Rio, Paraty, Iguaçu Falls and Bahia. Day-by-day itinerary: Arrival & Ipanema; Christ the Redeemer & Santa Teresa; Sugarloaf & Copacabana; On to Paraty.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival & Ipanema
09:00 — Arrival at Rio GIG or SDU
13:00 — Hotel in Ipanema or Leblon
15:00 — Ipanema Beach — Ipanema
Walk to Arpoador — Ipanema → Arpoador
19:00 — Sunset at Arpoador — Arpoador
Walk back to Ipanema — Arpoador → Ipanema
21:00 — Churrasco rodízio — Ipanema
Day 2 — Christ the Redeemer & Santa Teresa
08:00 — Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado) — Corcovado
Taxi to Santa Teresa — Corcovado → Santa Teresa
11:00 — Santa Teresa bonde (tram) — Santa Teresa
13:00 — Feijoada in a traditional Santa Teresa bar — Santa Teresa
Walk to Lapa — Santa Teresa → Lapa
16:00 — Selarón Steps — Lapa
21:00 — Forró night in Lapa — Lapa
Day 3 — Sugarloaf & Copacabana
09:00 — Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) — Botafogo
Taxi to the centre — Botafogo → Centre Rio
12:30 — Per-kilo buffet lunch — Centre Rio
Head to Copacabana — Centre Rio → Copacabana
18:00 — Sunset stroll along Copacabana — Copacabana
21:00 — Caipirinha + petiscos — Copacabana
Day 4 — On to Paraty
08:00 — Drive Rio → Paraty (4h)
13:00 — Colonial pousada — Paraty
15:00 — UNESCO-listed colonial historic centre — Paraty
20:00 — Seafood dinner & local cachaça — Paraty
Day 5 — Ilha Grande
08:00 — Boat to Ilha Grande (1h30) — Paraty → Ilha Grande
Walk to the trailhead — Ilha Grande
10:00 — Hike & Lopes Mendes Beach — Ilha Grande
13:00 — Lunch in Vila do Abraão — Ilha Grande
17:00 — Back to Paraty
Day 6 — Flight to Iguaçu Falls
07:00 — Drive Paraty → Rio (4h)
13:00 — Flight Rio → Foz do Iguaçu (2h)
16:30 — Hotel in Foz do Iguaçu
17:30 — Brazilian side of the falls — the big picture — Parc National de l'Iguaçu
Day 7 — Argentine side of the falls & Itaipu
08:00 — Border crossing → Puerto Iguazú (Argentina)
09:00 — Garganta del Diablo — Devil's Throat — Parc National Iguazú (AR)
13:00 — Lunch in Puerto Iguazú
16:00 — Itaipu Dam — panoramic tour — Itaipu
Day 8 — Flight to Salvador
10:00 — Flight Foz do Iguaçu → Salvador (via São Paulo, ~4h)
15:00 — Hotel in Pelourinho or Barra — Salvador
Head to the Farol — Salvador → Barra
17:00 — Sunset at Farol da Barra — Barra
Walk to dinner — Barra → Salvador
20:00 — Moqueca de peixe — Salvador
Day 9 — Pelourinho
09:00 — UNESCO-listed Pelourinho historic centre — Pelourinho
11:30 — São Francisco Church (gilded Baroque interior) — Pelourinho
13:00 — Acarajé lunch — Pelourinho
18:00 — Capoeira show — Pelourinho
20:30 — Dinner with live music — Pelourinho
Day 10 — Salvador culture
09:00 — Mercado Modelo — Salvador
11:00 — Elevador Lacerda — view over the Bay of All Saints — Salvador
13:30 — Lunch at the Mercado do Rio Vermelho
16:00 — Porto da Barra beach — Barra
20:00 — Seafront dinner
Day 11 — Morro de São Paulo
08:00 — Catamaran to Morro de São Paulo (2h30) — Salvador → Morro de São Paulo
11:00 — Pousada in Morro de São Paulo
14:00 — Beach tour by buggy (1st to 5th beach) — Morro de São Paulo
20:00 — Dinner facing the sea
Day 12 — Relaxing in Morro de São Paulo
09:00 — Diving or snorkelling in the natural pools — Boipeba
13:00 — Grilled fish lunch on Boipeba island
15:30 — Quarta Praia beach — lazing around — Morro de São Paulo