Rio Carnival & Ilha Grande — 9 days

Windsor Plaza is a four-star hotel one minute on foot from Copacabana beach, with a rooftop pool, sauna, fitness centre and an American bar on the terrace. The lobby restaurant serves Brazilian specialities at the weekend. Rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen TV, minibar and a private bathroom with shower and hairdryer; Wi-Fi is free. Staff can help with city information and tourist services. Breakfast included; 5 nights.

Pousada Naturalia sits in the green hills of Ilha Grande on a 1,000 m² plot surrounded by tropical vegetation, with sweeping views of the sea: a quiet, comfortable retreat in harmony with nature, 60 metres from Canto beach and 800 metres from the village of Abraão. The twelve attractively furnished rooms and suites are spread over two buildings and all have a minibar, safe, ceiling fan and a large balcony with hammock and sea view. Breakfast included; 3 nights.

Modern hotel directly on Copacabana beach with a panoramic rooftop pool, fitness room, sauna and a good restaurant; free Wi-Fi throughout. Rooms have air conditioning, a 32-inch LCD TV, minibar, laptop safe and soundproof windows; some have ocean views. Restaurant Fennel serves a generous breakfast buffet with tropical produce and contemporary Brazilian and international dishes; several bars, by the pool and indoors, serve snacks and cocktails. Breakfast included; 5 nights.

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.

The legendary Copacabana Palace has welcomed guests on Copacabana beach for over a century: an art-deco landmark combining classic style, attentive service and a sense of history, from Marlene Dietrich to Mick Jagger. The 140 rooms and suites are furnished with Brazilian mahogany, art-deco accents and marble bathrooms; some overlook the ocean, and seven penthouses are among the finest in Rio. Dining ranges from MEE, the only Michelin-starred pan-Asian restaurant in Rio, to Pérgula by the pool, known for its Sunday brunch and Saturday feijoada, and the Piano Bar with live music. The tropical garden holds a semi-Olympic pool; there is a rooftop tennis court, exclusive beach service and a spa with treatments based on açaí, guaraná and Amazon clay. Breakfast included; 5 nights.

Pousada Asalem lies on the bay of Abraão with direct access to the ocean and offers an exclusive, intimate stay in the upscale segment. The rustic rooms all have breathtaking sea views. Guests can snorkel from the property among starfish and turtles, use the kayaks and canoe, or take the private boat service to nearby beaches; the boat transfer to and from the village of Abraão is included, as are breakfast, art books and games. Asalem is known for its sunsets, ideal for a happy-hour caipirinha, and for its ecological approach and hospitality. Breakfast included; 3 nights.

Shared excursion to the statue of Christ the Redeemer on the 710-metre Corcovado mountain, one of the most famous monuments in the world. Pick-up at the hotel in the morning or afternoon, then the cog train winds up the steep slope through the Tijuca rainforest. At the top, close-up views of the statue and sweeping panoramas over Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, the botanical garden and the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. Drop-off at the hotel afterwards. English-speaking guide; also available on a private basis at a supplement.

The Sambadrome parades are the climax of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The Sambadrome is a 700-metre avenue flanked by huge grandstands where the samba schools, one per neighbourhood, parade with exuberant floats and lavishly costumed dancers; each parade consists of thousands of sambistas — dancers, musicians and floats — around the school’s own theme. A jury names the winning school on the last day of Carnival, an honour celebrated in the winners’ neighbourhood until the next Carnival. Pick-up at the hotel in the late afternoon, shared transfer to the Sambadrome, the parades until the early hours and a shared transfer back to the hotel. Grandstand seats: sector 9 has numbered seats, the other grandstands are unnumbered.

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.

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.