This itinerary is a result of our unique way of constructing trips around local people, communities and small enterprises.

If you want an experience of Brazil that goes far beyond the usual, this is it: not just seeing a samba show in Rio, but stepping behind the scenes to watch Carnival floats take shape; not just observing football on Ipanema, but joining a barefoot kick-about on a far-flung beach; not just sipping cachaça in a fruity cocktail by the pool, but savoring the good stuff surrounded by sugarcane in the countryside.

It’s seeing one guide moved to tears by one guide's passion for Rio’s African heritage, and giggling with another as you splash them mid-paddle in the bay. It's a slice of Brazil in all its color, flavor, humor and glorious spontaneity.

Our ability to share the 'hidden' places and people of Brazil derives from our love of exploring locally, and the independence we have to create trips exactly as we want them. So rather than the usual way of funnelling your trip through one agency covering the whole of Brazil, we create direct relationships with the guides, drivers, hotels and hosts that we think best represent this special corner of the country. It also means you can feel really good about who you are traveling with, and the impact your travels have on the places you visit.

The forests of southern Amazonia offer one of the most diverse wildlife spectacles in South America. It's important to keep in mind though that the forest is remarkably dense here, and the canopy is mighty high. So although guides do a quite extraordinary job of pointing out a huge variety of wildlife you would have otherwise missed, it's best to come with a relaxed attitude to wildlife spotting. One thing that is guaranteed is that you will have a deep immersion into nature, including a mindboggling cast of tree and insect species. That's part of the real joy of the Amazon.

Likely sightings include the region’s exuberant birdlife, with hundreds of species from macaws, parrots and toucans to cotingas, manakins and curassows. Primate activity is constant, with spider monkeys, howler monkeys and capuchins among the most frequently observed. The river margins provide encounters with tapirs, peccaries, capybaras, and an abundance of butterflies, adding to the sense of constant movement and color.

Possible encounters may reveal giant river otters, sloths, tayras, brocket deer and the more elusive night monkeys or titi monkeys. Clay licks sometimes draw in tapirs and peccaries, while canopy platforms offer chances to watch raptors and mixed flocks sweeping the treetops.

Remote possibilities are headlined by Jaguars, though sightings are rare and unpredictable. Don't get your hopes up. Harpy eagles - lords of the canopy - can sometimes be seen by the most eagled-eyed visitors. Endemic or little-known species such as white-nosed sakis, cryptic forest falcons and black-girdled barbets are fond of this transition zone, where unique wildlife finds its niche.

A stay in the northern Pantanal opens the door to one of South America’s richest wildlife experiences. Because it is a floodplain environment, the landscape is more open than the Amazon and it's therefore easier to spot creatures on the move. Nature is nature - this isn't a zoo - but within the mosaic of gallery forest, grassland and waterways, you can expect and hope/pray for close encounters with...

Likely sightings include capybaras grazing at the water’s edge, coatis and pacas foraging near streams and monkeys moving through the canopy. Yacare caimans are ever-present in creeks and lagoons, while the birdlife is dazzling: toucans, jabiru storks, herons, macaws and kingfishers are part of a recorded list of hundreds of species.

Possible encounters tend to come during guided excursions—canoe trips, boat rides or night drives—that may reveal tapirs, giant anteaters, ocelots, tamandua anteaters and giant river otters. Hyacinth macaws and marsh deer are also within reach, though less reliably seen.

Remote possibilities hold a particular allure. Jaguars are the pinnacle of Pantanal wildlife, and dedicated safaris are often organised with them in mind. Sightings cannot be promised but are far from improbable in this stronghold of the species. Other elusive creatures, from maned wolves and bush dogs and rare raptors, add a sense of tantalising unpredictability.

Yes, of course. The itinerary as presented here is a showcase of the scale of journeys we regularly arrange through Brazil. It might be that you'd like to trim this to three weeks, or extend it with time in Argentina, Peru or Chile for example. 

Depending on your timescales, interests and preferences, we can tailor it in myriad ways. But it is important to see that some elements of the trip only really work in a certain order, or as their own journey within the journey. Along with the quirks of the Brazilian flight schedules, we have certain boundaries and certain strong opinions to abide by, but ultimately, any itinerary will be tailored to you. 

Generally, there is a wet season (typically from October - March) and dry season (typically from April to September), though with a changing climate, the wet season has tended to start later.

We recommend this trip between April and November. The absolute sweet spot within that is June to September. This is when wildlife-watching is at its best in the Amazon and Pantanal and Rio and Salvador are cooler, drier, calmer and much, much more enjoyable. The later in that window you go, the drier the weather we usually be around Salvador.

Pantanal
In the Pantanal, June to September/October is the dry season. So water levels are lower and the wildlife is easier to spot. This is also the mating season for many birds and the striking Tabebuia trees are in blossom.

April and May can also be dry. Days are hot (around 30 C) and nights are chilly.

You can travel in the wet season when the lands are flooded (but still accessible) creating a haven for a huge variety of birds and the water flowers are in full bloom. It is beautiful.  It can be very humid, and the mammals are harder to spot.

Amazon
The Amazon has broadly the same weather pattern - it is always hot and humid, and the drier months are May - September when the wildlife is easier to spot.

Rio de Janeiro
April is a transition month, and so things can still get hot and downpours are increasingly common, though much less so than in the summer. May and June are beautifully green and might just be our favorite months to visit, with the coffee harvest in full swing too. July is the time of school vacations and so things get a little busier around Paraty in particular, but it's rarely a problem. August is the time for international summer vacations, but again you won't notice this away from the coast and it's really not a big issue, so don't sweat it too much. September is the driest month. October is another transition month and can be showery, but not enough to impact your travels. November is getting hotter and summer is around the corner.

Temperatures between May and September are usually 17-25 degrees celsius and it rarely rains much. Sunrise is between 06:00 and 06:30 and sunset between 17:30 and 18:00. Although you might be tempted to want to swap the northern hemisphere winters for the Brazilian summers, it's actually more enjoyable to escape the increasing heat of our summers for the cooler and more stable winter down here.

There are lots of reasons why you don't want to be here in the Brazilian summer months between December and March. For one, it gets incredibly hot. It can be 40 degrees at breakfast, the water in the taps comes out hot, the pool is warm and you can’t take a cold shower because that water is warm too. The famous beaches become packed to the point you can’t see the sea. And Rio can have four cruise ships in at a time, each bringing a thousand people. The best guides and accommodation are harder to book. It rains a lot, torrentially so sometimes and therefore, roads can be blocked. It’s also a time of more mosquitoes and snakes in the countryside. Carnival is carnival. You have to want the full-fat experience, or you must avoid it because no one sleeps for days!

Bahia
In Salvador and Bahia, you can expect warm conditions year-round. March is the warmest month, at an average high of 30c. July is the coolest at 26c. April, May and June can be quite rainy on the coast, so it's not the ideal time for the beach. 

Brazil is a wonderfully welcoming country. At each stage of this journey, you will experience this warm and generous hospitality in a variety of settings, each with its own story to tell, but all beautifully small, quiet and comfortable.

On this trip, you can look forward to...

• A five-room guesthouse in bohemian Santa Teresa, set among street art, cafés and bars, with quiet gardens, a small pool and wonderfully warm hosting
• A restored fazenda in the Atlantic rainforest near Lumiar, blending conservation with comfort, where river, birdsong and relaxed hospitality create a feeling of staying with friends
• A cluster of Alpine-style chalets in Teresópolis, surrounded by greenery and streams, offering cosy interiors, Jacuzzis and kitchens, with town just a short stroll or taxi ride away
• A 19th-century coffee manor in the Vale do Café, relaxed and colorful in style, with a pool, birdlife and excellent home-cooked food, including standout caipirinhas
• A stylish pousada in the heart of Paraty, with a leafy courtyard and pool, spacious rooms, a library and bar, and the historic streets right on the doorstep
• A boutique suite perched above the river in the jungles of Iguazú
• An eco-lodge on the edge of the Amazon, reached by boat across the Cristalino River, with pioneering conservation, stylish rooms, river swim deck and comfort woven into the forest setting
• A rustic lodge in the Pantanal, set on a vast private reserve with just 16 rooms, offering guided explorations by boat, jeep, canoe or on foot, alongside hearty traditional meals and modern comforts

This itinerary is ideal for people who like to travel with active minds and bodies, but who appreciate having creature comforts and downtime to balance things out.

The vast majority of these activities can be comfortably enjoyed by all. We might try to gently challenge you with a more strenuous hike or a morning of kayaking here or there, but it's nothing you can't handle and will usually be counted among the real highlights of the trip. Of course, as a tailor-made vacation we can tailor things to suit you, dialling the activity levels up or down as needed.

Wildlife destinations such as the Amazon are characterised by early morning activities. You tend to have some free time in the middle of the day before more activities later in the day and into the evening. In both cases, canoeing is an option and highly recommended it is a relaxed affair. You have several walking trails and observation towers to explore. There are two higher trails which involve fairly steep up and down hill walks in hot conditions, you also have two 50m high observation towers which you go up pre-dawn to watch the sunrise. 

Please get in touch for full details of the activity level.

Brazil's cuisine is wonderfully diverse, as befits the fifth-largest country in the world. The Amazon is a larder of exotic fruits. Bahian cuisine is a colorful fusion of traditionally African and indigenous ingredients. Minas Gerais is the powerhouse of Brazil's rural staples such as rice, beans, beef, cheese and bread.

On this trip, food is an absolute highlight. You will eat a lot of variations of Brazil's most famous dish - black bean stew with beef, rice and toasted cassava flour (farofa). It makes for a very sociable, filling and tasty lunch. If you get the chance to try coffee risotto in the coffee valley, then you'll remember that one forever. One evening might be spent dining tapas style in the 'botequim' bars of Santa Teresa. Grilled fish with your toes in the sand is the thing to do on the beach. You will eat more exotic fruits than you can remember the names of. And then there's the artisan cheese and brigadero sweets.

Is it nearly lunchtime? We're suddenly very hungry...

Typically, these take between two to three hours, though the longest transfers are into and out of Paraty at around four hours, and between the Amazon lodge and Sinop airport at around five hours. You will rarely be traveling on motorways or big highways, but rather single-carriage roads which cut through the countryside between villages and small towns.

Cars are very comfortable, speeds are quite low and whilst drivers rarely speak English, they do a good job of looking after you and making sure you are happy. If you need to stop for a toilet break, they'll get the drift.

There's often something interesting to see out of the window - a glimpse of mountaintops rolling into the distance, a kingfisher perched above a roadside lake, a small religious parade... Your journeys are a chance to peek at everyday Brazilian life, unvarnished, unedited and always interesting.

It's also important to consider these journeys as a chance to slow down and rest for a while. Because you are moving between place A and place B, you can ease from one destination into another, building a sense of anticipation as you arrive. Finally, we love that days are never 'lost' to driving. A morning's drive might be followed by a mountain hike, a visit to a farm or a lingering al fresco meal in the hills.

English is not widely spoken in Brazil, even in Rio de Janeiro. Of course, your hosts and guides will always speak good English. But there are times where you simply have to get by when you are on your own. It's never a problem though. If you know Spanish, then that gets you halfway there. Otherwise, if pointing, smiling and miming don't do the trick, then you simply use Google Translate. You can speak into your phone in your native tongue, then it will give you a written and audio translation for the other person. So as long as you have a signal, it breaks down any language barriers.

Remember that being somewhere where English is not commonly spoken is a sign you are somewhere interesting!

Brazil is a warm and welcoming country, and Rio de Janeiro is no exception. The city is generally very safe and enjoyable to visit, with most trips passing without incident. Like any large city, however, your experience depends on the choices you make. One guide describes the contrast between Brazil with a “Z” – modern, polished, international – and Brasil with an “S” – lively, imperfect, complex but deeply authentic... This is the version most international visitors miss. We want you to enjoy the best of both.

Safety in Rio is mostly about awareness. Don’t wander into favelas, which are easy to spot and best avoided. Stick to well-lit areas, dress casually, keep valuables out of sight, and plan how you’ll get around, especially at night. Neighbourhoods like Santa Teresa’s center, the historic district, Lapa, and the South Zone beaches of Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana are popular and largely safe, though petty theft can occur where crowds gather. Use taxis for late-night travel, avoid beaches after dark, and enjoy the city’s vibrant life with the comfort of sensible precautions.

As part of our vacation service to you, we provide a travel app which is packed with an extensive planning document to help you prepare and pack for Brazil, as well as our favorite places to eat. This helps take the stress out of planning your time, knowing that we've been there, done that and eaten the feijoadas.

If you get into any major bother, then our team is always on hand to help. In the first instance, that is your hosts and guides, or your local contact in Brazil. But you have a 24/7 emergency contact for our team here should you ever need it.