Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Brazil – Fortaleza – Prea – Barra Grande – Atins – Sao Luis – The Amazon – Brasilia – Jatai – Salvador – Lencois – The Pantanal
100% customisable for you
Kick off your luxury nature sabbatical on Brazil’s northeastern coast, in the pretty city of Fortaleza. Home to 15 miles of sandy beaches dotted with coconut palms, this shoreside showstopper is famed for its warm hospitality, sunset views and lively restaurants.
Having made a start on your enviable tan, hop in a private transfer to Prea, a four-hour drive away. When you arrive, settle in for three nights in this equally cool coastal charmer, where you’ll test your driving chops during a day spent beach buggying over the white-sand dunes in Jericoacoara National Park.
Then, keep cruising along the coast with another private transfer to Barra Grande, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. Enjoy your first brush with Brazil’s brilliant wildlife by meeting an expert guide for a spot of bird watching in the Parnaiba Delta, the largest open-sea delta in the Americas. Binoculars at the ready – it’s time to search for the rare (and conveniently colourful) red ibis.
Put the state of Ceara in the rearview this morning as you continue west to Maranhao, where the secluded village of Atins awaits. After a four-hour private transfer from Barra Grande (including a 20-minute boat crossing), check in to your next hotel, drop your bags and prepare to be wowed.
The star of the show here is the nearby Lencois Maranhenses National Park, known for its white-sand dunes and rainwater lagoons. While you’re in Atins, spend an entire day exploring the park with an expert guide, gliding back over the water and venturing into Lencois to discover picturesque plains and (hopefully) spot some more brilliant birdlife.
Round out your time in Maranhao with two nights in the UNESCO-listed capital, Sao Luis – a five-and-a-half-hour journey away. Time to perch outside cafes, duck into museums and delve back into the buzz of another beautiful Brazilian city.
Kiss the coastal cool of Sao Luis goodbye this morning as you catch a flight to Manaus via Brasilia, a journey which takes roughly six hours. The essential starting point for all Amazon adventures, Manaus is the capital of – no surprise here – the state of Amazonas.
Having spent a night settling in and exploring the city, kickstart your rainforest ramblings with a private speedboat journey along the Rio Negro. Here, you’ll witness the fantastically photogenic phenomenon of the Meeting of the Waters, where the Rio Negro and the Solimoes flow side by side.
Then, delve further into the wilderness with three nights in a remote rainforest lodge. This will serve as your base for jungle hikes, wildlife watching and piranha fishing (yes, really). Of course, there will also be plenty of other water-based wildlife to spot, including pink dolphins, frogs and caimans. Cameras at the ready...
Emerge from the Amazon this morning and return to Manaus for the three-hour flight back to Brasilia, where, this time, you’ll stay the night. Time to contact your local Concierge for some stellar restaurant recommendations.
Having glimpsed the futuristic fervour of Brazil’s capital, you’ll be privately transferred to a traditional pousada (guesthouse) near Jatai, in the heart of the Cerrado savanna. After just over five hours on the road, check in, drop your bags and tuck into a delicious dinner. Churrasco (steakhouse barbecue), anyone?
Spend the next three nights in the centre of this vibrant and varied ecoregion. There are plenty of opportunities for exploring, from heading out with an expert biologist on a birdwatching walk and cycling along the roads of the Trijuncao Farm on a fat bike to searching for maned wolves at dawn and dwarf caimans (the world’s smallest crocodiles) after dark.
Armed with a colourful camera roll, return to Brasilia for the two-hour flight to Salvador. Between strolls through the UNESCO-listed district of Pelourinho and stints in the city’s music bars, head to the Bahia district for an immersion in the former stomping ground of local literary legend, Jorge Amado. Your next pub quiz opponents won’t know what hit them.
Take to the skies again this morning on the one-hour flight to Lencois, which – rather confusingly – has nothing to do with the Lencois Maranhense desert, one of your earlier stops. Instead, it’s home to the equally awe-inducing Chapada Diamantina National Park, a vast expanse of verdant valleys, tropical trails and roaring rivers.
Start exploring with a stroll through the streets of Lencois. Then, venture further afield to see the natural pools of the Rio Serrano, the Cachoeirinha waterfalls and the Salao de Areia, which features a series of colourful sandstone walls – the ideal background for a mid-sabbatical snap to update friends and family.
Next up: a swim in the underground waters of the Poco Azul, followed by a visit to the village of Igatu, which has remained unchanged since the diamond-mining boom. Dig deep (sorry) here on a tour of the old diamond prospecting site before ducking into an art gallery filled to the brim with more local mining lore.
Finally, lace up your walking boots for a hike to the 1,120ft Cachoeira da Famaca waterfall. After scaling this scenic spot, tuck into lunch with a view before returning to Lencois for the evening.
Rise and shine: your flight to the bright lights of Sao Paulo (via Salvador) awaits. You’ll be in the air for roughly three-and-a-half hours, giving you plenty of time to scroll through your camera roll before touchdown.
Make the most of your one night in Sao Paulo by contacting your trusty Concierge for some delicious dinner recommendations. Then, hop on another flight for the final two-hour stint into the Pantanal – the world’s largest tropical wetland.
For the next three nights, you’ll stay in a safari lodge near the city of Campo Grande, heading out each day to witness the bountiful biodiversity of this sprawling UNESCO-listed landscape.
During your time in the Pantanal, you can hope to encounter (deep breath) jaguars, capybaras, pumas, caimans, anteaters, river otters, monkeys and snakes. And that’s not all – budding birdwatchers will also want to look out for the 650 species that call the region home.
When you’re not cosplaying a nature documentary presenter, enjoy scenic sunset hikes, dinners under a star-studded sky and even the occasional horse ride. Giddy up…
Leave the Pantanal behind this morning with a one-hour-and-40-minute flight to Sao Paulo, followed by a four-hour-and-30-minute flight to Rio de Janeiro.
When you arrive in this iconic city, check in, drop your bags and hit the ground running with a private tour of none other than Christ the Redeemer. Afterwards, wander down to the shore for guided visits to the beaches of Copacabana, Arpoador and Ipanema.
The following day, head to the hilltop district of Santa Teresa for a private walking tour of its elegant mansions, chic hotels and quirky cocktail bars. If that wasn’t enough excitement, you’ll also dip into a local artist’s studio (just in time for a souvenir stop).
Round out your romp in Rio with a hike to the summit of Pedra Bonita National Park, where you’ll be treated to views over the city, coast and Tijuca rainforest – well worth the 50-minute climb. On the way down, keep an eye out for toucans, coatis and howler monkeys. Is there any better way to end your time in Brazil than an encounter with one of these local legends? We think not.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
