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Rio arrival
Welcome to Brazil. Private transfer from Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) to your Leme hotel facing Guanabara Bay. Time to unwind after your long-haul flight. Your French-speaking guide introduces the week ahead over a light welcome briefing (timing flexible on arrival day).
Rio is green hills, blue bays and legendary beaches. Copacabana and Ipanema promenades buzz from dawn beach volleyball to late-night bossa nova. Coconut water kiosks line the sand; locals play footvolley between swim sessions.
Sugar Loaf and colonial Rio
After breakfast, half-day excursion to Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar). Cable car to Urca ridge for panoramic snacks, then summit views over Copacabana, Niterói bridge and Corcovado.
Tip: Soft bags travel better on the Costa Verde boats than rigid suitcases. |
Afternoon drive through downtown: colonial churches, Candelaria cathedral exterior and Lapa arches. Optional lunch stop for feijoada or fresh grilled fish (meal not included unless quoted). Duration about four hours with your French-speaking guide.
Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer
Morning transfer to Corcovado cog train through Tijuca Atlantic rainforest. Monkeys and toucans often appear beside the track. At 700 m, stand before the Christ the Redeemer statue (38 m) for 360° views: Maracanã, Botanical Garden, Sugar Loaf and Guanabara Bay.
Afternoon free for beach time, Santa Teresa tram (if operating) or rooftop caipirinha. Your guide shares security tips for camera gear in crowded viewpoints.
Coastal road to Paraty
Breakfast, checkout and private transfer along the Costa Verde (roughly four to five hours with photo stops). Watch the Serra do Mar plunge into emerald coves. Arrive Paraty, a UNESCO colonial port where traffic-free stone streets preserve 18th-century architecture.
Check-in at your boutique pousada. Evening stroll past whitewashed churches and artisan cachaça shops. Paraty hosted the Brazilian gold route; today it hosts literary festivals and quiet harbour lights.
Paraty schooner and islands
Full-day schooner cruise among Paraty bay islands: swim stops, snorkel over fish schools and grilled lunch on board (menu varies by season). Water visibility peaks April–September dry season.
Tip: Three nights per stop is the intended pace: do not squeeze Paraty into one night. |
Return before sunset for caipirinha in the main square. Optional evening samba in a local bar (not included).
Paraty waterfalls and forest
Half-day Mata Atlântica outing: guided trail to Pedra Branca or Tobogã waterfall pools (route depends on group fitness and recent rain). Slippery rocks require sensible footwear.
Afternoon free in town: gold-route museum, chocolate ateliers or kayak hire in the mangrove channel. Your coordinator on the ground confirms tomorrow's ferry timing to Ilha Grande.
Ferry to Ilha Grande
Morning transfer to Conceição de Jacareí or Angra dos Reis pier. Luggage handled dockside. Boat crossing to Vila do Abraão, Ilha Grande's main village (no cars allowed on the island).
Check-in at your pousada. Sunset walk along the sandy main street; seafood dinner with Atlantic breeze. Ilha Grande combines Tropical Atlantic forest protection with laid-back island rhythm.
Lopes Mendes beach
Boat or coastal trail to Lopes Mendes, frequently listed among Brazil's finest beaches: long crescent of pale sand, surf-friendly shallows, no beach bars (bring water and sun protection).
Field note: The April 2025 dossier for this coast kept French-speaking guiding in Rio only, then English or Portuguese on Paraty and Ilha Grande. |
Picnic or simple lunch at a beach kiosk. Return mid-afternoon for optional Praia Preta snorkel or massage at your pousada. Evenings are intentionally quiet: generator curfew in parts of the village.
Island trails and pirate history
Guided hike toward Pico do Papagaio viewpoint or Lagoa Azul swim (route adapted to weather). Your guide explains Jesuit and pirate histories that shaped the island's coves.
Afternoon kayak or stand-up paddle rental optional. Second island night allows a slower pace than rushed mainland hops.
Third island day
Free buffer for repeat beach time, boat tour to Lagoa Verde, or scuba intro dive (optional, not in base package). Ilha Grande's trails stay muddy after rain; pack light dry bags for electronics.
Farewell dinner: grilled fish and tropical fruit. Tomorrow you begin the return arc toward Rio.
Return toward Rio
Morning boat to the mainland pier and private road transfer toward the Rio metropolitan area (timing avoids rush-hour bottlenecks when possible). Two-night buffer near Rio secures comfortable international departure windows and optional last-minute shopping.
Overnight in the Rio area (hotel category per quote).
Departure day
Breakfast and private transfer to GIG (or SDU if your dossier specifies Santos Dumont) in time for your international flight. The ground team monitors traffic alerts; Travel Differently reconfirms pickup time the day before.
End of services.
Practical notes
- Luggage: soft bags help on boats; one main piece plus daypack per person is ideal.
- Season: April–September drier on the coast; summer (Dec–Mar) brings heat and occasional downpours.
- Fitness: easy to medium; Corcovado and island trails include steps and humidity.
- Language: French-speaking guide in Rio; English or Portuguese guides on coast segments (confirm on quote).
- Payments: cards widely accepted in Rio; carry cash for island kiosks and small tips.
- Insurance: medical and evacuation cover required for hiking segments.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a group tour? No. Private vehicle, boat seats and guides for your party only, priced by traveller count (see quote form).
Paraty or Ilha Grande? Both, three nights each. Paraty is colonial streets and a schooner day; Ilha Grande is the car-free island and Lopes Mendes.
How do we go from Paraty to Ilha Grande? Private transfer to the ferry, then the boat. No domestic flight on this arc.
Are domestic flights included? No. This arc deliberately avoids internal flights. All segments are road and ferry.
Can I add nights in Rio or Ilha Grande? Yes. Request extra nights on your Travel Differently quote before deposit.
What hotels are used? Indicative 4* properties such as Arena Leme in Rio, boutique pousadas in Paraty and Ilha Grande. Exact names on your signed quote.
Is Rio safe for tourists? Licensed guides and daytime transfers follow vetted routes. Travel Differently shares current notes on the Brazil hub.
How does this compare to the Brazil Highlights tour? The Brazil Highlights tour flies to Iguazu and Salvador. This tour deep-dives the Costa Verde instead.
What is the best group size? Nine to twelve travellers unlock the lowest per-person tier; couples and families of three pay the small-group rate.
Ready to confirm rooming? Request a tailor-made quote.
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