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Rio de Janeiro |
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Cristo (Corcovado)
The statue of Christ has overlooked Rio since 1931. All 1145 tons of the statue are visible day and night from many locations throughout Rio. |
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Carnaval
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is the world’s largest street party. It started as a celebration to mark the beginning of Lent.
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Sugar Loaf Mountain
Sugar Loaf Mountain guards the entrance to Guanabara Bay. The cable-car to the top was only the third in the world when it was built in 1912.
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Maracana Stadium
The Maracana Stadium was built to hold the 1950 World Cup Final where almost 200,000 people were shocked to see Brazil lose to Uruguay. It is being refurbished in the hope of hosting the final again in 2014. |
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Copacabana Beach
Copacabana is a 4.5km long curve of sand, with hotels, restaurants and clubs lining the seafront, and mountains providing a spectacular backdrop. |
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Ipanema Beach
Ipanema is not only a beautiful city beach, but also a district of tree-lined boulevards filled with restaurants, bars and boutiques.
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Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
The lagoon is circled by a 7km path and lies just a few blocks from Ipanema beach and also the Botanical Gardens.
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Centro
The historic centre of Rio has colonial buildings, museums and churches dating from the city’s early days as the capital of Brazil. |
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Petrópolis
Petrópolis is a small colonial mountain town 80km from Rio, with fine palaces, museums and churches dating back to when the Emperor of Brazil used it as a summer retreat. |
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The Islands of Angra dos Reis
Hundreds of tiny tropical islands dot the bay of Angra dos Reis, many with beautiful, secluded beaches of soft white sand and turquoise waters. |
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Schooner Tour
Take a schooner trip along the beaches to Itaipú, where the tour stops for lunch and a swim. |
| US & Canada Toll Free: |
| 1 877 240 4770 |
| UK Line: |
| +44 207 096 1259 |
| International Line: |
| +1 512 535 2536 |
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Paraty
Paraty grew in importance because the only way people could travel from Rio to the goldfields was up the hills from the town. |
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Costa Verde
The spectacular road along the Costa Verde was only built in 1960. Before then, access to Paraty was limited to boats.
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Churches of Paraty
According to legend, pirate treasure found hidden on a local beach was used to finance the construction of one of Paraty’s baroque churches
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Streets of Paraty
The cobbled stone streets of Paraty are named pes-de-moleque or street urchins feet. High tide often covers the cobbles. |
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Paraty Harbor
The harbor in Paraty has seen ships laden with gold, wood, and coffee leave after bringing loads of miners and slaves to Brazil to work in the goldfields. |
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Paraty Bay
Around 70 islands dot Paraty Bay and somewhere in the region of 300 beaches can be found on these islands.
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Trindade
Trindade lies within the boundary of the national park of Serra da Bocaina, which contains the Atlantic Rainforest and waterfalls around the town.
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Cachaça Distillery
Cachaça is made from sugar cane spirit and is the alcoholic ingredient in caipirinha, the Brazilian national drink. |
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Angra dos Reis
Angra dos Reis is so named because the first Europeans to arrive there did so on January 6th – King’s Day in Portugal. |
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Bay of Angra dos Reis
There is one island for every day of the year in the bay of Angra dos Reis. 365 tropical islands of various sizes are dotted around the bay.
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Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande is the biggest of the 365 islands of Angra dos Reis, being around 193 square kilometers.
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Vila do Abraão
Vila do Abraão is a very small town, but still has enough room for 4 churches and a convent, plus bars, restaurants and hotels. |
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Ilha Grande Prison
The presence of the prison on Ilha Grande meant that tourists weren’t welcome until it closed in 1994. |
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Ruins of Ilha Grande
The ruins of old canons, colonial houses and an aqueduct can still be found in various places around Ilha Grande, but the jungle is gradually taking them over.
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Búzios
Nobody seems to agree on just how many beaches there are on the peninsula. There may be 17 or 27, but they are all beautiful. |
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Ossos
Ossos is the Portuguese word for bones. The town may be named this due to the pirates and slave traders who first settled the area.
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Manguinhos
Manguinhos is the closest town to the edge of the peninsula. It has all the amenities expected of a top-class resort town. |
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Armação de Búzios
Armação de Búzios, particularly the paved street of Rua das Pedras, is the place to go for the best restaurants and nightlife in Búzios |
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Cabo Frio
The town of Cabo Frio was founded in 1615 with the building of St Matthew’s Fort to protect the shipments of Brazilwood heading for Europe. |
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Iguacu Falls
Iguacu Falls are shared between Brazil and Argentina. A visit to both sides is essential to experience the full majesty and beauty of the 275 falls. |
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The Devil’s Throat
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is the world’s largest street party. It started as a celebration to mark the beginning of Lent.
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Rainforest
The Atlantic Rainforest remains so lush, meaning it can shelter a great variety of wildlife, thanks to the constant watering from the mist of Iguacu Falls.
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Itaipu Dam
The construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric plant began in 1979. Enough concrete was used to build 200 Maracana Stadiums! |
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Macuco Safari
The trip takes you through the jungle to the river, where boats are waiting to take you for the closest possible view of the falls – from directly underneath!
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Grand Adventure
The Grand Adventure combines a trip through the jungle with a boat ride to the foot of some of the falls, which will make a trip to Iguacu Falls even more memorable!
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Ecological Walk
An Ecological Walk through the jungle is the best way to observe the fantastic diversity of the vibrant Atlantic Rainforest surrounding Iguacu Falls. |
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Rafting
Rafting on the medium-class rapids of the Iguacu River, downstream from the falls, provides excellent views and thrills for people of all ages. |
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Rappelling
Rappelling involves sliding down a wire from the top of the gorge with spectacular views of the falls as you go. |
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Bird Park
A visit to the Bird Park allows you to glimpse many exotic and colorful native birds including parrots, macaws and toucans. |
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The Brazilian honeymoon begins in earnest when the young couple land in Rio de Janeiro. After clearing customs – the newlyweds will be met by a bilingual guide who will describe the illustrious city to them as they pass through it on the way to their hotel – the famous Copacabana Palace where they will be staying in a Sea View Suite. This hotel is easily the most enchanting in all of Rio; the rest of the day is free for the newlyweds to relax after a long flight and – should they wish to leave their room – explore the surrounding beaches a little at their leisure. Ipanema, Leblon, and Copacabana are world famous beaches, all located close to the hotel. Sunset in Rio is a spectacular time as the Cariocas (people from Rio) head for the beaches while the mountains cast long shadows under a pink and golden sky. Should the couple desire, they are strongly encouraged to enjoy a caipirinha cocktail on the beach in front of their hotel as the sun begins to set. |
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Rio de Janeiro |
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After an enjoyable breakfast, the newlyweds will leave for Cosme Velho and the train-ride up to the top of Corcovado, the 710m high mountain on top of which sits the iconic 38m statue of Christ the Redeemer. From the top, the views of Guanabara Bay, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the beaches ringing the city are spectacular. The tour takes the couple alongside the lagoon and the beaches before stopping for a romantic lunch. Following this, they head towards the historical city center; with the cathedral, theater, library and Assembly buildings before finishing with a cable car up to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain, 395m directly above the sea! The views of the city, dwarfed by jungle-covered mountains and framed by the beaches and Guanabara Bay, are absolutely stunning. The tour lasts for around 8 hours and includes entrance fees. After returning to the hotel the newly weds will have a few free hours at their leisure before they are taken to one of Rio’s most exclusive restaurants – the Porcão Rio for a romantic Brazilian dinner.(Meals – B, L, D) |
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Rio de Janeiro |
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It is more than likely that the honeymooners will want some time to themselves – and this day is dedicated exactly to that. The day is free for the newlyweds to relax together and enjoy the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro to their hearts delight. They may wish to spend time on the beaches, go shopping in the boutiques, or perhaps spend the day on one of our optional extras in the city. These extra excursions include a visit to Petrópolis – the historic mountain town used as a summer escape from the city by the Emperors of Brazil, a schooner tour of the beaches, or a trip around the islands of Angra dos Reis, with their exotic bird and animal life. Feel free to explore our Extra options. After a relaxing day the couple will be treated to an extravagant evening and will be taken to one of Rio’s very best Dinner and Samba shows. Following an evening of fine food and lively Brazilian culture – the couple will be returned to the Copacabana Place.
(Meals – B, D)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: The couple may wish to extend their trip in Rio by a day in order to enjoy more time on the city’s many amazing beaches. |
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Rio de Janeiro to Paraty |
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Following a delicious breakfast, the newly weds will be picked up from their hotel in Rio de Janeiro and driven, in air-conditioned comfort, along a coastal road to Paraty. The drive along the Costa Verde lasts 4 hours and is a spectacular route – mountains line the side of the road and their green jungle slopes drop directly into the sea. Waterfalls can also be seen tumbling down the sides, while golden stretches of paradise appear between the palm trees at the back of the beaches. After arriving at the award winning Bambu Bamboo hotel in Paraty where the couple will be staying in a gorgeous loft suite, the rest of the day is free for the newlyweds to spend at their leisure; getting to know the hotel, and perhaps exploring the town and its stunning surroundings. (Meals – B) |
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Paraty |
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After breakfast, the newlyweds will be led to the harbor where they will depart on a special Paraty Schooner for a tour around the many idyllic beaches in the bay area. The couple will then visit some secluded bays with deserted beaches framed by rocks and jungle, and tiny islands with white sand washed by clear turquoise water. Here they will be able to spend sometime enjoying their isolation in this tropical paradise before returning to Paraty after lunch. In the afternoon the couple will be led on a walking tour of the beautifully preserved colonial town of Paraty with a bilingual guide. Some of the buildings of the town date from its founding as a port in the 16th Century but most of them were built with the prosperity that came after gold was discovered inland at the end of the 17th Century. Paraty was the port used to ship the gold to Europe, but some of it remained behind to decorate baroque churches and mansion houses. Most of the small historical part of town is interesting to see, especially when the rising high tide submerges the town’s cobbled streets with seawater! The harbor and its brightly painted boats are also very pretty, especially with the backdrop of the bay and hundreds of tropical islands. Following the tour the newlyweds will be able to spend the evening relaxing at their leisure. (Meals – B, L)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend the couples trip in Paraty by a day in order to enjoy more time exploring some of the hundreds of beaches along the stunning coastline. Feel free to take a look at our Extra options. |
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Ilha Grande |
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After breakfast the honeymooners will be transferred to the old port of Angra dos Reis, an hour’s drive along the coast. Like Paraty, the port grew as a result of the gold rush, but unlike Paraty, it is still a major port today. The Costa Verde around Angra is perhaps Brazil’s most spectacular stretch of coastline, and the 2 hour ferry journey to Ilha Grande will give the couple ample time to appreciate the magnificent scenery of mountains, jungle, cliffs, islands, bay and deep ocean. The ferry arrives at Vila do Abraão; the stunning main village of the island with its quaint church and palm trees. From the village, the newlyweds will be transferred to their amazing hotel – the Pousada Sitio do Lobo – easily one of the most romantic and exclusive hotels in all of Brazil. In this amazing hotel the couple will be staying in a Master Suite. The rest of the day will be dedicated to leisure and the couple will be able to spend time relaxing at ease in the luxury of the hotel. (Meals – B) |
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Ilha Grande |
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Ilha Grande is the kind of place people never want to leave – it is that beautiful. The romance of the island is incredibly inviting – and with a whole day free, the newly weds will be able to stroll along the islands idyllic beaches, relax in the hotel, and explore the interesting history of the island should they wish to. The history of Ilha Grande and its prison meant that few people wanted to live on the island, despite its rugged natural beauty. The first Europeans to settle on the island were pirates, waiting to attack ships leaving Paraty and Angra dos Reis that were laden with gold from the goldfields inland. The terrain and isolation of the island meant that it served well as a leper colony and a prison for some of Brazil’s most violent criminals. Eventually it came to pass that the island’s beauty was put under protection from further development, meaning that today one is free to explore the ruins of the buildings or relax on one of the islands idyllic beaches in peace and harmony. Trails lead across the island through thick pristine jungle filled with butterflies and birds to deserted beaches, or up hills to secluded waterfalls. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: The honeymooners may wish to extend their trip in Ilha Grande by a day in order to enjoy more time exploring some of the hundreds of beaches along the stunning coastline. Feel free to take a look at ourExtra options. |
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Iguacu |
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After and early breakfast the newly weds will transfer back to Rio and on to the domestic airport for their flight on to the Iguacu Falls; their first chance to catch a glimpse of the 275 separate falls and surrounding jungle coming as the plane lands at Foz de Iguacu. The newlyweds will then be transferred to their suite in the Tropical Cataratas – a luxurious hotel that looks over the incredible falls themselves. For the rest of the day the couple are invited to relax in their amazing hotel room and – should they wish to, explore the Brazilian side of the falls a little by themselves before settling down to enjoy both a cocktail and a spectacular sunset over the thundering falls in comfort and tranquility.
(Meals – B) |
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Iguacu |
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Following breakfast the couple will be guided around the Brazilian side of the falls. The best panoramic views of the world’s most beautiful waterfall are from here, especially the frontal view of The Devil's Throat, the most powerful and spectacular of all the falls. After a spectacular sightseeing morning, the couple will be able to enjoy a romantic lunch at the Porto Canoas restaurant – an amazing restaurant that overlooks the Devils Throat. Following a delicious meal the newlyweds will be taken on the well known Macuco Safari. This involves a drive and a short hike through some of the surrounding Iguacu jungle before boarding a fast outboard motor speedboat. The speed boat races up river towards the falls and provides spectacular views of the water falling from below. The professional drivers of the speedboats are able to skillfully manouvre the boats under some of the falls at the time which is a thrilling experience. Following the tour, the couple will return to their comfortable hotel. This night is left free for them to spend as they wish.
(Meals – B, L) |
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Iguacu to Buzios |
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After breakfast, the newlyweds will be collected by a specialized guide and will cross the river to spend the day on the Argentinean side of the Iguacu Falls. Here, walkways built over the river and alongside the falls will allow the couple to experience the majesty of Iguacu from very close up. They will be able to see, hear and feel the water falling around them from the 80m high plateau to the bottom at many of the 275 separate falls. Without a doubt, the highlight of this tour is standing on the very edge of The Devil's Throat as water pounds the bottom, creating the roar and the mist that make it possible for Iguacu Falls to be heard and seen for miles around. In the afternoon the couple will cross the river once more before being led to the airport for their flight back out to Rio. At the airport in Rio the couple will be met by one of our representatives and then transferred to Buzios – a beach town made famous by Brigitte bardot and easily one of the most romantic places in Latin America. In the last destination of their honeymoon – the couple will be staying in a suite in the idyllic Casa Brancas.
(Meals – B) |
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Buzios |
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With picturesque views and postcard beaches, the couple will be able to spend the day relaxing at ease on the beaches, or in the towns many elegant restaurants and boutiques. Búzios has been Brazil’s most glamorous beach resort ever since Brigitte Bardot discovered its romantic charms in the 1960’s, but there are actually three small settlements that make up the area. Ossos is the old fishing village that appears to have lost nothing of its quaintness or beauty, with the winding cobblestone streets and picturesque harbor at the tip of the peninsula. Manguinhos has the sophisticated boutiques while Armação de Búzios has the best restaurants and resort amenities for your evening entertainment.
(Meals – B) |
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Buzios |
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After breakfast, the honeymooners will be picked up from their hotel and taken on a two hour trolley-bus tour of the beautiful Búzios peninsula. The 25 beaches of soft white sand washed by turquoise waters and backed by palm trees waving in the ocean breeze seem to come straight from a tropical paradise. The lush green vegetation of the area, including the islands of the bay, along with the deep blue sea and azure sky make for fantastic photographs and great places to swim in calm, clear water. The open trolley tour takes the couple to 12 of those beaches, including some of the quieter ones which they might otherwise not get the chance to see. In the afternoon the couple will be returned to their hotel. As this is will be the last night of the honeymoon, the evening is left free for the couple to spend at their pleasure.
(Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: The couple may wish to extend their honeymoon in Buzios in order to enjoy more time on some of the 25 idyllic beaches in the area. |
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Return to Rio |
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Following breakfast the couple will be transferred to the international airport in Rio de Janeiro for their flight home. The honeymoon comes to an end as the couple board the plane for their flight back home and the beginning of a happy life together.
(Meals – B) |
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