at the Pousada Araras Eco Lodge is ready to take you on a discovery of the impressive nature reserve! In between activities you can take a refreshing dip in the pool of the lodge.
Accommodation: Pousada Araras Eco Lodge | full board incl. offered activities

Day 9 and 10: Pantanal

Accompanied by professional guides, these days you will explore the special surroundings. You will go hiking, horseback riding and/or canoeing. Usually you will go out, either early in the morning at sunrise or in the evening at sunset. This is the time when most animals are active. After sunset you can also make trips. The Pantanal is Brazil's most important nature reserve after the Amazon rainforest. It is a kind of seasonal swamp that is flooded for half the year and dry for the other half. In the rainy season, water from the surrounding areas flows into the Pantanal, as if it is some kind of bowl that slowly but surely fills up during the rainy season. As the water 'gradually' flows out again, the nutrients that make the Pantanal a biologically very rich area are left behind. The rivers are bursting with fish and the banks are bursting with waterfowl and caimans. Other characteristic animals of the Pantanal are the giant anteater, the giant otter, the anaconda, the capybara and the beautiful hyacinth macaw.
Accommodation: Pousada Araras Eco Lodge | full board incl. offered activities

Day 11: Pantanal - Cuiabá - Rio de Janeiro

Today the staff of your accommodation will take you to Cuiabá airport, from where you will fly to Rio de Janeiro on a domestic flight. You will stay at the small-scale boutique hotel Chez Georges, situated on a hilltop in the atmospheric Santa Teresa district, between the city centre and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Chez Georges is a villa built on the edge of a protected forest. Enjoy the viewpoints this hotel has to offer, from where you can see the Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Guanabara Bay and the city's roof terraces. One of the most famous architects of Brazilian modernism, Wladimir Alves de Souza, together with Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer, has left his mark on this villa.
Accommodation: Chez Georges | bed & breakfast

Day 12: Rio de Janeiro

Today you will visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the world's most famous and visited monuments. The statue is located on top of the Corcovado mountain, at an altitude of 710 metres. A cog railway takes you to the foot of the statue, the train leaves the district of Cosme Velho and climbs the steep slopes of the Tijuca forest. Located around the base of Corcovado and with many springs and waterfalls, this dense forest was declared a National Park in the early 60s. After the descent, the tour makes a photo stop at the Mário Filho Stadium, known worldwide as Maracanã, and the Sambódromo, designed by Oscar Niemeyer and the stage for the largest and most flamboyant carnival celebration in Brazil.
Accommodation: Chez Georges | bed & breakfast

Day 13: Rio de Janeiro

Today you will set off with one of our local guides to discover the Tijuca forest, the world's largest and most ornate urban forest in the middle of a city. You will also visit one of the city's most important cultural attractions; the Moreira Salles Institute. The route to the Tijuca forest is already a nice experience, as it is dotted with beautiful views, you will pass several neighbourhoods and some great architectural sights. Upon arrival in the Tijuca forest you will visit the Cascatinha waterfall and some other important attractions. The Tijuca forest covers an area of 33km2 and is home to a variety of flora and fauna. With a bit of luck you will spot iguanas, monkeys, snakes and birds here. Continue to the Moreira Salles Institute, an exhibition centre with fascinating photographic images, literature, film and music, all housed in what is widely regarded as a milestone of modern Brazilian architecture. Afterwards you will be brought back to your accommodation.
Accommodation: Chez Georges | bed & breakfast

Day 14: Rio de Janeiro - Fernando de Noronha

After breakfast you will be taken to Rio de Janeiro airport from where you will take a domestic flight to Fernando de Noronha. Upon arrival on the island you will be welcomed and taken to your hotel. Fernando de Noronha is an idyllic archipelago of 21 volcanic islands, located about 350 kilometres from the mainland. The archipelago is actually a number of volcanic peaks that rise above the water level of the Atlantic Ocean. The volcanic peaks are overgrown with pristine tropical rainforest. There are a number of plant and bird species here that are found nowhere else in the world. You will stay in Pousada Maravilha, where you can relax during an afternoon at the spa or enjoy the beautiful views from the infinity pool. The staff will do their absolute best to give you an unforgettable experience.
Accommodation: Pousada Maravilha | bed & breakfast

Day 15, 16 and 17: Fernando de Noronha

These days you will stay at a lovely bay on a lovely piece of Brazil that is also home to dolphins. On the Praia do Leão, the lion's beach, you can enjoy the lovely white sand and clear sea. From the Mirante do Buraco da Raquel you have a perfect vantage point to see the sharks swimming in front of the rocks at high tide. It is also a great place for snorkelling and you can make beautiful walks in this impressive nature reserve. Enjoy the peace and quiet and the wonderful climate!
Accommodation: Pousada Maravilha | bed & breakfast

Day 18: Fernando de Noronha - Rio de Janeiro

This day you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to Fernando de Noronha airport, from where you will take a domestic flight to Rio de Janeiro. Here you will stay another night before flying back to the Netherlands the next day. End the day with a delicious cocktail on the rooftop terrace with a 360° view over the city. Cheers!
Accommodation: Chez Georges | bed & breakfast

Day 19: Rio de Janeiro - Amsterdam

Your unique journey is unfortunately over. Today you will board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam.

Day 20: Amsterdam

You arrive in Amsterdam today.

“ We compensate all our trips through the reforestation project of the Black Jaguar Foundation ”

Price

From € 9.650 per person

  • Based on 2 persons travelling together
  • Depending on the time of booking, availability of local flights, availability of accommodation and period of travel

Included:

  • domestic flights, economy class
  • 12 overnight stays, meals as stated
  • 3 nights in Cristalino Jungle Lodge on full board basis incl. offered activities
  • 3 nights in Pousada Araras Ecolodge on full board basis incl. offered activities
  • all transfers and excursions (with English speaking guide) as mentioned
  • 24/7 our backup; locally and in the Netherlands
  • comprehensive travel document package with small attention

Not included:

  • international flights, if desired we can reserve these for you
  • early check-in / late check-out, based on availability this is sometimes given by the hotel. If you want to be sure that you have this, please ask us about the surcharge.
  • entrance fee for excursion day 13 (Tijuca), to be paid on spot
  • Fernando de Noronha environmental tax of USD $23 per person per day, to be paid on spot
  • (Dutch) public contribution Calamity fund; € 2.50,- per booking
  • SGR contribution of € 5,- per person per booking
  • travel and cancellation insurance

Request travel proposal

Do you also want to make this journey? Of course, we can arrange the above trip for you, but we are also happy to put together a programme based on your wishes and ideas. Feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04, send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl or request a tailor-made offer below. We are happy to help.

Request travel proposal

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