Brasil Fantastico — 21-day Brazil round trip

Hotel in a restored historic building in the centre of Manaus, with a garden, a shared lounge, a terrace and free WiFi throughout. Several room types, including apartments with different bed configurations. Breakfast with local products. Within easy reach of the Teatro Amazonas and the other historic sights.

Mid-sized lodge with 21 wooden and stone bungalows on high ground, spread over a large area with jungle gardens, a pool and a jungle trail of about 1 km. All rooms have a private bathroom with hot water and air conditioning; the superior bungalows are more modern and larger. Restaurant overlooking the central garden, open lounge with hammocks. Multi-night packages on full board with daily excursions led by experienced nature guides; the surroundings combine flooded forest and higher jungle and are rich in birds, caimans and dolphins. Transfer 3.5–4 hours: car to the port of Manaus, boat across the Meeting of the Waters to Porto Careiro, road, then about 40 minutes by motorboat on the Mamori river. Optional survival packages with a night in hammocks in the jungle.

Hotel with a fitness room, a pool on a sun terrace, free WiFi and free parking. Contemporary rooms with light wood finishes, LCD TV with cable channels, minibar, desk and private bathroom with shower. Extensive breakfast buffet; restaurant with international cuisine and a poolside bar.

Pousada in the baroque style of the historic town of Ouro Preto, with spacious suites that each have a balcony. Outdoor pool, garden, bar, free WiFi, 24-hour reception and room service. Breakfast in the Pantanal ‘quebra torto’ style with regional dishes, including dietary and vegan options. The pousada has a sustainability programme.

Mid-sized family-run lodge with 15 spacious air-conditioned rooms with box-spring beds; main building with bilingual reception, lounge and an open-air restaurant overlooking the pool. Beach volleyball court, free parking and free WiFi. Full board with daily excursions on 2,700 ha of private land; giant anteaters are common (the lodge is a research base for the giant anteater project), hyacinth macaws, armadillos and toucans are regular visitors around the lodge. Transfer from Campo Grande or Bonito about 4 hours, the last 45 km unpaved. Excursions are led by local guides who grew up in the area but speak little English; a bilingual guide can be booked in advance at a supplement.

Central hotel with air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TV, minibar, telephone and private bathroom with hairdryer; marble floors. Heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi (10:00–22:30), restaurant with national and international à la carte dishes (06:30–22:30), fitness room, spa with treatments and massages (Mon–Sat 15:00–20:00) and a kids club. Free WiFi throughout.

Hotel between Copacabana, Arpoador and Ipanema, three minutes’ walk from Copacabana beach and within walking distance of Ipanema beach. The rooftop has a pool and a terrace with views over the Atlantic; sauna on site. Pool and sauna are closed on Mondays from 12:00.

Rooms have air conditioning, television and a private bathroom. Breakfast buffet daily from 6:30 to 10:30, free WiFi, beach service and a multilingual reception. Pets are not accepted.

Pousada on Canto beach with a pool with jacuzzi and a panoramic sea view, in a quiet spot within walking distance of the village’s bars, restaurants and shops. Rooms with tiled floors and regional decoration, air conditioning, TV and minibar; some with partial sea view. Breakfast room overlooking the fishing boats; breakfast with bread, cake and tropical fruit.

Modern hotel with a fitness centre, breakfast buffet, 24-hour reception and free parking. Contemporary rooms with colour accents, satellite TV, telephone, safe, minibar and private bathroom with shower.

Intimate lodge with 20 bungalows built on stilts at treetop height to cope with wet-season water levels of up to 15 m, using local materials and the building techniques of the riverside population. Six bungalows face the forest, ten the river; two family bungalows, one panoramic bungalow and the Juma bungalow (2023). All have private bathrooms with solar-heated water, verandas with hammocks and ceiling fans; the family, panoramic and Juma bungalows also have air conditioning. Lobby with bar, games, books and a telescope; buffet restaurant overlooking the river; hammock house; floating deck and river pool; 31 m observation tower. Transfers from and to Manaus included; full board with daily excursions with English-speaking guides.

Hotel with an outdoor pool and a restaurant, 220 m from the Parque das Nações Indígenas. Contemporary rooms with air conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, telephone, desk, two safes (one for a laptop) and private bathroom with shower, hairdryer and toiletries. Free WiFi.

Chalets and apartments in a natural setting, all with air conditioning, minibar, TV and free WiFi. Pool, bar, relaxation area, children’s playground and walking trails on the grounds. Activities from the hotel include tubing on the Formoso river, zip-lining and forest walks. Short distance from the Gruta do Lago Azul and the Rio Sucuri.

Hotel and fazenda on the southern edge of the Pantanal, fully renovated (2025), reached by asphalt and a short unpaved stretch. Double rooms and rooms for 3–5 people with air conditioning, minibar, TV and private bathroom; pool; breakfast buffet with local products; restaurant with regional fusion dishes such as pacu pizza. Up to ten nests of the hyacinth macaw are found on the property each year. The package is full board with daily excursions, including a day excursion to the nearby Fazenda São Francisco, one of the best wildlife areas of the region, with a chance of seeing a jaguar.

Family-friendly resort with a fitness centre, restaurant, bar and its own water park with slides and pools for all ages. Modern rooms with air conditioning and TV; deluxe rooms can be connected for families. 24-hour reception, lounge, childcare, souvenir shop, gardens, free private parking and free WiFi throughout.

Well-located mid-range hotel of the Windsor group on Copacabana’s beachfront avenue, within walking distance of restaurants, shops and the Copacabana metro. Rooftop terrace with pool and a panoramic view over the bay; breakfast buffet included.

Rooms are compact and practically furnished, all with air conditioning, minibar, safe and a work desk. The Standard room has no view; the Superior room is larger, lighter and has a side sea view, taking two to three people with an extra bed; the Deluxe room has a frontal sea view, king bed, soundproofed windows, coffee machine and a bathroom with jacuzzi.

Good fit for clients who want the Copacabana beachfront and a reliable standard without paying for a five-star property.

Pousada in tropical gardens 1.5 km from the village, with a terrace overlooking Guaxume beach. Bright, simply furnished rooms with a balcony with loungers, air conditioning, TV, minibar and private bathroom with shower; room service. Free shuttle to and from the village.

Boutique hotel in a restored mansion from the rubber era, with 30 apartments (5 standard, 20 superior, 5 premium) all overlooking the inner garden and the natural-stone pool. Spacious rooms with a modern design, bathtub, balcony and premium amenities. Fitz Carraldo Bistro with a menu that combines international classics with Amazonian cuisine; fitness room overlooking the garden.

Small lodge of 24 units on the Rio Negro, opposite the Anavilhanas archipelago (UNESCO site); the acidic water keeps mosquito numbers exceptionally low. Chalets with veranda and hammock, bungalows with glass walls and a bath overlooking the forest, panoramic suites and a two-suite villa with private pool. All units have air conditioning, minibar, hot water, WiFi, cable TV and ceiling fan. Pool over the Rio Negro, lounge and open bar, à la carte restaurant with local and international dishes, floating bar for swimming and SUP, massage and wellness room, small fitness room, belvedere and a boutique with local crafts. All meals, bar drinks and selected wines included. Daily excursions in small groups (sunrise trip, canoeing in flooded forest, archipelago boat trip with pink dolphins, night trip, forest walk, community visit, piranha fishing, archery, day trip with lunch on board, Madadá caves expedition). B Corp certified, own solar plant, Anavilhanas Institute for education and community projects.

Member of the Brazilian ‘Roteiro de Charme’ association, in a natural setting just outside town with waterfalls and natural pools for swimming; canoe, snorkelling and walking activities on site. Pool, free WiFi and a restaurant (half board at a supplement). Bungalows with air conditioning, cable TV, minibar and private bathroom.

Widely regarded as the best lodge of the Pantanal, founded more than 30 years ago as a pioneer of ecotourism in the region. Casa Caiman, recently renovated, is the main lodge with 18 suites; the private villas Cordilheira (5 rooms) and Baiazinha (6 rooms) can be booked exclusively by small groups with hotel service, private guides and their own vehicle. Each building has a kitchen, living room and pool; total capacity 71 guests. Two excursions a day (photo safaris, walks, canoe trips, horse riding, night safaris) led by university-trained bilingual guides, the ‘Caimaners’; some tours depend on the season. In high season (12 June – 11 September) 3- and 4-night packages start on Thursdays and Sundays.

Five-star historic hotel inside the national park, a short walk from the falls, which guests can visit outside regular opening hours. Elegant rooms and suites in colonial style with air conditioning, stocked minibar, safe and cable TV. Restaurant with Brazilian and international cuisine, indoor and outdoor dining, two bars with live music, pool, spa, tennis court and a panoramic viewpoint over the falls.

Luxury hotel with 200 apartments in elegant grey tones opposite Copacabana beach. Pool, fitness room, extensive breakfast buffet with beach view, restaurant and rooftop bar over the ocean; beach service with towels, chairs and parasols. Rooms with air conditioning, safe, minibar, 55-inch TV, Nespresso machine, bathrobe and luxury toiletries; connecting rooms for families. Categories: Superior (about 30 m², side sea view), Superior Executive (28 m², frontal sea view, floors 1–15), Executive Suite (about 55 m², sitting room, jacuzzi, floors 13 and 15) and Master Suite (79 m², bedroom, living and dining room, jacuzzi, floor 14). Shops, supermarkets, restaurants and nightlife nearby.

Small pousada on eight hectares of Atlantic rainforest at the edge of Abraão bay. It sits just outside the village, so it is quiet and private, but the restaurants and boat pier are a ten-minute walk away.

Rooms are spacious and simply but elegantly furnished; most have a private veranda with hammock looking onto the sea or the forest. All rooms have air conditioning, fan, minibar, telephone and private bathroom. Water comes from local springs and is heated by solar panels.

Distinctive features: an outdoor Japanese ofurô bath on the deck, a spa with treatments, and a restaurant directly on the water. Suits couples and families looking for a quiet base with some comfort rather than the village hostels.

Private driver picks up at the hotel. First stop Buraco das Araras, a collapsed cave and one of the largest sinkholes in the world (124 m deep, 500 m wide), home to red-and-green macaws, seen from viewpoints along a trail; a small lake at the bottom often has caimans. Then Rio da Prata: a short forest walk, then about 2 km of snorkelling with the current in exceptionally clear water among fish and water plants; suitable for almost everyone. Wetsuit, snorkel and shoes included; lunch at the Rio da Prata lodge. Return to the hotel by private driver. Local Portuguese-speaking guides; English-speaking guide at a supplement.

Morning pick-up with shared transfer (private at a supplement) to the Gruta do Lago Azul, a limestone cave with stalactites and stalagmites and a large blue lake at the bottom whose colour changes with the light; in December the sun shines directly on the lake for a short period. The descent is suitable for anyone who can climb stairs. Return to the hotel afterwards. Local Portuguese-speaking guide; English-speaking guide at a supplement.

Programme of the Pantanal Hotel (applies to the mid-range option): day 1 arrival from Campo Grande or Bonito at the Pantanal Hotel in Miranda, afternoon boat trip on the Rio Salobra (birds, caimans, capybaras, sometimes giant otters), dinner at Caqui Quintal, night in Miranda. Day 2 sunrise boat trip on the Rio Salobra, then a full day as ‘Peão Pantaneiro’ at Pantanal Experiência by horse, vehicle and on foot, lunch, dinner and night at Pousada Pantanal Experiência. Day 3 Fazenda San Francisco: open-vehicle safari (capybaras, caimans, deer, giant anteaters, tapirs, hundreds of bird species, with luck a jaguar), lunch, boat trip on the Corixo São Domingos, dinner and night safari with spotlights. Day 4 breakfast and transfer back to Campo Grande or Bonito. The order may change with weather and logistics; if Fazenda San Francisco is unavailable it is replaced by a safari on the Estrada Parque with English-speaking guide and driver.

Morning pick-up at the hotel. The excursion starts at the visitor centre of the Iguaçu National Park with a drive through the subtropical forest to the falls, then on foot along the canyon walkways with panoramic views of the falls and the Devil’s Throat on the Argentine side. A glass lift takes you up for a view from above; cafés at the top. Return to the hotel. Rest of the day free.

Morning pick-up at the hotel, across the Tancredo Neves bridge into Argentina. On this side several walkways give panoramic views over the falls and the subtropical forest; the highlight is the platform on the edge of the Devil’s Throat. The Gran Aventura boat tour can be added during this visit. Return to the hotel.

A guided bike ride through the Zona Sul, starting from a bike shop in Copacabana (clients walk or take a taxi there). The route passes the well-known places — Copacabana beach, views of the Sugarloaf and Corcovado — but the point of the tour is the everyday city: neighbourhoods, markets and the contrast between affluent areas and favelas a few streets apart, shown without prettifying. Flat, paved route at an easy pace; suitable for anyone who cycles occasionally. A private version exists (RIOEX17), with a choice of morning or afternoon start.

Pick-up at the hotel in the morning or afternoon and drive to the foot of the 710 m Corcovado; the cog train climbs through the Tijuca forest to the top. Close-up view of Christ the Redeemer and views over Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, the botanical garden and the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. Return to the hotel. English-speaking guide, shared with other travellers; private version at a supplement.

Combines a jungle drive and a boat trip: an 8 km ride through the forest in an open truck with guide to Puerto Macuco, a 100 m descent to a pontoon on the river, then a 6 km motorboat trip (2 km of rapids) through the Iguaçu canyon to the falls, past San Martin island to the Tres Mosqueteros fall with views of both sides and the Devil’s Throat, and finally into the San Martin fall itself. Offered during the visit to the Argentine side; price applies in combination with that excursion.

Walk through the favela Pavão-Pavãozinho between Ipanema and Copacabana with a guide who lives there: daily life, social organisation, water, sewerage, electricity and housing in a maze of stairs and alleys. Includes a jungle hike, a stop at a local social project, a community garden with views over Copacabana beach and lunch in a community restaurant. Mixed international group with a fixed meeting point; private version at a supplement. A basic level of fitness is needed (many stairs, some steep climbs); the jungle hike is cancelled in rain.

Excursion to Praia do Lopes Mendes, a 3 km white-sand beach regularly named among the best in Brazil: swimming in clear water, surfing, picnicking in the shade. Includes a 30-minute boat trip to Pouso beach. No English-speaking guide.

Relaxed boat trip on a typical schooner halfway around the island, past hidden bays. Stops at Lagoa Azul for snorkelling among tropical fish, at Freguesia de Santana beach for swimming and at Japariz beach, where lunch is possible (not included). Ends in Vila do Abraão around 16:30.