Your English speaking guide will meet you at Rio airport and take you to your hotel (time and flight number to be specified). He knows everything about his city and will tell you all his secrets and good tips.

Night at the B&B Villa Laurinda. Suite.

Your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel at 09:00am to start the city tour.

Today, you will start by going to one of the icons of the city: The Corcovado (el. 700 m.a.s.l.), world known symbol of Rio. Once up there, take the time to appreciate the unique and amazing panoramic view of the "cidade maravilhosa" (wonderful city).

 

On your way to the next visit, the guide will show you a panoramic view of the famous beaches of Rio, going by Ipanema and Copacabana. You can also choose another region to visit after the Christ, like Santa Teresa or downtown Rio if you want, don’t hesitate to decide together with the guide.

 

To finish your day, you will take the cable car that leads to the top of the famous Sugarloaf Mountain (400 m alt.) symbol of Rio, which marks the entrance to the bay of Guanabara, and enjoy the view from the top.

 

Return to the hotel at 05:00pm.

At 09:00, your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel. You will be taken to an area of Rio de Janeiro's port known as ‘Little Africa’.

This was the name of the historic area that was home to the Afro-Brazilian community in Rio. The area became ‘Little Africa’ following the abolition of the slave trade in 1831. Between 1850 and 1920, this district became a refuge for freed black and African communities from Bahia and the interior of Brazil, in search of work and community life.

On this tour, you will discover this important page in Rio's rich African history.

The tour begins in front of the MAR museum and continues towards the ‘Pedra do Sal’, Rio's oldest black neighbourhood, recognised in 2005 as a ‘quilombola’ community. You will walk along the Rua do Valongo, which linked the Quai Valongo to the Largo do Depósito, where shops selling slaves and articles related to the practice of slavery were located.

Continue on to the Church of Our Mother of the Rosário and Saint Benedict, known as the Church of the Blacks; popular stories tell that many famous Afro-Brazilian figures were buried in this church.

Continue on to the Place dos Estivadores, where the Largo do Depósito was the ‘fattening centre’ for slaves newly arrived in Brazil before being sold.

Finally, you will discover the archaeological remains of Quai Valongo, which was Rio's busiest slave market, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2017).

Return to the hotel at 13:00.

Departure from the hotel to drive to Conceição de Jacarei with your local driver. 2-hour drive on a paved road along the Green Coast, a vegetation corridor between ocean and mountains.

Board in a boat for the crossing to Ilha Grande (0h20 crossing).

Your local driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive you in a regular van to the pier of Angra dos Reis (1 ½-hour trip).

Board in a fastboat for the crossing to Ilha Grande (30 min crossing – unaccompanied by a guide).

Your English speaking guide will pick you up at 2:00pm at the hotel for a walking tour of the historical centre of the village.

 

Nestled between the sea and the first foothills of the Serra do Mar, Paraty is home to one of the most beautiful colonial legacies of Brazil, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

 

Along the narrow, cobbled streets, you will discover this exceptional legacy, testimony to the splendours of the 17th and 18th centuries. Sublime residences, 4 superb baroque churches, including Santa Rita de Cassia, which today houses a museum of sacred art.

 

Paraty is also a very lively town day and night, and has many beaches in its surroundings.

Your guide will collect you from the hotel for a transfer on foot to the quay, where you will board a traditional fisherman's boat.

Sail for around two hours towards the small, isolated fishing village of Ponta da Joatinga, in the heart of the ecological reserve. You arrive at the community in this little corner of the world, nestling into the mountainside.

Settle into Alessandra and her family's house on the seafront.

After lunch, you'll set off to discover your surroundings and immerse yourself in the life of the fishermen. Fishing activity and visit to the local community.

Overnight in a Caiçara fisherman's house with basic comforts (shared shower and toilet - no hot water or electricity).

Your guide will accompany you.

After breakfast, you will set off by motorboat to the Sitio de Bijiquara, the starting point for the hike.

Walking time approx. 4h30 - Moderate difficulty - approx. 400m ascent

You walk through the Atlantic forest for around 1h30 before reaching the beach at Sumaca, set between mountains and vegetation. This is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the region.

Free time to enjoy the serenity of the surroundings. Picnic lunch on site. Return to the village on foot.

You leave the community of Ponta da Juatinga and board a fisherman's boat in the morning to reach the village of Pouso de Cajaiba.

You leave the community of Ponta da Joatinga and board a fishing boat in the morning to reach Cajaiba.

After breakfast, you will set off by motorboat to the Sitio de Bijiquara, the starting point for the hike.

Walking time approx. 4h30 - Moderate difficulty - approx. 400m ascent

You walk through the Atlantic forest for around 1h30 before reaching the beach at Sumaca, set between mountains and vegetation. This is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the region.

Free time to enjoy the serenity of the surroundings. Picnic lunch on site. Return to the village on foot.

You leave the community of Ponta da Juatinga and board a fisherman's boat in the morning to reach the village of Pouso de Cajaiba.

You leave the community of Ponta da Joatinga and board a fishing boat in the morning to reach Cajaiba.

After breakfast, you will set off by motorboat to the Sitio de Bijiquara, the starting point for the hike.

Walking time approx. 4h30 - Moderate difficulty - approx. 400m ascent

You walk through the Atlantic forest for around 1h30 before reaching the beach at Sumaca, set between mountains and vegetation. This is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the region.

Free time to enjoy the serenity of the surroundings. Picnic lunch on site. Return to the village on foot.

You leave the community of Ponta da Juatinga and board a fisherman's boat in the morning to reach the village of Pouso de Cajaiba.

You leave the community of Ponta da Joatinga and board a fishing boat in the morning to reach Cajaiba.

After breakfast, you can choose to swim, snorkel or simply bask in the sun. Lunch is included (on an island or beach).

In the afternoon, you begin your return journey to Paraty, from island to island, from beach to beach. The day is devoted to discovering the bay of Paraty.

Daniel will show you his favourite spots, far from the hustle and bustle of the big tourist boats.

Stops are planned at various sites ideal for swimming or snorkelling amid a myriad of fish: ilha Comprida, saco da Velha, praia Vermelha... Equipped with mask and snorkel, you can take your time admiring the underwater life.

You arrive in Paraty in the late afternoon. Transfer on foot to your pousada.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Departure from the pousada 7 hours before departure for your transfer to the airport. Flight from Rio (airport, flight time and number to be confirmed).