Rio Escapade
RIO ESCAPADE
As seen on the TODAY SHOW - Nine Network
10 Days
Day 1 Australia – Rio de Janeiro
In the early 16th century, the Portuguese first arrived at the site where Rio de Janeiro now stands. What they found was a still-watered bay surrounded by a plentiful and lovely landscape. It was love at first sight. The Portuguese promptly built a fortress at the entrance of the bay to ward off those attracted to their tropical paradise, which they called Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro. By 1768 Rio had developed and grown to such an extent that the government was transferred from the previous capital, Salvador, Bahia. Rio was then, as now, a city of intensive trading activities. Its primary asset, Guanabara Bay was not just a beautiful landmark, but also a natural port through which the gold and diamonds, mined in the neighbouring Minas Gerais Mountains, flowed. The gems, used to adorn the ladies of the Portuguese Court, and the as yet rare sugar cane were important commodities in the European markets of this time. When King Joao VI of Portugal landed in Rio in 1808 along with his court and entire entourage, he fell in love with what he saw and experienced, and subsequently helped Rio to become one of the most important political centres in Brazilian history. Brazil achieved independence from Portugal in 1822 and became an empire. Some years later in 1889, the city of Rio enthusiastically witnessed the Proclamation of the Republic of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro has evolved continuously since, remaining a centre for business and the arts while becoming one of the world’s most dynamic cities.
*** PLEASE NOTE: Australian passport holders require a TOURIST VISA in order to enter Brazil. This must be organised PRIOR to departure.
► Arrival transfer ◄
Upon arrival into Rio airport, you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel. (Private service)
**** PLEASE NOTE ****
Please note that there is a Government tax for accommodation in Brazil that must be paid locally and varies between
USD $1.00-$3.00 per room/per night (Tax varies between hotels).
Day 2 Rio de Janeiro (B)
► Half Day Tour visiting Corcovado Mountain and Christ the Redeemer ◄
From any place of the city, visitors can see the most beautiful postcard of Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer statue on the mountain of Corcovado, located 710 meters above the sea level and inaugurated in 1931. This tour begins in Cosme Velho's neighborhood from where the cog train starts a trip through the Tijuca Forest, the largest urban forest in the world, up to the statue. Once there, a breathtaking panoramic view of Rio will be seen. Sights include the Sugar Loaf, Guanabara Bay, the beaches of Southern Zone and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. After the visit of the Corcovado, the tour will continue to São Conrado area with a brief stop at the Pepino beach from where you can appreciate the flight of the hang gliding. (Seat in coach service)
• Tour includes: Land transfers, bilingual guide & entrance fees. (Tour duration: 4 hours)
* * Tour requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate. If there is no one else confirmed for a specific date, a single supplement may apply.
Day 3 Rio de Janeiro (B D)
► Half Day Sugarloaf Mountain Tour ◄
This tour begins through downtown Rio, passing by the Sambodrome, the Metropolitan Cathedral, in pyramid form, with internal diameter of 96 meters and height of 80 meters. Get to know the traditional Cinelândia Square with the historical buildings, the Municipal Theatre, the National Library and the National Museum of Fine Arts. By taking the Aterro do Flamengo, you will be taken to the neighbourhoods of Urca where it is located one of the largest symbols of the city: the Sugar Loaf. This visit is made in two steps by cable car. The first cable car takes passengers to Urca Hill, which is 215 meters high and from where one can have a beautiful view to the Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niterói Bridge and Corcovado hill. From this stage, a second cable car will be taken up to the top with 395 meters to find a splendid view from Copacabana beach, the Santa Cruz fortress and some beaches of Niterói. (Seat in coach service)
• Tour includes: Land transfers, bilingual guide & entrance fees (Tour duration: 4 Hours)
* * Tour requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate. If there is no one else confirmed for a specific date, a single supplement may apply.
► Samba Show & BBQ Dinner ◄ 
Before enjoying the dazzling nightlife of Rio, feast on a scrumptious all you can eat "churrasco" (Gaucho BBQ), including an irresistible buffet of seafood and typical Brazilian dishes. After enjoying dinner, you will be transferred to the second highlight of the night; the most famous show of Rio. During this traditional show, you will get acquainted with the seductive rhythm of the samba, which is the most typical of Brazilian popular music and the signature music of the best known Carnival in the world. (Seat in coach service)
• Tour includes: Return seat in coach transfers, dinner and entrance to show.
* * Please note this tour operates with a minimum 2 passengers. If there are no other clients confirmed for a specific date, a single supplement may apply.
Day 4 Rio de Janeiro (B)
► Half Day Favela da Rochinha Jeep Tour ◄
(*Tour will only operate with a min. of 2 pax. If there are no other passengers booked on the tour, a surcharge may apply.)
You will be picked up at your hotel by convertible Jeeps and make your way to Rocinha Slum via Gávea Road. In this tour we will explore the famous "Favela da Rocinha", the largest slum in South America with around 150,000 inhabitants, where we can watch the routine of this community, visiting local houses, day nurseries and schools. We walk through the small streets, watch the local commerce and visit the gym of the Samba School Acadêmicos da Rocinha. There is also a free market with food and hand made goods from the North and Northwest regions at the Boiadeiro Square. (Seat in coach service)
** PLEASE NOTE:** In order to visit the day nurseries and schools, it is necessary to make a small donation (goods, or money), which will be given directly to the members of the community.
• PICK-UP TIME: 9:00AM & 2:00PM (Tour duration: 3 hours)
Day 5 Rio de Janeiro - Paraty (B)
► Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Paraty ◄
You will be picked up from your hotel/the airport and transferred to your hotel in Paraty. Trip duration approx. 4 hours.
(Seat in coach, driver only service)
Pick up times:
• From Rio hotels: 8:30, 12:30 & 17:00
• From Airport: will meet flights arriving between 8:30 am and 16:30 pm
About 300km from Rio on the BR-101 is the Costa Verde's main attraction, the town of PARATI, where the mountains kiss the sea. There are hundreds of islands, including IIha Grande at the Restinga de Marambaia, which soften the sea for easy swimming and boating. The calm waters, coupled with the natural ports and coves allowed safe passage for Portuguese ships that travelled to Parati to transport sugar cane, and later on, gold to Europe. The stilll waters also protected pirates, who found a safe haven on Ilha Grande.
Inhabited since 1650, Parati (or more correctly, Vila de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios de Paraty) has remained fundamentally unaltered since its heyday as a staging post for the eighteenth-century trade in Brazilian gold, passing from Minas Gerais to Portugal. Before white settlement, the land had been occupied by the Guaianá Indians, and the gold routes followed the old Indian trails down to Parati and its sheltered harbour. Inland raids and pirate attacks necessitated the establishment of a new route linking Minas Gerais directly with Rio de Janeiro, and as trade was diverted to Rio, Parati's fortunes declined. Apart from a short-lived coffee-shipping boom in the nineteenth century, Parati remained hidden away off the beaten track, quietly stagnating but remaining intact. Nowadays though, UNESCO considers Parati to represent one of the world's most important examples of Portuguese colonial architecture and the entire city has been elevated to the status of a national monument. Today, Parati is very much alive with a population of 15,000 mainly involved in fishing, farming and tourism. The town centre was one of Brazil's first planned urban projects and its narrow cobbled streets, out of bounds to motorized transport, are bordered by houses built around courtyards, adorned with brightly coloured flowers and alive with hummingbirds. The cobbles of the streets are arranged in channels to drain off storm water and allow the sea to enter and wash the streets at high tides and full moon. There's an air of prosperity in Parati, as there is in Búzios, yet it has a much more democratic feel to it, and by and large provides a more satisfying experience than its chic counterpart on the Costa do Sol.
Parati is a perfect place simply to wander aimlessly as the turn of each corner brings another picturesque view. The town is small enough that there's no danger of getting lost.
Boats leave from the docks around midday for cruises to see the beaches and island or small motorboats can also be
hired.
Day 6 Paraty (B)
► Half Day City Tour of Paraty (Private Service) ◄
Different from other Brazilian colonial cities, the architecture in Paraty has character, originality and definition which basically creates a living photograph of the XVIII century.
Inhabited since 1650, Parity has remained fundamentally unaltered since its heyday as a staging post for the eighteenth-century trade in Brazilian gold that passed through Minas Gerais to Portugal. Paraty remained hidden away off the beaten track, and UNESCO considers the town to represent one of the world's most important examples of colonial architecture, and the entire city has been elevated to the status of a national monument. The town centre was one of Brazil's first planned urban projects, and houses built around courtyards, adorned with brightly colour flowers and alive with hummingbirds, border its narrow cobbled streets, out of bounds to motorized transport. The cobblestones of the streets are arranged in channels to drain off water and allow the sea to enter and wash the streets at high tides.This guided tour through the old part of town will provide you an insight into the history and legends of this charming town and is ideal for those interested in filming and photography.
• Tour includes: Return transfers, private English speaking guide. (Tour duration: approx. 2 hours)
(**PLEASE NOTE: Excludes entrance fees- These are paid locally.**)
Day 7 Paraty - Rio de Janeiro (B)
► Transfer: Paraty to Rio de Janeiro◄
You will be picked up from your hotel in Parati and transferred to your hotel in Rio de Janeiro or to the airport. Trip duration approx. 4 hours. (Seat in coach service)
• Pick up times from Paraty: 8:30 and 12:30
Day 8 Rio de Janeiro - Santiago - Sydney (B)
► Departure transfer ◄
You will be met by our guide from your hotel foyer, and transferred to Rio airport. (Private service)
Day 9 In flight
Day 10 Arrive in Sydney
END OF SERVICES
PACKAGE (Land and Air): PRICES FROM: AUD $2,881. p/ person, based on Double room. (Tourist class Hotels)
(Plus dep. tax. This is charged once the tickets are issued).
Package Includes:
Accommodation as per detailed itinerary above with private facilities and government taxes (GST).
Flights ex Melbourne / Sydney / Brisbane
Meals as indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
Meeting and transfers with English speaking guides as per written itinerary.
Comprehensive sightseeing and excursions with bilingual guide as per written itinerary.
Not Included:
****Fuel surcharges and airport government taxes. ($605 p/p at time of publication)
Visas (Australians passport holders require a visa to enter Brazil)
Any tour or suggestion that are clearly an optional suggestion of what you can do during your trip.
Personal spending including, drinks, telephone calls, tips, laundry and additional meals.
Please note that this is only a quote and all prices are subject to services confirmation.
For further details, talk to the locals! South America Tourism Office Ph: 9654-7977, Fax 9650- 8177