Brazil: Pantanal, Iguassu, Rio

Bright, hot, exotic…..
No, no, we are not talking about a woman…!
But this is exactly how Brazil will be remembered by the participants of this expedition!

You should come here for the emotions that will give you a visit to the Iguazu Falls, the famous Pantanal Reserve, a tributary of the Amazon River and the wild Amazon jungle. If you choose Brazil and decide to go to the Pantanal, it is worth remembering that the places here, although visited, are still mostly wild. Protected Latin American lands are no more friendly than Russian taiga or the extreme north. And the cherry on the cake will be the inimitable Rio de Janeiro, the most beautiful city in South America and the second largest in Brazil.

Day 1. Arrival in Campo Grande. Our representative will meet you at the airport. Check-in at the hotel. In the evening a short briefing with your guide and instructing the group. Dinner in one of the local restaurants with national cuisine.
Day 2. Campo Grande – Fazenda Baia das Pedras (310 km/6 hours drive). Early in the morning we board jeeps and set off on a journey through the Pantanal, one of the most interesting regions in the world. Manuel Barrosa, a famous explorer of the South American expanses, wrote about the Pantanal that “it is impossible to measure it because it is boundless”. The first 175 km is a tarmac road, then 135 km is a wild jungle road. Along the way you may encounter various wildlife – swamp and pampas deer, capybaras, caimans, howler monkeys, tapirs, wild pigs, toucans, Brazilian jabiru, hyacinths, yellow and red macaws and hundreds of other birds. Arrive in the evening/evening at your hotel and check in. Activities planned for your stay include horse riding, trekking, canoeing and photo safaris in the surrounding area. The Fazenda is located on the shores of the marshy lake of Vasante de Castelo in the neighbourhood of Necolandia, Pantanal. Hospitality and local cuisine are at the heart of the fazenda’s traditions, where guests can try tending cattle and get a closer look at the culture of the locals.
Overnight stay at the hotel of the fazenda.
Day 3. The above mentioned planned activities, but on different days we will definitely try all of them! All excursions are carefully chosen according to the climate and time of year. They are led by local guides who know all about the unique local flora and fauna. Escaping the midday heat, we plan all tours for the morning and closer to the evening. At this time of day the opportunity to observe animal activity is higher. Overnight stay at the hotel of the fazenda.
Day 4. Fazenda Baia das Pedras – Fazenda Barranco Alto (80 km/1,5 hours drive). After breakfast, transfer by car to Fazenda Barranco Alto with stops for photography and wildlife viewing. The transfer is not just hours in the car, it is often during these hours that we manage to see giant anteaters and armadillos – keep your ears open, this is a real safari! Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Further program is tailored to guests’ personal preferences. Activities on offer include a photo safari, a tour of the bends of the Rio Negro in silent boats and kayaks.  Its waters are home to piranhas of various species, as well as river catfish and caimans. The trees that grow along the shore are home to sloths.
Day and night horse riding, hiking, boating, searching for animals at night under the light of floodlights, swimming and exploring the river life. Lunch and overnight at the Barranco Alto fazenda.
Day 5 and 6. Activities mentioned above. All excursions are carefully chosen according to the climate and time of year. They are led by local guides who know all about the unique local flora and fauna. Escaping the midday heat, all tours are scheduled for early morning and closer to evening. At this time of day, the opportunity to observe animal activity is higher. Overnight stay at the fazenda.
Day 7. Fazenda Barranco Alto – Campo Grandi. After breakfast, you will take an unforgettable flight in a small aircraft (Cessna 206 // 210 or Piper Arrow) over the wetlands of the Pantanal, heading back to Campo Grandi. The flight duration is approximately 60 minutes. It will give you a bird’s eye view of the splendour of the Pantanal wetlands with its forested islets, lakes and canals, here and there farms built on high ground to avoid the annual floods. Flying at 183m above the Pantanal, you can see tapirs, capybaras, flocks of birds and other animals.
Transfer to Bonito, 4-6 hours, evening rope technique training to descend into the cave the next day.
Day 8. Visit to Abismo Anhumas Cave. Today you will feel like real climbers! We will descend 72 metres on ropes without even touching the rock to take a small boat tour of the underground lake, exploring the unique, untouched stalactites, some of which even have their own names, then snorkelling or diving, climbing back up the ropes. The fish that live in the cave’s lake got here 2 million years ago, and have since evolved in isolation from the outside world. The lake is replenished with organics and water during the rainy season, it is transparent tens of metres deep, revealing the stalagmites at the bottom.
Day 9. Transfer to Foz do Iguaçu.
Day 10. Today we will visit the Iguazu Falls, a grandiose complex of almost 300 different waterfalls listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The height of the water falls reaches 82 metres! By the way, this place is surrounded by many legends, here is what one of them says: “God wanted to marry a beautiful Aboriginal woman, but she ran away with her lover in a canoe. In anger, God cut the river, creating waterfalls, condemning the lovers to eternal fall.” Beware: in Iguazu National Park, there are dozens of perpetually hungry nosegays in every café. Trying to feed them from your hands can result in serious injuries, while these cute animals will not leave anyone indifferent.
After Iguazu Falls we will visit the famous Iguazu Bird Park. This is a private zoo founded in 1994 by the Crocamp family. The park stretches over 16 hectares and contains about 800 birds. Apart from birds, you can also find butterflies and reptiles that are characteristic of the area.
It is worth noting that this is not just a zoo created for commercial purposes, but also a place to rescue birds from illegal traders, where they are treated and socialised with other birds so that they can return to normal life. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11. Air flight to Rio de Janeiro, transfer to the hotel. In the evening – free time, which we recommend to spend on a walk around Rio. Just enjoy the atmosphere of this cinematic city with a glass of another cachaça (the national drink of Brazilians) or a cup of real Brazilian coffee (where to taste it but here?). The evening is spent at a restaurant on the beaches of Capacabana, where you can taste absolutely everything that lives in the ocean! And tomorrow we will start sightseeing the most colourful sights of this city. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12. A perfect trip to Rio de Janeiro is such an exotic cocktail combining rich culture, fiery dancing and unforgettable experiences. Let’s start exploring this city by climbing the famous Corcovado Hill, home to the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the symbol of Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy amazing views of the city and breathtaking panoramas of the famous Guanabara Lagoon. We will continue our adventure with a visit to Rio’s other significant landmark, Sugar Loaf Rock, ascending by cable car and enjoying stunning views of the city, ocean and surrounding mountains. Next, after lunch at a classic Rio steakhouse, our route takes us to the Selarona Stairs and Maracana Stadium.
Day 13. Copacabana and Ipanema. The famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema await us today, where we will enjoy the Brazilian sun and waves. We’ll swim in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and sample fresh fruit from vendors on the beach. An evening helicopter flight over the city will be one of the most memorable experiences of a lifetime. Later, it is worth visiting local clubs or bars to soak up the atmosphere of this lively and traditional music and dance. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14. Walk through the Rocinha favela, the largest favela in Brazil. Today we will learn about life in the city’s famous slums, walk through these neighbourhoods with a favela resident, meet the locals and experience their life beyond stereotypes. After lunch – free time. Dinner in a Michelin restaurant.
Day 15. Transfer to the airport. Flight home.

• Russian-speaking leader guide
• Domestic air travel to Rio de Janeiro
• Hotel, accommodation in 2-bed rooms. Number of nights according to the program
• All transfers according to the program
• All safaris according to the program
• Jeeping
• Piranha fishing
• Cave diving
• Small aeroplane flight (Cessna 206 // 210 or Piper Arrow)
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Helicopter flight over Rio de Janeiro
• All entrance fees
• All necessary permits and registrations
• Group equipment
• First aid kit

• International air travel
• Visa
• Travel insurance
• Single accommodation
• Lunches and dinners
• Personal equipment
• Any deviations from the program
• Any costs associated with changes to the program
• Tips

Documents:

• Passport
• Plane tickets
• Health insurance
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate

Clothing and footwear:

• Boots/sneakers, 2 pairs
• Fleece jacket
• Bandana or buff
• Sun hat/cap
• Long sleeve shirts/t-shirts
• Lightweight trekking trousers
• Shorts
• T-shirts

Miscellaneous:

• Powerbank (optional)
• Sunglasses
• Mackintosh
• Sun cream spf 50
• Mosquito repellent
• Hygienic lipstick spf 10-15
• Personal first aid kit
• Personal hygiene products, wet wipes, flip-flops.
• Swimwear