Brazil Custom Group Vacation Package – Rio de Janeiro New Year’s on Copacabana Beach, Buzios, Iguazu Falls and Fernando de Noronha (14 Nights).

Day by Day Itinerary

This is a Sample Rio de Janeiro New Year’s on Copacabana Beach, Buzios, Iguazu Falls and Fernando de Noronha Travel Itinerary that we have created for customers in the past.

Day 1 – Dec 30th – Rio de Janeiro
Welcome to Rio! A guide will be waiting for you at the airport with your name on a sign. A private transfer to your hotel will follow. With this package you will discover Rio’s most famous points. The ‘Marvelous City’ as Rio’s inhabitants (the Cariocas) call it, is indeed one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the world. Uniquely situated on a narrow strip of land between the green mountains and the deep blue sea it is surrounded by granite based mountains, coves, and white sand beaches. The most famous coastal mountain is the Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf), which has wonderful views of the city, the bay, and the Corcovado (the statue of Christ). The city’s inhabitants thrive on dance, music, beach, sports, and have a lust for life, which is manifested in full-scale once a year at New Year’s.

Day 2 – Dec 31st – Rio de Janeiro
Free Day in Rio de Janeiro Enjoy this day to relax and get rested for the New Year’s dinner and party at your hotel and to watch the fireworks and festivities on Copacabana Beach.

Day 3 – Jan 1st – Rio de Janeiro
Wake up at your leisure and after lunch enjoy a relaxing half day tour of Tijuca Forest and Botanical Garden. Tijuca Forest, an area in ecological preservation of the Atlantic Forest, is the biggest urban forest in the world. Stop at the Chinese View Turret – where you will be able to see Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, the Guanabara Bay, and Niterói. Walk around waterfalls of crystalline waters and hike through mild trails inside the forest. To finish our tour through the wonderful city, we’ll visit the Botanic Garden, created by D.João VI in 1817 to serve as a cultivation center of exotic plants. No other garden can be compared to this one because of its large variety of species, such as the Imperial Palm-tree, the Victoria water lilies, models of Brazil Wood, and many almost extinct trees. With pleasing hiding-spots, it was one of the favorite places of Tom Jobim, co-inventor of the bossa nova music.

Day 4 – Jan 2nd – Rio de Janeiro
Christ Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain Tour with lunch. You will be picked-up from the hotel after breakfast in an executive car to visit the most famous landmarks of the city and see the natural beauty of Rio de Janeiro from up above. After a scenic drive along Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, passengers arrive at the bottom of the Corcovado Hill. The Christ statue known as the “wonder of Rio” was recently elected one of the 7 “New Wonders of the World”. Upon arrival at the top, guests can use the panoramic elevators or escalators to arrive at the foot of the statue. There, passengers can enjoy a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro and discover why it is called the “Marvelous City”. Over a million tourists each year visit the world famous ‘Pão de Açúcar’, (Sugar Loaf Mountain), which has become an iconic symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Rising up from a small peninsula at the entrance of Guanabara Bay, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of a concentrated, refined sugar loaf. The journey to the top is made in glass cable-cars. The cable-car rises 395 meters above sea level and offers a 360 degree view of the entire city including Botafogo and Copacabana Beaches, Corcovado Mountain, and downtown Rio de Janeiro.

Day 5 – Jan 3rd – Buzios
Transfer-out of Rio/Arrival day in Buzios In the morning, your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the coastal beach town of Buzios. This trip takes approximately 3.5 hours. Upon arrival, check-in to your hotel and a free afternoon to enjoy beautiful Buzios, Rio de Janeiro. In the evening we suggest going out to Rua das Pedras, a cobblestone street that runs down the center of Buzios with shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Perfect for an evening stroll or to have a night out to eat. The beautiful city of Búzios, located just 111 miles (180 km) east of Rio de Janeiro City, encompasses everything that paradise in the tropics is supposed to. This lovely beach town has a total of 27 white- sand beaches, nice calm waters, and a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere.

Day 6 – Jan 4th – Buzios
Arraial do Cabo Boat Trip Tour: Enjoy a day trip to visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil in Arraial do Cabo, about 40 km from Buzios. You will enjoy a boat a trip to some of the nicest beaches of the region and experience the amazing blue waters and have a chance to see the marine life of the area. You will get to know the main beaches such as Praia dos Anjos, Prainha, Ilha do Farol, and Praia do Forno and have plenty of chances to stop for a swim. The option for a barbecue and a happy hour on board the boat is also available

Day 7 – Jan 5th – Buzios
Free Day in Buzios Free Day in Buzios to just relax or take advantage of some optional activities available.

Day 8 – Jan 6th – Iguazu Falls
Transfer-out of Buzios/Arrival in Iguazu Falls At the specified time, your driver will pick you up from your hotel to transfer you back to the Rio airport for your flight to Iguazu Falls Upon arrival in Iguazu Falls, another guide will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel. This semicircular waterfall at the heart of this site is some 80 m high and 2,700 m in diameter and is situated on a basaltic line spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil. Made up of many cascades producing vast sprays of water, it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The surrounding subtropical rain forest has over 2,000 species of vascular plants and is home to the typical wildlife of the region: tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and caimans.

Day 9 – Jan 7th – Iguazu Falls
Full Day Brazil Falls/Macuco Boat Safari/Bird Park Tour with Lunch: Light stroll descending to the canyon that offers the most panoramic view of the more than 240 different falls. Penetrate the mist of the Devil’s Throat on the main walkway. Take the glass elevator up the cliff in front of a view from the upper deck. The Iguassu National Park along its “sister” park in Argentina forms the most significant remaining rain forest in the southern cone which together with the cataracts has been declared a National Heritage Site by UNESCO. Still in the Iguassu National Park on the Brazilian side, the MACUCO boat trip starts with a ride through the jungle in special 4×4 vehicles. Hike down the Iguassu canyon and board inflatable boats. Take an exciting trip through the rapids and arrive at the base of the waterfalls with a view of the Devils throat. Get your hair wet in the mist and feel of the forces of nature. Before returning to the hotel, you will make a pleasant stop at the Bird Park conveniently located at the entrance of the Iguassu National Park, and fully integrated into its natural surroundings. Mingle with and photograph hundreds of different native and exotic birds, snakes, caimans, marmosets and butterflies in spacious walk-through aviaries and trails that wind through the jungle.

Day 10 -Jan 8th – Iguazu Falls
Full Day Argentinian Falls Tour with lunch: Visit the upper walkways which allow a different perspective and more intimate contact with the falls and adjoining rainforests filled with orchids, bromeliads, birds and other wildlife. The highlight of the trip is a visit the suspended platform at the very brink of the abysms Devil’s Throat – largest of waterfalls. This trip shows you the highlights of the Argentine side.  In the evening you will be taken to a Folkloric dinner show where you will experience the culture and dance of the 3 countries that meet in Iguazu – Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil.

Day 11 – Jan 9th – Fernando de Noronha
Transfer Out of Iguazu/Arrival Day in Fernando de Noronha. At the specified time, your driver will transfer from your hotel in Iguazu to the airport for your flights to Noronha. Upon arrival in Noronha, another guide, with your name on a sign, will be waiting for you inside the Island tax paying area. After paying the Island tax he will take you to your hotel or pousada. After your check-in and lunch at your hotel, you will then be taken by a private English-speaking guide on the island tour. This tour will show you the entire island, so that you can better explore your favorite sites the following days of your trip. We suggest you have dinner at Ekologicus, a seafood restaurant near the port. After dinner, you will no doubt want to relax and prepare for day 2 of your Fernando de Noronha experience.

Day 12 – Jan 10th – Fernando de Noronha
On your second day on the island you will follow the Sancho Trekking Trail to see the dolphins returning to their resting bay in the morning. We suggest lunch at the Dolphin Hotel. Then, in the afternoon you will be taken on a boat ride which covers the inner sea of the island. There is good chance of seeing the island’s famous Spinner Dolphin as they depart their bay on their way to high sea for feeding. We recommend dinner at the Italian restaurant – Morena.

Day 13 – Jan 11th – Fernando de Noronha
This morning you will be taken on a dive trip, leaving your pousada at 8am and returning at 12.00. The tour will embark from the main port, where you will be taken by boat to 2 different dive locations. You will have the opportunity to see a marvelous array of beautiful marine life, for which Fernando de Noronha is famous. Baptism Dives (for non-certified divers with a private instructor) are also available. You will be taken by boat to a suitable location, with a shallower depth, and will spend a maximum of 30 minutes under the water. Today the morning is free to spend as you wish, relaxing at the pousada, driving to visit one of your favorite beaches or perhaps going for a walk along the spectacular island cliffs. We suggest you lunch at Cantinho do Porto, near the harbor. The afternoon is free to spend as you wish, relaxing at the pousada, driving to visit one of your favorite beaches or perhaps going for a walk along the spectacular island cliffs. Tonight why not try dinner at your pousada. Pousada Zé Maria is famous for its delicious dishes designed by a Cordon Bleu chef.

Day 14 – Jan 12th – Fernando de Noronha
Today you will be taken on your second dive trip or you can try the Plana Sub snorkeling trip. The tour will embark from the main port, where you will be taken by boat to 2 different dive locations. You will have the opportunity to see a marvelous array of beautiful marine life, for which Fernando de Noronha is famous. Baptism Dives (for non-certified divers with a private instructor) are also available. You will be taken by boat to a suitable location, with a shallower depth, and will spend a maximum of 30 minutes under the water. Our lunch suggestion for today is Nascimento Restaurant. The afternoon is free to relax. Why not try dinner at dinner at Tartarugao.

Day 15 – Jan 13th – Fernando de Noronha
On your last day on this beautiful island paradise a 3-hour horseback ride awaits you. You will be given a choice of a variety of trails, depending on your preference and your experience. The trails are either through mountains or along beaches. We suggest you lunch at your pousada today, because at 3pm you will be picked up and taken to the airport.

We are certain that you will have enjoyed your trip and we look forward to seeing you again in Brazil.