Pure Brazil

Arrive in Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia and one of Brazil's most historic cities. Its roots stem back to 1501 when the navigator Amerigo Vespucci first sailed into its bay. Initially considered to be the nation's capital due to the natural protection of the cliffs rearing from the sea, its bay was one of the finest anchorages on the eastern shores of the New World.

Due to the number of evening flights into Salvador, your Leader plans to do the welcome meeting on the morning of day two, and will leave a message in reception with details on timings and everything else that you'll need for the day. For those of you who have already arrived in the morning, our Leader will be in reception at 6pm if you would like to go out for an evening meal.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Salvador at any time. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Salvador-Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhaes International Airport (airport code: SSA), approximately a one hour drive from our hotel. Stay: Pousada da Mangueira (Comfortable)

This morning we have a guided orientation tour of the city. The Pelourinho area is considered to be the most important collection of 17th-18th century architecture in the whole of the Americas. The area is a jumble of centuries old churches, narrow cobbled streets and spacious plazas bordered by once elegant but now gently decaying mansions.

The natural setting is magnificent overlooking the Todos os Santos Bay. What immediately strikes the traveller is that despite its Portuguese architecture, the spirit, cuisine, culture and people are predominantly African. The area's riches were originally based on sugar cane and tobacco, with the majority of the workforce coming from the west coast of Africa - for over 300 years Salvador was the centre of a thriving slave trade. The modern day population is mostly of African descent - this can be heard in the rhythms of the music and in the dance, the cuisine and Candomble, a mixture of African and Christian deities and rites.

This afternoon is left free for personal exploration of the area or to relax on the beach. If you'd like to stay active, there are easy cycling excursions available in the city - these guided cycle trips take in either the shorelines of the lower city and its landmarks or the Barra district, home to Brazil's largest street festivities during Carnival time, and leading to some of the most beautiful beaches on Salvador's long coastline. The flat areas around the city are perfect for cycling. Stay: Pousada da Mangueira (Comfortable) (B)

We have a free morning to spend in beautiful Salvador before our indirect flight to the airport today. Our destination is the city of Manaus, set in the heart of the Amazon basin on the banks of the Negro river. The bustle of an urban community seems almost other-worldly in the midst of vast tracts of jungle stretching in all directions. Once rich and fashionable, the capital Amazonas is now quickly expanding as a free trade zone. When we arrive, we will transfer to our accommodation, arriving late in the evening.

Flight times are subject to change. While we'll usually have a free morning in Salvador and a late arrival into Manaus, the schedule may change to a morning flight, arriving earlier to the Amazon. Stay: Hotel Saint Paul (Comfortable) (B)

This morning, we drive to the port where we board our boat and cross the Amazon, seeing the 'Meeting of the Waters' phenomenon en route - the point at which the black Rio Negro and the brown Solimoes come together and continue towards the coast under the name of the Amazon. The rivers run separately for several miles, creating an usual two-toned effect as the river runs. We take another short private bus journey, and a final speedboat trip up the Parana do Mamora as we journey through the rainforest to our remote Amazon lodge. This amazing place is one of the best ways to experience the rainforest - right on the banks of the Rio Juma, and surrounded by lush forest.

Our excursions here will be flexible depending on the weather and various other factors, but on arrival we may take the opportunity to go out by canoe or take a night tour to spot the eye shine from caiman along the river. Stay: Amazon Eco Lodge (Comfortable) (B/D)

There are a whole host of activities on offer here, to make the most of our time in the heart of Brazil's Amazon region. We may visit the local Caboclo community; these forest villagers are descended from the mixing of indigenous populations and white adventurers, such as rubber tappers or prospectors. We can fish for piranha in the river (surprisingly tasty!) or take nature walks into the jungle, accompanied by a local guide.

At night, we'll spot caiman by torchlight, seeing their beady eyes float as red pinpricks in the darkness. Our stay here is dedicated to discovering this incredible region, giving us an appreciation for the precariously balanced ecosystem and the efforts being made to protect it. Stay: Amazon Eco Lodge (Comfortable) (B/L/D)

It's a long travel day as we depart the Amazon, and the first half will be part of the adventure as we travel by launch along the Rivers Juma and Macarico, to Careiro Village. From there we return to Manaus by bus, and then boat across the Amazon River. We'll head straight to the airport on arrival, and board our indirect plane to Cuiaba. We will arrive to Cuiaba late today, and go straight to the hotel, ready for our drive into the Pantanal tomorrow. Stay: Mato Grosso Palace (Comfortable) (B)

Driving from Cuiaba to the Pantanal Wildlife Reserve along the Transpantaneira road we have our first encounters with wildlife at the waterholes. We have two full days to explore this paradise for birds and wildlife. There are over 600 bird species including waders, toucan, heron, stork, duck and coot and 350 varieties of fish, including the piranha.

Animals include deer, armadillo, tapir, boar, the unusual capivara and thousands of Jacare caiman (alligator). Few visitors discover the remote Pantanal, so there is little infrastructure for tourists. Our lodge is located by a river and has a pool to relax beside - a wonderful combination of relaxation and a chance to see the most readily accessible and prolific wildlife in Latin America. Lie in your hammock and appreciate the evening birdsong. Stay: Pousada Piuval (Comfortable) (B/L/D)

Much like in the Amazon, our time here in the Pantanal is flexible and we have two full days to explore. We may head out on foot, in small boats, on horseback, or by jeep safari to explore the area around our lodge. Boat trips in the Pantanal take place only during the high water period; typically November to April.

Early morning and dusk is the best time for wildlife spotting, and we split large groups into two for better viewing opportunities. We will also have the opportunity to do some piranha fishing in the evening. Stay: Pousada Piuval (Comfortable) (B/L/D)

Today we continue exploring Pantanal Wildlife Reserve on foot, by 4x4 or by boat, with plenty of opportunities to spot the incredible wealth of wildlife on offer. Again, our day will be flexible depending on the season, the weather and the wildlife patterns - no two days in the Pantanal are the same!

For those who wish there is one full day option (not included) for you to spend the day searching for the Pantanal's elusive jaguar. In recent years the Pantanal has emerged as one of the best places to spot jaguars in the wild - although daily sightings cannot be guaranteed as these vary according to the temperature, rainfall and seasonal water changes. The excursion leaves our lodge at around 5.30am, returning at approximately 7pm, giving around 7-8 hours of boat time to spot these beautiful creatures. You'll spend most of the day sailing on the Rio Claro, as jaguars are more easily spotted from the banks with the help of the eagle eyes of the boat captains. Stay: Pousada Piuval (Comfortable) (B/L/D)

This morning we return to Cuiaba by road for an indirect afternoon flight to Iguazu. The connections can be long and it may take around 10 hours to arrive into Iguazu (although schedules vary).

We will experience the vastness of the Amazonian plains below, as the flight takes up the majority of the day, building anticipation for our visit to the falls tomorrow. Set amidst the lush landscapes of the Parque Nacional do Iguazú Reserve, the falls are one of nature's true masterpieces, a spectacular cascade of some 275 interconnecting falls that hurtle over high cliffs into a marvellous curved amphitheatre- a breathtaking sight that extends 3km across the Rio Iguazu. Stay: Hotel Rafain Centro (Comfortable) (B)

Today we visit the falls on the Brazilian side. Set in a national park, the Iguacu River hurtles over high cliffs into a marvellous curved amphitheatre several miles wide - a breathtaking sight. The noise is tremendous and huge clouds of mist are churned up by the cascade. The surrounding spray-soaked forest is alive with brightly plumaged toucans, parrots, hummingbirds and colourful butterflies. From here it may be possible to arrange a visit to the Argentinian side of the falls to get a close up of the fitfully churning 'Devil's Throat' by navigating a series of catwalks. Stay: Hotel Rafain Centro (Comfortable) (B)

Leaving the Iguazu area, we fly to Rio de Janeiro. Very few direct flight options exist, but we will try and take one if possible. The spectacular setting of Rio is hard to beat. With 120 miles of marvelous beaches and a mountain backdrop it really is a tropical paradise. Flight time permitting this afternoon is free to relax - visit the Botanical Gardens existing in the city for more than 200 years, visit the historic centre and see the enormous stained glass windows of the Metropolitan Cathedral, or sip a caipirinha overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. This evening you could finish off your Brazilian experience with an optional samba show, or sample the sounds and rhythms of the city in the nightlife district of Lapa. Stay: Hotel Copa Sul (Comfortable) (B)

A busy day lies ahead of us. In the morning, you have the option to visit the towering summit of Corcovado topped by the immense statue of Christ the Redeemer or relax on the beaches before our afternoon city tour. After lunch our local guide will take us to the bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, with its winding streets, famous street cars and colourful buildings, whose hilltop setting gives us an excellent view out to the Guanabara Bay coastline.

We'll do a walking tour of the neighbourhood, which is home to many of Rio's artists, musicians and poets, and is undoubtedly the most picturesque area in the city. Revealing many of the area's highlights, we'll walk through the colourful, tile-lined stairway that leads to the studio of Jorge Selaron, as well as the cultural centre of Parque das Ruinas, which overlooks the bay.

Please note that on festivals or special holidays, the queues for the tramway to Santa Teresa can be enormous, and cause delays to our program. The Tour Leader might in that situation decide to take you into the heart of the historical centre to discover that district instead. In a city the size of Rio, there are numerous districts to explore, each with a character and interest all of their own.

After our visit we will take a cable car up to the huge Sugar Loaf Mountain from where the late afternoon views of Rio are breathtaking. Stay: Hotel Copa Sul (Comfortable) (B)

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Rio.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Rio at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Rio de Janeiro International Airport (airport code: GIG), which is approximately a one hour drive from our hotel. (B)