Both Pantanals, Salvador, Olinda and Rio
A trip for lovers of wildlife and heritage: Rio, Salvador and Olinda for culture, then the northern and southern Pantanal for two very different safari experiences.
This itinerary is based on a trip our team actually organized: every stop, every hotel and the length of each stay can be adapted to your dates and what you’d like to do.
Trip at a glance
- Rio de Janeiro: Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer.
- Salvador and a day in Praia do Forte.
- Olinda, a UNESCO-listed colonial town.
- The northern Pantanal and its private boat safaris in search of the jaguar.
- The southern Pantanal: floating down the Miranda River, fishing and hiking.
With Brazil Vip
An itinerary built with you, at your own pace and within your budget.
Bookings and logistics handled from start to finish.
Assistance 7 days a week during your trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Welcome at the airport and private transfer to your hotel in Copacabana. Rest of the day at leisure.
Included: private airport–hotel transfer, accommodations.
Day 2 — Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer
Rio de Janeiro
Cable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain for a panorama over Guanabara Bay, then up Corcovado to Christ the Redeemer and one of the finest views of the city.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, private tours with an English-speaking guide, entrance fees for Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain.
Day 3 — Fly to Salvador
Rio de Janeiro, Salvador
Transfer to the airport and flight to Salvador. Welcome and private transfer to your hotel, in the heart of the historic center.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, Rio de Janeiro – Salvador flight, transfers.
Day 4 — Salvador, upper and lower city
Salvador
On foot through the UNESCO-listed Pelourinho, with the São Francisco Church and the cathedral, then the lower city: the Bonfim Church, the São Felipe fort and the Mercado Modelo.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, private tours with an English-speaking guide.
Day 5 — Praia do Forte
Salvador
A day on the north coast, 60 km from Salvador: the beaches and natural pools of Praia do Forte, the Sapiranga reserve and Projeto TAMAR, dedicated to protecting sea turtles.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, private excursion with an English-speaking guide.
Day 6 — Fly to Olinda
Salvador, Recife, Olinda
Flight to Recife, then a drive to Olinda (about 1 hour). Check in at your pousada, in the heart of the colonial town.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, Salvador – Recife flight, transfers.
Day 7 — Olinda and Recife
Olinda
Discover UNESCO-listed Olinda: baroque churches, colorful houses, steep lanes and artists’ studios, then Recife’s old quarter.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, private tours with an English-speaking guide.
Day 8 — Fly to Cuiabá
Olinda, Recife, Cuiabá
Drive to Recife airport, then flight to Cuiabá, gateway to the northern Pantanal. Welcome and transfer to the hotel.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, Recife – Cuiabá flight, transfers.
Day 9 — Along the Transpantaneira to Porto Jofre
Cuiabá, Northern Pantanal
A drive of about 4.5 hours along the Transpantaneira, 147 km of dirt road dotted with wooden bridges, where caimans, capybaras and birds appear at every stop.
Included: full board, private transfer.
Days 10 and 11 — River safari in search of the jaguar
Northern Pantanal
Days by private boat with an English-speaking guide in the best region in the world to see jaguars, looking for fresh tracks on the riverbanks, among giant otters and birds.
Included: full board, private boat safaris with an English-speaking guide.
Day 12 — From the northern to the southern Pantanal
Northern Pantanal, Cuiabá, Campo Grande
Drive to Cuiabá, then flight to Campo Grande, gateway to the southern Pantanal. Welcome and transfer to the hotel.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, Cuiabá – Campo Grande flight, transfers.
Day 13 — Heading for the Southern Pantanal
Campo Grande, Southern Pantanal
Drive to the lodge (about 4.5 hours) at Passo do Lontra, in the heart of the Corumbá Pantanal. In the afternoon, fishing in the river.
Included: full board, private transfer, group activities.
Day 14 — Floating down the Miranda River
Southern Pantanal
Floating down the clear waters of the Miranda River, carried by the current, then lodge activities: a boat outing or a safari, depending on the season.
Included: full board, group activities with an English-speaking guide.
Day 15 — Hiking in the Pantanal
Southern Pantanal
A guided walk deep in Pantanal nature to discover the plants, animal tracks and the richness of this ecosystem, then another lodge activity in the afternoon.
Included: full board, group activities with an English-speaking guide.
Day 16 — Back to Rio de Janeiro
Southern Pantanal, Campo Grande, Rio de Janeiro
Drive to Campo Grande airport, then flight to Rio de Janeiro. Welcome and transfer to the hotel.
Included: accommodations with breakfast, Campo Grande – Rio de Janeiro flight, transfers.
Day 17 — Free day in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Beaches, neighborhoods, restaurants: enjoy Rio at your own pace, or add an excursion if you like.
Included: accommodations with breakfast.
Day 18 — Departure from Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Private transfer to the airport for your international flight. End of our services.
Included: breakfast, transfer to the airport.
Map
Included in this price
- 17 nights in hotels, pousadas and lodges, in a double room, with breakfast; full board in the Pantanal.
- Domestic flights Rio de Janeiro – Salvador, Salvador – Recife, Recife – Cuiabá, Cuiabá – Campo Grande and Campo Grande – Rio de Janeiro, taxes included.
- All transfers in the itinerary by private vehicle.
- Private tours with an English-speaking guide in Rio, Salvador, Praia do Forte, Olinda and the northern Pantanal; group activities in the southern Pantanal.
- Entrance fees for Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain.
Not included
- International flights (we’re happy to advise you).
- Meals and drinks not mentioned.
- Optional excursions and activities.
- Tips and personal expenses.
- Travel, cancellation and repatriation insurance.
Nothing is set in stone: every step can be adjusted with our team.
More nights at one stop, a different hotel category or an extra destination: we’ll adapt this trip with you.
Customize this tourSuggested accommodation
Hotels are indicative. We confirm them when we prepare your quote, based on your dates and availability, and they may be replaced by properties of an equivalent category. We can also tailor the choice of hotels to your preferences and budget.
Standard / Guesthouse
- Hotel Intercity Cuiabá — Cuiabá
- Pousada dos Quatro Cantos — Olinda
Superior / Boutique
- Miramar Hotel by Windsor — Rio de Janeiro
- Deville Prime Campo Grande Hotel — Campo Grande
- Pantanal Jungle Lodge — Southern Pantanal
- Hotel Villa Bahia — Salvador
- Hotel Porto Jofre Pantanal Norte — Northern Pantanal
What to pack
- Light, comfortable clothing, swimsuit and sandals.
- Comfortable shoes for sightseeing and closed-toe shoes for the Pantanal.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat or cap.
- Insect repellent, long pants and long sleeves, and binoculars if you have them.
Good to know
The order of visits may be adjusted depending on flight schedules, weather and local conditions.
Sightings of jaguars and other wildlife can never be guaranteed; the best season is from July to October.
In the southern Pantanal, activities are in groups with an English-speaking guide and depend on water levels.
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