A Fully Loaded Adventure in the Amazon Rainforest, the Marvelous Rio de Janeiro, Mystic Bahia and the Mighty Iguazu Falls

A Fully Loaded Adventure in the Amazon Rainforest, the Marvelous Rio de Janeiro, Mystic Bahia and the Mighty Iguazu Falls

Including Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia, and Amazon Rainforest


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Hi there! I'm Fred, founder & owner of Exploration Journeys.

Over 20 years ago, I set out to build a travel company that would redefine what “worry-free travel” really means, where every guest feels cared for as if they were part of our family, and every detail runs seamlessly.

With two decades of experience crafting Argentina trips, I’ve learned that the right pacing, local expertise, and genuine care make all the difference. That’s why every itinerary we design blends must-see highlights with authentic local experiences, while leaving space for personal exploration and real connection.

I'd love to personally design a customized itinerary for you.

I look forward to helping make your Argentina journey truly memorable, worry-free and first-class from start to finish.

Your Trip Overview
(everything mentioned below is included in your trip price)

Trip start date: you can choose any starting date you want for your trip, because all our trips have private departures. That is, you won't be traveling as part of a group.

Trip Duration & lodging:
11 days / 10 nights.
Lodging for 10 nights Included.

17 First‑class tours with the best tour guides (14 of them are private tours). All necessary entrance fees to national parks included.

8 airport transfers included (all private)
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10 breakfasts + up to 6 lunches + 4 dinners included.
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4 Destinations included:

  • Iguazu Falls (Selected by 100 Million Voters as One of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature"): 2 nights
  • Rio de Janeiro (Breathtaking landscapes & home to one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"): 3 nights
  • Salvador da Bahia (The heart & soul of Afro-Brazilian culture): 2 nights
  • Amazon Rainforest (The most bio-diverse ecosystem on Earth, chosen as one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" by over 100 million voters): 3 nights - YOUR STAY HERE IS ALL-INCLUSIVE (breakfast, lunch and dinner included, with 2 non-alcoholic beverages per meal)
  • In the Amazon, we have designed an exclusive and unique experience for our guests, including all private tours with a private guide just for yourself (as opposed to the group tours offered everywhere else). Besides covering all of the more iconic Amazonian experiences, we include an adventurous jungle hiking & exploration experience led by a team of former members of the Brazilian Military specialized in jungle rescue operations, who will introduce you to jungle survival techniques such as obtaining drinking water, making fire, differentiating edible plant species, setting up traps, building a shelter, and the Amazonian "peconha" technique to gather fruit from trees; to finally enjoy a jungle BBQ in the thick of the Amazon rainforest!
    Having considered all Amazon lodges in detail, we chose Amazon Ecopark Lodge as the best base for this program, because it's the only lodge where such a combination of private tours is possible. An added plus of Ecopark is that you won't need to waste precious vacation time by spending a night in the city of Manaus, as you'd need to do if you stayed at many other lodges.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Iguazu

Staying for 2 nights, with 4 tours included

DAY 1: You arrive in Iguazu

Flight arrival in Iguazu.

Depending on your flight arrival time you will have time to go first to your hotel or you will be taken directly to your tour and then to your hotel.

Behold the Breathtaking Panoramic Views of Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian Side (private tour)

With 80% of the falls located on the Argentine side, it is only from the Brazilian side that one can see almost all of them at once, in full, breathtakingly panoramic views.

The Brazilian side offers majestic scenic views of the beauty and entirety of the falls; this is because the Brazilian footbridge lies across the river from the falls, offering a unique perspective and epic scenic views, making the Brazilian side different and absolutely complementary to the experience from the Argentine side.

This is a half-day private tour.

Walking Among Exotic Birds in the Iguazu Rainforest (private tour)

You’re about to enter a one-of-a-kind bird sanctuary! Here you’ll find the largest colony of toucans on display in the world, as well as the largest colony of parrots on display in South America, along with 150 different bird species from Brazil and all over the world, many of them endangered.

Located in the midst of the lush tropical rainforest, Foz Tropicana Bird Park is an internationally-recognized rescue and preservation center for endangered birds; and it’s among the most important ones in South America. You’ll find yourself side by side a myriad of exotic birds, in the three walk-in aviaries, where you’ll have the opportunity to have an up-close and personal experience with amazingly colorful parrots and Toco Toucans, among many other birds… all of them right next to you or even flying over your head!

In addition to the diversity and beauty of the birds you’ll see, the park itself presents itself as a unique location. It covers nearly 40 acres (16 hectares) of rainforest, so you’re quite literally going to find yourself in the middle of nature as you make your way along the trails!

This visit lasts about an hour and a half to two hours and takes place on the same day as your Brazilian side of the falls tour.

DAY 2: Iguazu

Witness the Unique Power & Might of the Iguazu Falls from the Argentine Side (private tour)

“You might have seen the photos. Even read about it. You might have visited other great waterfalls before. But you probably still have no idea what to expect when you come face to face with the almighty Iguazu Falls,” stated CNN in their article “Iguazu Falls: Why this natural wonder should be on everyone’s bucket list". To put that into perspective, Iguazu Falls is nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls and nearly three times as wide. The late U.S. First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, was reportedly so impressed by the sight of Iguazu Falls that she exclaimed “Poor Niagara!”

In 1984, Iguazu Falls became a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and in 2011, it was selected as one of the 7 winners of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” worldwide competition in which more than 100 million votes were cast.

Their size and scale are unlike any other waterfall on Earth. Made up of a system of 275 waterfalls, they have a staggering water flow of up to almost 3.5 million gallons (13 million liters) per second – enough to fill five Olympic swimming pools!

Unlike Niagara Falls, which is surrounded by developments such as casinos, a revolving restaurant, and coffee shops, Iguazu Falls are located within one of the few remaining inland rainforests in South America, the Atlantic rainforest, which is a haven for more than 2,000 plant species, about 400 birds species, and 80 types of mammals!

This is a full-day private tour.

A Speedboat Adventure Up-Close the Iguazu Falls

Get ready for a thrilling speedboat adventure, enjoying a unique, up-close perspective of the majestic Iguazu Falls and experience a different viewpoint of the falls from what you’ll see from the panoramic boardwalks. Our speedboat will zip the waters of the Iguazu River and approach the falls getting thoroughly splashed by their mist as you hear their loud roar!

This ride provides a unique and extremely close-up view of the San Martin and Three Musketeers falls with the opportunity to take outstanding close-up photos. The high point of this experience will be without a doubt, being showered under the mist of the San Martin Falls; the second strongest falls in the Iguazu system. Now it’s time to hop on board and begin our waterfall adventure!

This is a 12-minute group tour and is done on the same day you do the Argentinean side of the falls tour. This tour has an age restriction (click on tour name above for details).

DAY 3: Last day in Iguazu

Transfer in private vehicle to Iguazu airport.

Rio De Janeiro

Staying for 3 nights, with 3 tours included

DAY 3: You arrive in Rio De Janeiro

Flight arrival in Rio de Janeiro. Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel with private vehicle and guide.

Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time.

DAY 4: Rio De Janeiro

The "Christ the redeemer" Statue, Tijuca Tropical Forest, Rio’s Historic Center and Off-the-Beaten-Path Explorations (private tour)

Get ready to marvel at the most important icon of Rio de Janeiro and one of the winners of the "New 7 Wonders of the World" worldwide competition, in which more than 100 million votes were cast: the Corcovado Mountain and its “Christ the Redeemer” statue. Our expert local guide will not only take you atop the Corcovado Mountain, where the colossal statue stands, but he’ll also help you discover the off-the beaten-path panoramic viewpoint “Dona Marta,” which most travelers do not get to see. This road less traveled offers amazing and unobstructed clear views to almost the entirety of the city (even on cloudy days when the views from the top of Corcovado Mountain are practically non-existent!).

We’ll also see the Tijuca Tropical Forest, one of the main reasons why Rio was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. We’ll later visit Rio’s historic quarters and appreciate the urban beauty that has earned Rio the honor of having been declared the first World Capital of Architecture by the United Nations and the Council of the International Union of Architects, as a recognition to the architectural treasures that show the city’s culture and history since the 16th century. Our final experience as "Cariocas" (as locals from Rio are known) will be hopping aboard a "bondinho" (a very cute local tramway) that runs from the beautifully-preserved, historic neighborhood of Santa Teresa to the hip and bohemian Lapa neighborhood. This visit will include witnessing the largest sculpture in the world made by a single man, according to National Geographic: the Selaron Tiles staircase.

This is a full day private tour.

DAY 5: Rio De Janeiro

Choose 1 among the following 6 tour options:

DAY 6: Last day in Rio De Janeiro

A Cable Car Ascent to the Sugarloaf Mountain and its Astounding Panoramic Views (private tour)

Get ready to behold some of the most eye-popping panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, embarking on a ride in a cable car to the mountaintop of one of the city’s most recognized icons: Sugarloaf Mountain. This is one of the main highlights that made Rio de Janeiro the #1 destination in South America, as voted by millions of travelers on Trip Advisor in 2017. Once we reach the top of Mount Sugarloaf, we’ll feast our eyes upon a stunning 360-degree panoramic view, including Rio’s beaches, mountains, and the Tijuca forest (it’s the largest tropical forest in the world in an urban setting). Also, in a leisurely walk across the newly renovated Olympic Boulevard, we’ll see the largest graffiti on the planet, a colorful and detailed depiction of Brazilian faces. To top the day off, we’ll end this tour relaxing at Arpoador peninsula, a beach that boasts one of the best views of Rio’s beaches and coastline.

This is a half day private tour.

Transfer in private vehicle and guide to the airport.

Salvador Da Bahia

Staying for 2 nights, with 3 tours included

DAY 6: You arrive in Salvador Da Bahia

Flight arrival in Salvador de Bahia. Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel with private vehicle and guide.

Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time.

DAY 7: Salvador Da Bahia

Walking Tour with Local Community Members, and Preparing and Enjoying Lunch Together (private tour)

Visit a working-class neighborhood in Salvador to meet Brazilian homemakers of African descent, whose passion is sharing their culture and experience with their guests and teaching to cook Bahian specialties. Then you’ll enjoy together a home-made lunch (which you’ll help prepare) consisting of the signature Bahian dishes and desserts.

This is a half-day private tour and includes lunch without alcoholic beverages.

Exploring the Afro-Brazilian & Colonial Heritage of Salvador da Bahia: the Largest Slave Market Ever in the Americas (private tour)

The millions of slaves captured in Africa and brought to Brazil by the Portuguese brought with them a culture rich in music, dance, cuisine, and religion that’s still present and mainstream in Salvador da Bahia. This city was the epicenter of the largest slave market ever in the Americas, in fact, seven times more slaves were brought to Salvador alone than to the entire United States!
Get ready for a journey to Salvador’s historic center, declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, and let us help you discover the singular Afro-Brazilian and Portuguese heritages of Salvador da Bahia.

In this city, steeped in Afro-Brazilian, colonial and indigenous heritages, you’ll get to admire the greatest collection of Baroque architectural heritage in Latin America, the first urban elevator in the world, as well as appreciate the sight of multicolored colonial and baroque houses and mansions that make up the city’s historic center.

This is a half-day private tour.

A Colorful and Enchanting Evening of Afro-Brazilian, Indigenous and Popular Dance and Folklore

Behold a performance by the renowned Afro-Brazilian dance company: Bale Folclorico da Bahia, which has toured in more than 180 cities worldwide and has and has gained both local and international acclaim It has obtained the “Best Dance Company in Brazil” award by Fiat Industries and “Best Performance of the Year” award by the Brazilian Ministry of Culture.

With its mesmerizing choreography and feverish rhythms, complete with gorgeously elaborated costumes, the performance features the three cultural pillars of Bahian culture: the mystical religion of Candomble, the acrobatic Capoeira (a dance and martial art), and the colorful and rhythmic Samba dance.

We’ll be treated to diverse Afro-Brazilian dances that includes flips, spins, high back kicks, fast-paced rhythms, and the boundless energy of rapid-fire footwork.

This tour includes dinner without beverages and with private transfers.

DAY 8: Last day in Salvador Da Bahia

Transfer with private vehicle to Salvador de Bahia airport.

Amazon Rainforest

Staying for 3 nights, with 8 tours included

DAY 8: You arrive in Amazon Rainforest

Flight arrival in Amazonas. Welcome at the airport and transfer with private vehicle and group boat to your lodge. The approximate total transfer time is 60 minutes (40 minutes by car and 20 by boat).

A Nighttime Canoeing Expedition in the Amazon (private tour)

It’s pitch black darkness in the Amazon Rainforest, as we’re embarked aboard a motorized canoe on an expedition to contemplate and listen to the myriad of sounds coming from the nocturnal creatures of the Amazon Rainforest. With many animals being nocturnal, the Amazon Rainforest comes alive at night, giving us the chance to experience the Amazon’s animal “orchestra” while hopefully spotting some of its nocturnal wildlife, as well as seeing the glowing eyes of a caiman swimming in the dark right beside our boat!

During our outing, we’ll be able to take in the constant and enthralling sounds of chirping and singing from the nearby birds and insects as we’re surrounded by the ambience of nighttime on the Amazon.

This is a 1 hour private tour.

DAY 9: Amazon Rainforest

Hands-on Survival Techniques and Full-day Trekking in the Thick of the Amazon Rainforest (private tour)

Get ready for a most adventurous exploration in the thick of the Amazon rainforest! We’ll spend an entire day in the jungle, hiking and learning a wealth of hands-on jungle survival techniques from a team of former members of the Brazilian Military, specialized in jungle rescue operations.

Our trained professional team leaders will take us on a hiking tour and will introduce us to jungle survival techniques, such as obtaining drinking water, making fire, differentiating edible plant species, setting up traps, building a shelter, and the Amazonian “peconha” technique to gather fruit from high up on trees.

For lunch we’ll make a genuine Amazonian barbecue served with sides and fruits.

This is a full-day private tour for people of all ages (5 and up) and it’s designed to be safe and easygoing. The total hiking distance is normally around 4 miles (6 kilometers) but can be adapted to as little as 1200 feet (400 meters) or even less for guests with limited mobility. The tour, in sum, is designed for almost everyone and, although it is adventurous and exciting, it is certainly not challenging.

This tour includes lunch with non-alcoholic beverages.

DAY 10: Amazon Rainforest

A Unique Up-Close Experience with the Friendly Amazonian Pink Dolphins (private tour)

It’s time to head out on the Amazon river bound for an exciting encounter with the largest species of freshwater dolphin in the world: the Amazonian pink river dolphin! You’ll have the opportunity to dive in a shallow bank of the Amazonian Black River and enjoy an unique close-up experience around free and wild pink dolphins, known for their very friendly nature.

The professional caretaker will tell us about some of the unique features of this mammal, which is unique to the Amazon basin, and feed the dolphins while they swim next to us.

The transfer to the dolphin site is in a private boat with a private guide and takes approximately 90 minutes to get to the dolphins site and 1 hour to return, and the time spent with the dolphins is about 1 hour.

Witnessing the Unique Phenomenom of the Amazon River’s Unmixable Waters and Navigating on a Speedboat Through Amazonian Waters (private tour)

Get ready to discover one of the many amazing features of the largest river on Earth: the Amazon River, whose flow is even larger than the flow of the next eight largest rivers in the world combined!

We’ll hop on our boat for a full day exploration on the Amazon river. We’ll first navigate to the confluence of the two rivers that form the Amazon River: the pitch-black Rio Negro and the cream-colored Solimoes River. That confluence is known as “the meeting of the unmixable waters.” Due to a unique quirk of nature, the waters of these two tributary rivers flow side by side for about 8 miles (12 kilometers) without mixing, due to a large difference between the rivers’ flowing speeds and temperatures. The difference in color between the two rivers is so stark, in fact, that the two “unmixable” waters can even be distinguished from satellites orbiting in space!

This is a half day tour in a private speedboat with a private guide. It includes lunch without alcoholic beverages at a floating restaurant on the Amazon river, and comes right after the "Interacting with the Unique Amazonian Pink Dolphin " private tour.

A Fishing Adventure in Search of the Amazon’s Most Voracious Creature: the Piranha (private tour)

Grab your fishing pole and bait as we embark on a fishing adventure in the Amazon River in search of a fish famed for its aggressiveness and extremely sharp teeth: the piranha. Among the 2,200 species of fish living in the Amazon basin (more species than in all of the rivers of Europe combined!), piranhas have become the most famous due to their voracity. Due to their keen sense of smell for blood, they can attack at the scent of it, swarming by the thousands and stripping an animal to the bone in mere minutes!

Our expert guide will take us out in search of a good spot where he thinks we’ll have the best chances to fish piranhas and other species, while we take in the lush atmosphere of the surrounding Amazon river!

This is a 1 hour private tour.

DAY 11: Amazon Rainforest

A Taste of Amazon Life: an Amazon Dweller Shows Us His Traditions, Customs and Distinctive Perspective on Life (private tour)

It’s time hop on our boat and navigate down the Amazon river to visit one Caboclo (Amazon dweller). We’ll learn first-hand about the traditions, customs and distinctive perspective on life of a caboclo. We’ll learn about his life, customs, and how Caboclos make a living off the jungle that surrounds them. This is a unique chance to experience and interact with one of the locals that call the Amazon basin their home.

This is a 1 hour private tour.

Visiting a Wild Monkey Conservation Center (private tour)

We’ll set out on a boat to visit the facilities for rehabilitation and re-introduction of wild animals into their habitats (known as "the Monkey Forest"). This center was created in 1991, with the intention of receiving animals confiscated from illegal commerce. In this center, the animals are evaluated and taken care of by a team of veterinary doctors and biologists.

One of the species mostly present at the site is the “macaco barrigudo” (woolly monkey), which has a protected status as a result of abuse by illegal traders and their slow reproductive rate. You’ll also see wild monkeys, that come out every day for food, and maybe even some resident monkeys that live in the center, for rehabilitation purposes.

This is a 40 minutes private tour. The tour is not always available, because the reserve is sometimes depleted when monkeys are readapted to the wild.

A late checkout is included, you can use your room until 2 PM on your checkout date.

Transfer with private vehicle and group boat to Manaus airport. The approximate total transfer time is 1 hour (40 minutes by car and 20 by boat).

The normal check-out time at Amazon Ecopark Lodge is at 10:30 AM. However, your trip includes a late check-out at so you can use your room (depending on your flight departure time) until 2 PM, and the lodge's facilities until the airport transfer time.
We look forward to welcoming you again in Brazil!
IMPORTANT: The order of the activities in each destination can change depending on weather conditions or other circumstances.

Lodging for 10 nights Included

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suggested comfort category lodging
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suggested deluxe category lodging
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suggested unique & exclusive category lodging*

* For this itinerary the Unique & Exclusive accommodation is only available in Iguazu, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador da Bahia. For The Amazon Rainforest the hotel included is the one mentioned in the deluxe category.

Domestic Flights Duration & Route

Brazil is a huge country, the 5th largest in the world, so flights tend to be long, because of the long distances. Also many flights have connections. Needless to say, traveling by land is unfeasible in almost every case.

We can take care of booking all the needed domestic flights for your trip.

Flight Route Total Flight Duration
Foz do Iguaçu
(Brazilian side) to Rio de Janeiro
1 hour and 55 minutes
Rio de Janeiro to Salvador da Bahia2 hours
Salvador da Bahia to Manaus6 hours and 10 minutes (there is no direct flight, so a connection is needed)

For a worry‑free travel experience, we strongly advise letting us take care of your domestic flights. It’s common for local airlines to make several flight changes before (and sometimes during) a trip. Taking care of domestic flights will allow us to closely monitor any flight changes, adapting your trip itinerary as needed.

Our flight issuing service includes: flights booking, daily tracking of flight status and changes, reconfirmation with the airline of each flight before each departure, booking of your flight seats, web check-in (not available for all flights) and assistance with your flights arrangements if there is any flight delay, change or cancellation before or during your trip.

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Why Well‑Traveled Guests Choose Us

See testimonials and trip photos from guests who visited this itinerary's destinations.

The Ultimate Travel Companion: Our Beloved Travel Booklet

This one-of-a-kind sidekick is the key to a worry-free, unforgettable trip experience.
Packed with personalized tips and useful suggestions to help you make the most of your trip experience.

You'll receive your Travel Booklet in two convenient formats: a printed version via FedEx and a digital version via email.

Price per Person in U.S. Dollars
(does not include flights)

PRICE PER PERSON FOR ALL GROUND SERVICES
Comfort Category LodgingDeluxe Category
Lodging
Unique & Exclusive
Category Lodging
**
Double occupancy room $ 4,402$ 4,929$ 6,546
Triple occupancy room $ 3,746$ 4,138$ 5,497

Our prices above include all hotels, tours and airport transfers mentioned in this itinerary.

Discounts available for groups of 4 or more travelers. To get a quote for
4 or more travelers or for a single traveler, click here and fill out the form

Our prices do not include international or domestic airfare.
Our prices are final, you won’t have to pay anything extra no matter what payment method you use.
We accept all major credit cards.

Looking for the most exclusive and luxurious rooms and tour experiences?
Ask Fred to design a Platinum Category itinerary for you!

** For this itinerary the Unique & Exclusive accommodation is only available in Iguazu, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador da Bahia. For The Amazon Rainforest the hotel included is the one mentioned in the deluxe category.

Domestic Flights

Domestic Airfare (3 flights)
Starts at $ 284 per person
Our airfares include:

  • 1 carry-on + 1 piece of checked luggage (up to 50 pounds / 23 kilos)
  • Advance seat selection at no additional cost
Most airfares for domestic flights in Brazil don't include allowance for checked baggage and some don't include seat reservation, but we always book airfares that allow these. Also, we use flexible airfares which allow us to make any needed flight changes (with no additional cost if the new airfare booked is not higher than the issued airfare).
This is a promotional rate, please note that regular airfares can be significantly higher. This means that the sooner you book your trip, the greater our chances of booking this, or similar, airfare.
As soon as we receive your feedback about your itinerary we'll check for flights availability and let you know which are the best flights for your trip and which is the lowest airfare available.

Prices for domestic flights depend exclusively on their availability at the time of booking, usually with much lower rates available for flights booked well in advance. So the sooner you book your trip, the lower the airfare you'll pay (the most expensive airfares are a lot higher than the most promotional ones).
As soon as we receive your feedback about your itinerary we'll check for flights availability and let you know which are the best flights for your trip and which is the lowest airfare available.

For your comfort and peace of mind, we can take care of booking your domestic flights for you. Our services include:

• Checking all available flight options to recommend the best itinerary and fare for your trip

• Flight booking and ticket issuance

• Daily monitoring of flight status and schedule changes

• Reconfirmation of each flight with the airline prior to departure

• Seat selection and booking

• Online check-in (when available)

• Assistance with your flight arrangements in case of delays, changes, or cancellations before or during your trip

Letting us take care of your domestic flight arrangements will let you enjoy a worry‑free travel experience, as it is very common for local airlines to make flight changes before (and sometimes during) a trip.