Itinerary - Brazil 360°: Rio Carnival Edition

Flights to/from the destination are not included in the package, so you can decide where you want to leave from, at what time and with the airline of your choice.This gives you maximum freedom of choice.

Check-in at the hotel in Rio de Janeiro and then it's time for your welcome meeting! Our trip begins in the capital and we can already feel the vibe in the streets of the city as it prepares for the festivities. To get off to a great start, we find a typical little restaurant and eat some local specialities: they are big on meat here, so... barbecue?

It's time to explore the capital city. With our local guide, we'll discover the most famous neighbourhoods, including Santa Teresa, before moving on to Rio Cathedral, the colourful Selaròn staircase and lastly Christ the Redeemer, the undisputed attraction of this vibrant city. We climb to the top and enjoy the view from up here - of course we take our time to take the perfect shot!

In the afternoon we move on to another iconic place in Rio: we ride the Bondinho cable car to the Pão de Açùcar, Rio's iconic mountain. We admire the city from a different perspective, on one side Copacabana (perhaps the most famous beach in the world), on the other the centre of Rio. We stay here until sunset, when everything becomes more magical, and then we descend through the streets of the city to experience the carioca rhythm, between bars and clubs. Tonight we have the welcome dinner and then the party continues... if we really don't want to go to bed... why not go to Copacabana to watch the sunrise?

We wake up early to say goodbye (only momentarily) to Rio as we have a flight to catch to discover some of the other wonders of Brazil! We arrive in the morning at Iguazú, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. This title is well-earned with 275 waterfalls of different heights, up to 80 metres, stretching as far as the eye can see for almost 3 km.

We spend the day inside the park, discovering the waterfalls from the Brazilian side and getting lost in the lush nature of this magical place. Of course, we look for the best vantage points from which to admire the waterfalls!

This morning we say goodbye to Brazil... but only for a day! We enter Argentina to admire the Iguazu Falls from the Argentine side. On the itinerary for today is a bit of hiking: we have to options, a hike leading to the Garganta del Diablo or one to the Bosetti Falls. We choose the one that inspires us most on the day given the difficulty is similar, and then we're off to use those legs.

This is not the end of our Argentine adventure: in the afternoon, we board a rubber dinghy and prepare to discover the waterfalls from a new perspective. Of course, there is no escaping the water, so let's put on our swimming costumes and get ready to have a good laugh! We approach the Garganta del Diablo, where we can see the full power of these waterfalls, and then the Salto San Martin. This evening, after a nice shower, we reckon it's time for a beer!

We bid farewell to the majestic Iguazu Falls and take an internal flight to Sao Paolo. Then we're on our private transfer to reach Paraty in about five hours. We arrive for dinner in this old colonial town - Paraty was the main port for the Portuguese to export gold in colonial times - and look for a nice restaurant for dinner. Perhaps we try the famous feijoada, a dish made with black beans, sausages and pork, which is eaten practically everywhere in Brazil.

We've got the morning to discover Paraty, a gem if you want to find out more about Brazil's colonial past. The historic centre retains an old-world charm, and we'll get to lose ourselves in its cobbled streets and port. We can have lunch in one of the typical churrascherias for some barbecued meat, perhaps accompanied by a caipirinha made with cachaça de Paraty, the brandy produced here.

We set off with a full belly and take a bus to Angra dos Resi. Once here, the journey is not over yet: we board a ferry and arrive in Ilha Grande, today's final destination. Pirates once found refuge on this island and it was also used as a prison, but today it is a small natural pearl, surrounded by crystal-clear sea and rich in unspoilt nature.

For the next two days the goal is relaxation in our cozzies! Today we have an excursion to visit the islands of the archipelago on board a boat reserved just for us. We will stay offshore all day, having lunch on board and stopping whenever we feel like taking a dip.

There are some places we cannot miss here including Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul, while the more adventurous can explore the Acaià Cave. To end on a high note, we take one last swim at Praia Preta, the black beach, and wait for the sunset.

How should we spend this second day in Ilha Grande? We can work on our tan, enjoying the sun on the beach - perhaps at Lopes Mendes Beach, which is said to be the most beautiful beach in all of Brazil, as well as being a surfer's paradise. Alternatively, if we are keen on hiking, we can consider going to Pico do Papagaio, a rock formation from which we can admire a truly breathtaking view of the island.

We know saying goodbye to this little paradise is difficult, but the party awaits! So we're on to the bus and hit the road, heading for Rio de Janeiro! The journey will take about 5 hours - just enough time to take a nap and then start getting hyped for Carnival! We arrive in Rio, drop our backpacks off in the hotel and take to the streets of Rio to be swept away by the rhythm of the city in celebration.

We are so ready to get swept up in Rio Carnival: it is the most famous in the world and every year millions of travellers come here to see it with their own eyes! The festive air reaches every neighbourhood of the city, the so-called blocos, which are an integral part of the celebrations. The locals in these neighbourhoods keep the tradition alive, taking to the streets and parading in costume, dancing and playing the music they compose themselves. One thing is certain: sequins, extravagant make-up and bright colours are welcome here, so it's your chance to be bold!

The party never ends in Rio: Carnival is lived and celebrated all day and all night, so let's get ready for another day of partying - caipirinha in hand! Today is even more special because we are off to the Sambodromo to admire the parade of Brazil's most important samba schools: the floats are breathtaking and the dancers incredible and engaging!

Today is Mardi Gras, the last day of Carnival celebrations, and the city is still partying. After the two days just gone, we can decide whether to continue dancing to samba rhythms in the streets of Rio, or to take it easy and spend some time on the beach - Copacabana is a strong draw! Of course, it's not every day you get to be in Brazil during the days of carnival, so even if we spend the day enjoying the sun and the sea... tonight we go out to celebrate some more! After the farewell dinner, let's enjoy the last night of Carnival and join the party!

Hard to believe, unfortunately we have reached the end of our journey: it was full of emotions and moments we will never forget. Until the next WeRoad adventure!