15 days
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22:02 21-07-2021
While Brazil’s popular image revolves around its vibrant cities, Carnival atmosphere and beach culture, much of the country’s interior is worlds away, wild and empty. Delve deep inside Bahia state to the Chapada Diamantina mountains, a primeval landscape of table mountains, caves and waterfalls, with chances to go walking and glimpse backcountry life. Onwards to an isolated lodge in the tropical wetlands of the Pantanal for immersion in one of the world’s most important wildlife refuges, where you’ll be accompanied by an expert guide and spotter. Brazil’s cities and beaches by no means shunned. We drop in on Unesco-listed capital Brasilia, emerging from the bush as possibly the world’s most designed - and spacious - capital city. Praia do Forte’s deserted palm- fringed sands stretch for miles and yet are close enough for a visit to colonial Salvador. Finally, Rio’s iconic views are within day-tripping distance of the last stop, Barra da Tijuca.
Bahia's coconut coast is lined with golden beaches backed by lofty palms. From Salvador airport it’s just an hour to the laid-back beach town of Praia do Forte, a low-key and low- rise resort and a protected haven for sea turtles. Beyond its car-free main strip, lined with small bars, shops and restaurants, are miles of beaches and natural pools which offer a warm bath at low tide. You have two full days of leisure here: swing in a hammock, fruity cocktail in hand, or dip your toes in the ocean.
An early morning walk along the empty sands is a great way to work up an appetite for a Brazilian breakfast. As the tide goes out, sheltered natural pools appear where swimming and snorkelling is popular. You may visit the Project Tamar which protects the sea turtles which nest right here on the sands, or the nearby Sapiranga nature reserve. From July to September, humpback whales can be spotted off the coast: there’s a good chance of seeing them close-up if you join a boat excursion.
Optional day trip to Salvador de Bahia, around 1½ hours from Praia do Forte and one of Brazil’s great cities. This is an outdoor city, the spicy aromas of Afro-Bahian cooking waft on the balmy air, and there’s no better way to explore than on foot. The vestiges of Portuguese colonial architecture and culture blend well with African traditions in the centre of the city, known as the pelourinho, crammed full of colourful colonial mansions, churches and museums. The area brims with bars, shops and restaurants, and you can expect spontaneous eruptions of music at every turn.
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Setting off after an early breakfast it’s a 6-7 hour drive to Lençóis in the Chapada Diamantina. Lençóis was the centre of a diamond rush in the 19th century but more recently the accent has been on ecotourism. Your base for the next few days within the Chapada Diamantina’s tabular mountains, this pretty, colonial town is a well-watered oasis of densely vegetated beauty set close to the dusty Sertão desert. The region has a hot climate all year around, which makes visiting its natural pools, rivers and delightful waterfalls an even more welcoming attraction. You excellent hotel has a pool and plenty of space to relax outside after the long journey.
After breakfast there's a full day guided adventure into the Chapada Diamantina, a combination of travel by road and on foot. It’s suitable for most abilities and, having a private driver, you can opt out of any of the elements as you wish. Drive from Lençois to the Mucugezinho river, and walk to the black lake of Poço do Diabo. From here there's a chance to visit Lapa Doce cave, which involves about an hour's exciting walking underground. You’ll also visit Pratinha Cave, a beautiful subterranean river and lake in which you can cool off with a dip. Later, drive to Pai Inacio plateau and walk the last 300m for today's grand finale. The 20-minute steep uphill stretch is certainly worth it for perhaps the most amazing, far-reaching view in Bahia.
If you’re feeling up to an energetic, spectacular hike we wholeheartedly recommend this full day out which starts with a 2 hour drive from Lençois to the remote community of Capão which sits within the heart of the stunning tablelands of the Chapada Diamantina. From here, there's a 12 km walk to the top of the steaming Cachoeira da Fumaça (waterfall of smoke). At 340m this is the second highest waterfall in Brazil and the only way it can be viewed in its entirety is to lie horizontal and peer down into the canyon! A picnic lunch is included at the top of the waterfall, before the hike down - which offers more magnificent views over the Capão valley.
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Spend some time simply relaxing in and around Lençóis, enjoying the hotel, pool and gardens and watching the world go by from one of the cafés in the plaza. Within easy walking distance are the natural pools of the Rio Serrano, where, if you dare, you can glide down the natural rock slides of multi-coloured rock to the cool cobalt waters of a pool below. Several day trips are also possible. For a moderately challenging hike, it’s hard to top the riverside, rock-hopping route to Sossego Falls; you’ll need a guide and we can pre-arrange this. Alternatively, head out for the day by road to the caves of Poço Encantado (Enchanted Grotto), Poço Azul (Blue Grotto) and the remote village of Mucugé. For something completely different, the Marimbus wetlands can also be visited and explored by guided canoe.
It’ll take about 6 hours to get to Salvador airport, with a brief stop for lunch (payable locally). Fly to Brasilia (2hrs) and transfer to your hotel in the city.
The spacious federal capital Brasilia is certainly a city like no other in Brazil, if not the world. It was only in 1960 that the capital, formerly in Rio, was moved to a brand new, futuristic city, designed by architects Oscar Niemeyer and Burle Marx, to the middle of nowhere here in the interior. Initially admired for its innovation and glittery science fiction looks, the imposed philosophy of Order is somewhat alien to the Brazilian love of chaos and spontaneity. Brasilia may no longer merit the space-age accolades it attracted back in 1960, but it certainly has space: so much so this unique city is practically impossible to appreciate on foot. We’ve included an overview with a local driver-guide to get you orientated.
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Arriving in Cuiabá, our private driver-guide will meet you and whisk you straight off to your lodge in the Pantanal Wetlands (4hrs), the Pousada do Rio Mutum. The lodge offers a programme of activities where you can view wildlife. Sun-seeking caiman (alligators) stretch out on the river beaches or observe you with a beady eye just visible above the water’s surface. Gangs of the ubiquitous capybara -a giant rodent - stroll lazily across the road. Giant storks and roseate spoonbills wade through the standing water while agitated parakeets and clouds of snowy ibis take to the sky
The Pantanal wetlands cover a large basin half the size of France. This basin is seasonally flooded and is drained by the Paraguay River, which flows into the south Atlantic via the River Plate estuary. The result is a paradise for nature lovers, especially for wildlife observation. Unlike the areas of high jungle, the Pantanal is an open area of swampy grasslands, leaving some of the highest concentration of fauna in the continent exposed to view. Depending on local conditions, daily expeditions may include boat rides, walking trails and horse-riding through the Pantanal’s watery landscapes. You could visit a fazenda (farm) on the banks of a shimmering lake for sunset, when birds congregate for evening feeding with a raucous cacophony of sound. You may set off on an excursion by safari vehicle or boat to view wildlife in the crystal clear waters on a remote section of the Mutum river; seize an opportunity to fish for piranha, or take a boat trip to a small fishing community on the Cuiabá river.
It’s a 4hr drive back to the airport from where you fly to Rio (2½ hrs), the last stop on this Brazilian journey. Your hotel for the next 2 nights is in Barra da Tijuca. This upscale, outlying beach suburb of Rio is 20km west of Copacabana, and was the setting for the Olympic Village during the 2016 games. The area was transformed during the run up to the event, with a new metro station, golf course and a cycling track that runs along the spectacular 18km beach which is the longest in Rio. It is also well served by good hotels and restaurants. Barra's waters are popular with surfers and while the waves and currents make the ocean unsuitable for swimming, your hotel has umbrellas and towels to enjoy the wonderful beach here.
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At leisure in Barra, allowing time for pre-departure testing if required. Rio’s famous downtown beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana as well as the big draws of the Sugar Loaf cable car and Corcovado Christ statue can all be visited on an optional excursion which we can pre-arrange before departure. Or, a taxi to Copacabana should take about 30 mins.
Transfer to the airport. If departing on BA, the flight usually goes in the evening, allowing time to enjoy much of the day in Barra. (Hotel check-out time is midday, late check-out may be available on request).
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Services of our team of Wildlife spotting from Tips and gratuities experts in our London office Pantanal lodge base Meals other than specified Full Day highlights tour of the Services of Journey Latin Chapada Diamantina Airport taxes, when not America local included in the ticket representatives and guides City tour of Brasilia Optional excursions. We All land and air transport recommend you pre-book these with us before leaving Accommodation as specified for Brazil.
Meals as specified Excursions as specified, including entrance fees
3 internal flights of 2-2½ hrs; 2 x 6hr road transfers, 2 x 4hr road transfers, airport/hotel transfers as described.
Good quality mid to upper mid range hotels and a lodge are used throughout this holiday. All properties have ensuite facilities, a/c and a restaurant or dining room.
A full Brazilian breakfast is included each day: this usually comprises fresh tropical fruits, pastries and a range of warm options such as eggs and typical tapioca pancakes. Full board is included at your lodge in the Pantanal (3 nights) and a packed lunch during the day trip in the Chapada Diamantina.
Private guides are included during all activities and excursions specified.
Praia do Forte 3; Lençóis 4, Brasilia 2, Pantanal 3; Barra da Tijuca 2.
Brazilian Real (Plural Reais) is the local currency.
We recommend an average daily budget of about £40 per person to cover extras such as meals, drinks, tips and the odd souvenir.
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Local currency can be obtained at exchange houses Casa de Cambio (it’s best to bring US Dollars cash to change into local currency as this is more widely accepted than Sterling).
ATMs are widely available in Brazil (except in the Pantanal). Some clients report difficulties using ATMs so it’s best not to rely on them completely. Bringing a backup supply of US Dollars cash (check your travel insurance) will help ensure to have ready access to cash if needed.
Many (mid-range and up) restaurants accept cards.
Tipping is customary and local guides, service industry staff often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income. It is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants.
Travel insurance is essential. Journey Latin America’s recommended insurance company is Campbell Irvine. Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page. Please check your chosen insurance policy provides satisfactory coverage.
If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.
Brazil is a huge country (roughly the same size as the USA). Other than the obvious factors of several long days travelling between Brazil’s regions and the hot, tropical climate, this holiday should present no specific concerns to the moderately fit and active traveller. We have allocated several days at leisure. Some optional excursions (eg hikes from Lençóis) require good levels of fitness if you choose to do them. If you have a disability or other special requirements, please call us.
Much of Brazil has a tropical climate. November to March (especially Dec-Feb) is the hottest and most humid time in all areas visited on this trip. July to October is cooler and usually with lighter rains. April to June can be relatively wet in north-east Brazil but are beautiful months to visit the Pantanal and Rio.
This holiday can be taken all year. Our overall favourite time is July to September when the dry season in the Pantanal reaches its peak and the cooler temperatures in NE Brazil make walking more comfortable. Most visitors avoid the Pantanal between December and March as, although beautiful, it’s very hot and it’s usually harder to spot wildlife in the flooded landscape.
This holiday does not include any time at high altitude (over 2,500m)
You’ll find breathable, light cotton clothing is welcome in Brazil’s tropical climate with a couple of warmer layers for cooler evenings, especially in winter (Jul-Sep). Brazil is a famously informal country and shorts are acceptable everywhere except the smartest venues. Walking shoes (or at least trainers with good grips) are recommended for the Chapada Diamantina and Pantanal. It goes without saying that sun is strong: come prepared. Also bring insect repellent and a torch,
Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts.
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Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following; typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. For specific requirements you must consult your GP.
Visitors to Brazil travelling on our holidays should be protected with a vaccination against yellow fever, and carry the corresponding certificate. In April 2013, the World Health Organisation Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation concluded that a single primary dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to confer sustained immunity and lifelong protection against yellow fever disease, and that a booster dose is not needed.
You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
22:02 21-07-2021 15 days
22:02 21-07-2021