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Arrival in 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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Upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, a bilingual guide will explain the city on the way. The rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure getting to know the Marvellous City with beaches like Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana and restaurants and boutiques in the boulevards nearby, as well as its people, the Cariocas, who put on the world's largest party at Rio's Carnaval. Sunset in Rio is a spectacular time as the Cariocas head for the beaches while the mountains cast long shadows under a pink and golden sky. You can also spend the evening sampling some of Brazil’s exotic food and drink. |
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Rio de Janeiro Full Day Tour |
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After breakfast, you will be met by our Jeep Tour for a visit to the Corcovado, atop stands the statue of Christ, here the views of Guanabara Bay, Sugar Loaf Mountain & beaches ringing the city are spectacular. Afterwards you will have a break for lunch at la Quinta, then go for an adventure boat ride down the coast of Rio, also visiting some of the islands off the coast. Just before sundown, you'll finish the day via cable car to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain, definitely the most stunning view of the city. The tour lasts 7-8 hours and includes entrance fees and lunch. In the evening hours, private tours will be accompanied by our representatives to experience the nightlife of Lapa, an experience you will never forget. (Meals - B, L) |
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Free day in Rio |
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The day is free for you to enjoy Rio de Janeiro as you wish – whether that is spending time on the beaches, spending money in the boutiques, or spending the day on one of our optional tours. If you’d prefer to be at sea, we have a schooner tour of the beaches, or a trip around the islands of Angra dos Reis, with their exotic bird and animal life. You can relax in Rio’s beautiful tropical surroundings on white sand beaches and turquoise waters. You can also visit Petrópolis, the historic mountain town used as a summer escape from the city by the Emperors of Brazil. Lunch is included on all trips. Feel free to take a look at the Extra options. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your 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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After being picked up from your hotel in Rio, you will be driven along the 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. Upon arrival you will be greeted by your guide, and allowed as much time as needed to get unpacked and settled before your light walking tour of the beautifully preserved colonial town of Paraty. The cobbled stone streets of Paraty are lined with baroque churches and mansion homes, atmosphere that is sure to bring you to a slow after the bright lights of Rio. (Meals – B) |
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Paraty Tour |
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After breakfast, the day will begin at the harbor amongst brightly painted boats of Paraty. CAT has arranged your visit on a comfortable colonial lounge cotter, amongst some of the hundreds of tropical islands off and along the coast of Paraty. In the afternoon hours you will be shown back to one of our hand selected pousadas, having the remainder of the evening at your leisure. Please contact one of our destination specialist for more information on some of the excellent dining options and small venues to experience some of the more lively Brazilian music and culture.
(Meals - B)
Please note: Custom Group passengers will travel to Paraty via bus without guide |
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Paraty to Ilha Grande |
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After breakfast you 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 gives you 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, you will transfer to your hotel on foot, or by boat if necessary as cars are prohibited on Ilha Grande. (Meals – B) |
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Ilha Grande |
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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. You can feel a long way from home during a free day on Ilha Grande. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Extend your 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 our Extra options (Meals – B) |
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Return to Rio |
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After breakfast, catch the ferry from Ilha Grande back to Angra dos Reis for your transfer to the airport or hotel in Rio de Janeiro. (Meals – B)
CAT Tip - Make the most of the trip: Instead of returning to Rio continue down the coast to Sao Paulo in order to explore the biggest city in South America. |
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