Upon arrival, you’ll be met by an Atelier driver/concierge who will help you through Rio de Janeiro Airport and onwards to your boutique Rio hotel. This evening is spent at leisure.

The first full day of this luxury Brazil trip starts with a tour of Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, two of Rio’s top highlights. Standing 100ft-tall atop Corcovado Mountain in the Corcovado National Park, Rio’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue has watched over the city since 1926 and offers incredible panoramas of the city and coastline below. In the company of your guide, you can either drive to the entrance of Christ the Redeemer or hike a trail through the Tijuca Forest to get there. Time can be taken admiring the monument and surrounding views, before lunch at a local churrascaria BBQ restaurant and on to Sugarloaf Mountain, overlooking Guanabara Bay. Taking the Sugarloaf cable car above the Urca Neighborhood, you’ll glide over the city for more spectacular views and a unique look at this dramatic stretch of coastline – the beaches, bars and bustle of Rio down below.

On Day 3, a full tour of Rio is the best way to see this intoxicating city. Begin in the Lapa Neighborhood with your local guide, known for its historical buildings and monuments like the colorful Lapa Steps, 18th -century Carioca Aqueduct (Arcos de Lapa), and colonial houses now covered in street art murals. Depending on your interests, the history tour of Rio continues after lunch with landmarks including the Royal Palace, Copacabana Fort, Parque Lage, or the ornately adorned Igreja São José Church. Later, contemporary Rio comes to life with through the cool cafes and cocktail bars around Copacabana Beach, perfect at sunset before an evening at leisure.

Today is free time to see more highlights of Rio, or simply kick back on Ipanema Beach and the bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa. A walk through the Tijuca National Park or impressive Botanical Gardens is always recommended, as are heritage stops like the National History Museum, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, and Museum of the Republic. This evening, we recommend indulging in a top Rio restaurant, enjoying the city’s famous nightlife, or shaking your moves in a samba class.

From the bustling bars and busy beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the cobbled streets of colonial Paraty, this Big in Brazil Tour takes in one Brazil’s prettiest coastal towns on Day 5. Driving from Rio to Paraty with your guide, the scenic journey will take 4-5 hours. Once out of Rio’s urban sprawl you’ll pass small settlements, open fields and lush, hilly countryside with the Atlantic Ocean almost always in view as you drive. Upon arrival, check into your boutique Paraty hotel and enjoy a tour of the town. This charming 17th century settlement has roots going back to Brazil’s gold rush and is known for its quaint streets, local cuisine and nearby beaches. This evening can be spent at leisure.

A Paraty boat trip is a fantastic way to see this stunning part of the country on Day 6. After a relaxed morning, board a small boat and sail along Brazil’s Green Coast to the best beaches around Paraty, passing coves and idyllic shores as you go. There will be chance to swim in the clear seas and circle some of the many untouched islands that border Paraty, before a stop for lunch either aboard the boat, a BBQ on the bay, or nearby beach bar. After a blissful day on water, this morning can be spent at leisure.

On Day 7 of this Big in Brazil Tour, you’ll swap the serene shores of Paraty for a 4x4 drive through the Serra da Bocaina National Park. The main focus is Paraty’s Gold Trail, Caminho do Ouro, a 1,200mile route that dates back to the 17th -century and was once used to service the gold mines of Minas Gerais nearby. Built by slaves and ruled by settlers, the Gold Trail offers insight into Brazil’s colonial past and legacy of gold mining, making this Atlantic Forest trail as historically significant as it is scenic. Throughout, you’ll pass streams, wildlife spots, and important sites of Brazil’s gold rush years, as well as less-accessible waterfalls, the 19th century Forte Defensor Perpetuo Museum, and lunch at a local Cachaça distillery. It’s a day full of intrigue, history, and nature near Paraty.

Today visit Mamangua, a tropical fjord-shaped strip on the Juatinga Peninsular that offers spectacular views, snorkeling and swimming, and over 30 isolated beaches. You can hike up Mamangua Sugarloaf Peak for sweeping panoramas of the bay, or take a leisurely boat ride or sea kayak between golden beaches in the morning. Later, wild swimming spots, waterfalls and the natural beauty of Paraty-Mirim State Park await. After a day enjoying the outdoor activities around Paraty, this evening can be spent at leisure.

Day 9 of this Big in Brazil Tour brings yet another contrast as big scenery makes way for a big city, taking you from Paraty to Sao Paulo, one of the world’s most populated urban sprawls. The journey from Paraty to Sao Paulo will take you inland, joining up with a major highway after a scenic drive through more rural areas. There will be chance to stop along the way, including at the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, a huge Catholic Church the evokes both contemporary and European styles. You’ll then be taken to your boutique Sao Paulo hotel for check-in, and an evening at leisure.

A full-day city tour of Sao Paulo is the best way to enjoy this cosmopolitan hub, parts of which date back to the 15th century. There are many highlights of Sao Paulo, so depending on your interests a local guide can give you a tour of São Paulo’s historic Downtown, the Cathedral, Foundation Square, the Municipal Theater or Benedict Monastery. For foodies, the Municipal Market is a must, as are the coffee shops and delis of Paulista Avenue, restaurants of Jardins District and the spice shops of the Japanese-influenced Liberdade Neighborhood. There will be a visit to Sao Paulo’s Art Museum before getting away from the crowds at the city’s Ibirapuera Park. This evening can be spent at leisure, enjoying a show or one of Sao Paulo’s fine dining restaurants.

Day 11 of this Big in Brazil tour takes you to one of the great natural wonders of the world, Iguazu Falls. Your Atelier concierge will take you to Sao Paulo Airport for a flight to Iguazu, where you’ll be collected and taken to your boutique Iguazu Falls hotel for an evening at leisure. Depending on arrival times, there may be chance for a walk through the Iguazu National Park or simply relax around the grounds of your hotel.

The Iguazu Falls National Park is a true marvel of Mother Earth, and you’ll see both the serene nature and spectacular falls during two full days of exploration. Begin with a nature walk through the park’s many trails, on the lookout for native bird species, Coatis, and even Black Capuchin Monkeys, with the Iguazu River and falls never far away. After lunch comes an unforgettable experience, as you take to the air with an overflight above Iguazu Falls. From this birds-eye view, the vastness of Iguazu National Park and force of the falls themselves can only be admired. This evening, enjoy a Brazilian gastronomic experience in the company of a local chef.

Fresh from your exhilarating flight over Iguazu Falls yesterday, Day 8 of Big in Brazil continues with a further exploration of the wider Iguazu National Park and its rich biodiversity. Today you’ll visit the Argentinian side of the falls, beginning with a gentle stroll through the forest that lines the Iguazu River. Your personal guide will lead you along walking trails to a series of elevated viewpoints/platforms, including above the infamous Devil’s Throat where 14 formidable drops converge with unimaginable power – an incredible sight. For something a little more laidback you have the option of a tango show and dinner this evening, a true cultural experience in Argentina.

Your next stop is Salvador da Bahi, a melting pot of culture, color, and cuisine. This vibrant coastal hub is alive with Afro-Brazilian traditions and history, too, having once been the central of Portuguese colonial rule. Travelling from Iguazu to Salvador by air, your Atelier concierge will meet you at the airport and transfer to your boutique Salvador hotel. This evening, a Salvador folkloric show and dinner at an authentic restaurant is the perfect intro to this vibrant city.

A city tour of Salvador on Day 15 offers endless fascination. From grand colonial buildings and ornate churches to cobblestone streets and sweeping coastline, a visit to Salvador has it all. Depending on your interests, highlights of Salvador include the Historical Centre with its important 16th -century sites like the Church and Convent of San Francisco, the Catedral Basílica de Salvador, Municipal Plaza, salve market, and baroque palaces of Palácio do Arcebispado and Palácio Saldanha, among many more. After lunch at a local bistro, the Pelourinho Neighborhood is lovely to walk around, as are Salvador’s colorful cobbled street and museums like the Palace of Arts, Cultural Afro-Brazilian Museum and the Museum of Mercy. After a full-day tour tailored to you, this evening can be spent at leisure.

Our Big in Brazil Tour continues with a visit to Cachoeira. This 17th -century port town in Bahia is a great example of day-to-day colonial living in Brazil, with its terracotta-tiled houses, European churches, and traditional squares still perfectly preserved and lived-in today. Cachoeira is also a gateway to rural Bahia and the surrounding countryside, rivers and waterfalls such as Cachoeira do Buracao and the Tijuipe Waterfall, to name just a few. You’ll visit a local farm for lunch, and get a glimpse of rural living before returning to Salvador for an evening at leisure.

As well as its rich history and cultural heritage, the state of Bahia is also known for some of Brazil’s best beaches, as you’ll see on Day 17 of this Big in Brazil Tour. After a relaxed morning, your guide will take you to Praia do Forte, a beach town surrounded by golden sands, palm trees and crystalline seas. Spend the day snorkeling, swimming, or simply relaxing on a sun lounger by one of Praia do Forte’s boutique beach bars, for a blissful end to this Big in Brazil Tour.

As this Big in Brazil Tour tour comes to an end, you may have time for one final walk around Salvador before your onward flight and home, full of priceless memories of Brazil.