A fantastic three weeks in Brazil
From São Paulo, we flew on to Campo Grande and drove to Bonito in a rental car; Bonito is famous for its natural springs. It’s a brilliant spot for snorkelling and spotting the many different species of fish. From there, we continued on to the Pantanal, a remarkable nature reserve where we saw many species of birds, as well as anteaters, giant otters and capybaras. And all this at a lodge/fazenda where we could go horse riding, fishing, hiking and more.
We flew to Foz do Iguaçu, the wonder of the waterfalls. You simply mustn’t miss this! We had the chance to see the waterfalls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides. Definitely worth doing; there are 275 waterfalls to admire from numerous vantage points, and it’s hard to say goodbye to this place.
“ Flew to Foz do Iguaçu, the wonder of the waterfalls. You mustn’t miss this! ”
From Foz to Porto Alegre, then by rental car via Bento Gonçalves to Gramado and Cambara do Sul. Perhaps a lesser-known area, but definitely worth a visit. From the wine region where Brazilian wines are on the rise – particularly the sparkling varieties – to the stunning natural areas around the Fortaleza and Itaimbezinho gorges.
We then drove down to the coast, to the town of Praia do Rosa, where we stayed for a few days in an excellent pousada, before spending the last two days in Rio de Janeiro. It took a bit of getting used to again – a busy city – but it’s perfectly doable in two days if you want to see the highlights. Of course, you mustn’t miss the Christ the Redeemer statue and the Escadaria Selarón (the famous staircase with tiles by the artist Jorge Selarón). Incidentally, we stayed at a lovely hotel, Casa Amarelo, right in the heart of the Santa Teresa neighbourhood; it’s centrally located for exploring everything the city has to offer, with good restaurants nearby. The taxi system and Uber work really well, and before we boarded the plane we went on a bike trip. We opted for a three-hour bike ride in the south of the city, past the famous beaches, Sugarloaf Mountain and so on.
“ In the village of Praia do Rosa, we stayed in an excellent pousada by the coast ”
All in all, a superbly organised trip by Sapa Pana Travel. The communication and preparation were excellent, and we were given some great tips. They know the country well, which means you can put together a really enjoyable, tailor-made trip. Everything went to plan: airport pick-up and drop-off, rental car, the lovely places to stay, the excellent guides (who were helpful and friendly), and so on. On arrival in Brazil, we were also given a detailed itinerary. Furthermore, travelling in southern Brazil is safe, with good roads (watch out for speed bumps and speed cameras), exceptionally friendly people and good food. Good to know: there’s plenty of choice for non-meat-eaters too!
Fancy a trip of Brazil?
Would you like to travel around Brazil independently and are you curious about the possibilities? Then do take a look at the itineraries we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these trips directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.