Gostos do Brasil — 20-day Brazil round trip

Hotel Atlantis Copacabana is a three-minute walk from Copacabana beach and within walking distance of Ipanema, between the districts of Arpoador, Ipanema and Copacabana. Rooms have air conditioning, TV and private bathroom; a varied breakfast buffet is served and Wi-Fi is free. The rooftop terrace has a pool and views of the Atlantic, and the hotel offers a beach service. Recently renovated, with a multilingual reception, sauna and more than 35 years of experience in hospitality in Rio’s most famous neighbourhood.

Nadai Confort Hotel & Spa is located in the centre of Foz do Iguaçu. Rooms have air conditioning, cable TV, minibar and private bathroom with marble floors; Wi-Fi is free throughout. Facilities include a heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi, an à-la-carte restaurant with national and international dishes, a gym, a spa with massages and beauty treatments, and a kids’ club. A well-equipped tourist-class choice with a central location.

UeSo Pantanal is a modest, family-run lodge at km 38 of the Transpantaneira, about 140 km from Cuiabá (transfer approx. 3 hours). Swiss-Brazilian owners, 18 simple air-conditioned rooms and 5 lakeside chalets with verandas and hammocks. Regional buffet meals three times a day, a small plunge pool and a 17-metre observation tower. Activities with English-speaking guide, shared with other guests: horseback rides, boat trips on the Rio Claro or Rio Novo, wildlife walks and night safaris. Optional full-day jaguar excursion to Porto Jofre (June–November).

Casa Perpétua Hotel D’Charm is a boutique hotel in a beautifully restored colonial building in the heart of Manaus. Spacious rooms with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi reflect the city’s cultural heritage. Breakfast with local delicacies, an outdoor pool and a lush garden; the historic sights of Manaus are within easy reach.

Tucan Amazon Lodge is an adventure-oriented jungle lodge on the Acajatuba lake, well suited to families. Rustic wooden chalets with air conditioning, insect screens and private bathroom, in suites and triple, quadruple and five-person rooms. The kitchen serves regional fish such as tucunaré, jaraqui and pirarucu and fresh juices of açaí and cupuaçu. Daily guided activities: jungle walks, boat trips, wildlife spotting and piranha fishing. Packages include lodging, three meals a day, daily excursions and an English-speaking guide.

Pousada dos Girassóis offers private chalets and suites in the centre of Pipa, between Pipa beach and Praia do Amor. Units have satellite TV, a kitchenette with minibar and freezer, and solar-powered hot water. Two outdoor pools (one with waterfall and children’s area, one lounge pool with bar), free Wi-Fi and a restaurant serving regional and international dishes. Shops, bars and nightlife are within walking distance.

Windsor Excelsior sits directly on Copacabana beach and offers a top location, a rich breakfast buffet, a rooftop pool with sea views, a gym and free Wi-Fi. Room types range from standard (no view) to superior with side sea view and deluxe with frontal sea view, king bed, coffee machine, soundproof windows and jacuzzi. Within walking distance of Copacabana fort, Leme, Ipanema and the Rio Sul shopping centre.

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.

Araras Eco Lodge, about 135 km from Cuiabá near the Transpantaneira (transfer just under 3 hours), is one of the top lodges of the North Pantanal. 22 spacious suites with split air conditioning, box-spring beds, modern bathrooms and private verandas with hammocks. Buffet meals in the restaurant or by the pool; wooden walkways lead to three observation towers up to 25 m high. A pioneer of sustainable tourism since 1976, with hyacinth macaw and giant otter conservation projects and expert bird guides. Optional full-day jaguar excursion to Porto Jofre (July–October).

Hotel Casa do Bispo is a stylish pousada in a restored late-19th-century mansion, the former bishop’s house, two minutes’ walk from the Teatro Amazonas. Rooms combine classic details with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and comfortable beds. A tropical garden and outdoor pool offer a quiet retreat; breakfast features local specialities. The Palácio Rio Negro and the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa are within walking distance.

Amazon Premium Lodge is a boutique jungle hotel on the Paraná do Mamori river, designed with respect for the forest and its people. Eight luxury bungalows (65 m²) with queen beds, air conditioning, hot water, minibar, Wi-Fi and large balconies with hammocks overlooking the forest, plus a two-level Premium Bungalow for families. Air-conditioned reception, bar and restaurant with an Amazon chef, a pool with hydrotherapy and exhibitions of local artists. Packages combine jungle walks, boat trips and encounters with the traditional Mamori communities.

Hotel Sombra e Água Fresca is an exclusive hotel in Praia da Pipa with sweeping ocean views, a favourite for couples. Only 28 spacious accommodations ensure personal service. Two panoramic pools overlook the Chapadão rock and Praia do Amor; there is a pool bar, lounge and relaxation area, and a restaurant with a refined mix of international and regional cuisine.

Hotel Miramar by Windsor faces Copacabana beach and is one of the best hotels in Rio. 200 elegant apartments with air conditioning, safe, minibar, 55-inch TV, Nespresso machine and bathrobes; connecting rooms for families. Categories run from Superior (side sea view) and Superior Executive (frontal view) to Executive and Master Suites with jacuzzi and panoramic views. Pool, gym, restaurant, rooftop bar and beach service with towels, chairs and parasols. Shops, restaurants and nightlife are all around.

The five-star Belmond Hotel das Cataratas is the only hotel inside Iguaçu National Park, a short walk from the falls, which guests can visit outside regular opening hours. Colonial-style rooms and suites with air conditioning, stocked minibar, safe and cable TV. Restaurant with Brazilian and international cuisine, two bars with live music, pool, spa, tennis court and a panoramic viewpoint over the falls.

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.

Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge is a small, exclusive lodge on the Rio Negro opposite the Anavilhanas National Park, the world’s second-largest river archipelago, in an area with very few mosquitoes. 24 accommodations built with sustainable materials: chalets, glass-walled bungalows, panoramic suites and a villa with private pool, all with air conditioning, minibar, Wi-Fi and cable TV. Pool and lounge overlooking the river, floating bar, wellness room and à-la-carte restaurant; all meals, bar drinks and selected wines included. Daily small-group excursions: sunrise trips, canoeing in flooded forest, dolphin spotting, night tours, community visits and the Madadá caves. B Corp certified, with its own solar plant and the Anavilhanas Institute community projects.

Pousada Toca da Coruja is a boutique hotel close to Pipa beach on the quiet end of the main street, set in 25,000 m² of tropical gardens and forest. Luxury open-plan bungalows with wooden furniture, air conditioning and minibar. Two outdoor pools, steam sauna, whirlpool and reading room; an outstanding breakfast buffet and a restaurant with international and regional Brazilian dishes.

The urban bike tour starts at 9 am at the bike shop in Copacabana. Cycling shows Rio the way the cariocas live it, beyond Copacabana, Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer. The 3-hour city tour runs along Copacabana beach to Sugarloaf Mountain and the small Praia Vermelha, through lively Botafogo and on to the Lagoa city lake, with a Dutch- or English-speaking guide. An environmentally friendly alternative to bus tourism that covers a lot of ground in a few hours.

A driver and private guide for 6 hours. Choose your own highlights: Christ the Redeemer, the Selarón steps, Santa Teresa, the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana beach or the Tijuca rainforest. The guide adapts the programme to your wishes. Entrance fees are not included and are paid locally.

Explore part of the largest urban forest in the world, Tijuca National Park, with a 45-minute hike to the top of Pedra Bonita (693 m) and one of the most impressive views over Rio. Continue to Barra da Tijuca for a boat ride between islands and narrow channels through lagoons and mangroves, home to capybaras and broad-snouted caimans. Includes transport with pick-up and drop-off and Dutch- or English-speaking guide. Starts in the morning.

Morning pick-up at the hotel for a private excursion to the Brazilian side of the falls. From the visitor centre a drive through the park’s subtropical vegetation leads to the walkways along the canyon with panoramic views of the falls and the Devil’s Throat. A glass lift takes you to the upper viewpoint with cafés. Park entrance not included (approx. USD 30).

Morning pick-up for a private excursion across the Tancredo Neves bridge into Argentina. Several trails offer panoramic views over the falls and the surrounding forest; the highlight is the platform on the edge of the Devil’s Throat. Optional add-on: the Gran Aventura jungle and waterfall boat tour. Park entrance not included (approx. USD 30).

Four-day, three-night package for travellers seeking an authentic Amazon experience. Includes return transfers from Manaus (approx. 2 hours), 3 nights in a rustic air-conditioned chalet with private bathroom, full board, an English-speaking jungle guide and about two guided excursions per day. Programme: day 1 transfer with stop at the Meeting of the Waters, lunch and canoe trip; day 2 jungle walk, piranha fishing and night caiman spotting; day 3 sunrise on the Rio Negro, visit to a local family and swimming with river dolphins; day 4 transfer back to Manaus. The order may vary for logistical reasons.

Full-day motorboat excursion from the lodge to Porto Jofre in search of the jaguar in the Meeting of the Waters conservation area. Offered only in the low-water season (approx. June/July–October/November); sightings are almost guaranteed. Bookable at a supplement.

Jungle truck ride and speedboat trip under the falls on the Argentine side. Bookable at a supplement during the Argentine-side excursion.