The World's Top Beaches on an Exclusive Island, the Mighty Iguazu Falls and the Marvelous Rio de Janeiro

The World's Top Beaches on an Exclusive Island, the Mighty Iguazu Falls and the Marvelous Rio de Janeiro

Including Iguazu Falls, Fernando de Noronha, and Rio de Janeiro


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Trip Photo Summary

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:
9 days / 8 nights.
Lodging for 8 nights Included.

10 First‑class tours with the best tour guides (6 of them are private tours). All necessary entrance fees to national parks included.

6 airport transfers included (all private)
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8 breakfasts + up to 1 lunch + 1 dinner included.
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3 Destinations included:

  • Iguazu Falls (Selected by 100 Million Voters as One of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature"): 2 nights
  • Fernando de Noronha (Exclusive haven for marine wildlife and home to the #1 beach in the world): 3 nights
  • Rio de Janeiro (Breathtaking landscapes & home to one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"): 3 nights

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.

Fernando De Noronha

Staying for 3 nights, with 3 tours included

DAY 3: You arrive in Fernando De Noronha

Flight arrival in Fernando de Noronha. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the lodge with private vehicle.

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: Fernando De Noronha

Discovering the Best Beaches in the World and Snorkeling in a Unique Oasis for Marine Life (private tour)

Get ready to discover some of the best beaches in the world (including a visit to Baia do Sancho, voted as the #1 beach in the world by millions of voters on Trip Advisor’s worldwide contest in 2017, 2015 and 2014), swimming among a collection of multi-colored fish and sea turtles, enjoying breathtaking views, and witnessing a picture-perfect, orange and tangerine imbued sunset, as we visit these unique natural highlights of the exclusive island of Fernando de Noronha.

Fernando de Noronha has been declared Mankind’s Natural Heritage by UNESCO, serving as a unique oasis for marine life. Because it’s an equatorial island, Fernando de Noronha has some of the most stable temperatures in the world, staying at around 79F (29C) year round.

This is a full day group tour .

Before this tour you’ll be taken to pick up your snorkeling equipment (mask, fins and life vest),

DAY 5: Fernando De Noronha

Choose 1 among the following 4 tour options:

Serenity at Sunset: a Fernando de Noronha Boat Cruise

Immerse yourself in the warm tropical breeze, the lazy lapping of waves against the boat, and an awe-inspiring vision of the sun setting over the ocean, as we experience the breathtaking and picturesque vistas of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, on a sunset boat cruise. You’ll enjoy a fish & meat barbecue on board. Also, you’ll have the option to “fly underwater” while grabbing a board towed by your boat. This is an awesome way to experience the island’s unique marine wildlife.

This is a 4-hour group tour (including transfers), but with your own private guide. The boat has a maximum capacity of 15 people.

DAY 6: Last day in Fernando De Noronha

Transfer with private vehicle to Fernando de Noronha airport.

Rio De Janeiro

Staying for 3 nights, with 3 tours included

DAY 6: 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 7: 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 8: Rio De Janeiro

Choose 1 among the following 6 tour options:

DAY 9: 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.

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 8 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

** In Fernando de Noronha, our Deluxe Category pricing does not include Deluxe category lodging, since none comply with our Deluxe standards. We are including for Fernando de Noronha in our Deluxe Category pricing what we call a "Comfort Plus" category lodging, which is somewhat nicer and thus more expensive than our Comfort category (usually it's a higher category room in our comfort category hotel).

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 Fernando de Noronha
9 hours (there is no direct flight, 2 flight connections are needed)
Fernando de Noronha to Rio de Janeiro4 hours and 35 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.

Brazil Map

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
(except in Fernando de Noronha*)
Unique & Exclusive
Category Lodging
Double occupancy room $ 2,969$ 3,309$ 4,618
Triple occupancy room $ 2,565$ 2,704$ 3,763

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!

* In Fernando de Noronha, our Deluxe Category pricing does not include Deluxe category lodging, since none comply with our Deluxe standards. We are including for Fernando de Noronha in our Deluxe Category pricing what we call a "Comfort Plus" category lodging, which is somewhat nicer and thus more expensive than our Comfort category (usually it's a higher category room in our comfort category hotel).

Domestic Flights

Domestic Airfare (2 flights)
Starts at $ 402 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.