Brazil Holidays | Salvador, Lencois Maranhenses, Brasilia, Itatiaia, Jericoacoara & Chapada Diamantina

Brazil is enormous, with some unique cultural and scenic destinations to experience, besides the more obvious areas such as the Amazon, Pantanal, Rio and Iguaçu Falls. Whilst those areas are definitely worth prioritising, if you have a spare week or two, then this sample itinerary can transport you to a 'desert' filled with lagoons; remote coastline so naturally & culturally precious that it is strictly protected; the heart of Brazil's Afro-Latino society; some of the country's most scenic mountain walking areas; and the country's brutalist capital city of Brasilia.

Here are guides to all the areas this experience visits. The itinerary can be tailored to your timings, interests & preferences - skipping some or adding additional areas such as the Cerrado or stunning islands of Fernando de Noronha. Take this as a start point for an itinerary we can personally craft for you.

Lençóis Maranhenses	The coastal Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is stunning: characterised by fine white sand dunes whose valleys between are filled by deliciously turquoise lagoons - each one a perfectly enclosed tropical pool paradise.
Salvador	Salvador was Brazil's original capital and the modern-day epicentre of the Afro-Brazilian culture. Your visit here will see into centuries of history, 16^th Century Portuguese architecture & fantastic colour - both physical & cultural.
Itatiaia National Park	Itatiaia was Brazil's first national park, protecting precious Atlantic Coast Rainforest between the altitudes of 500 to almost 3,000 metres. Dramatic land forms & great hiking.
Jericoacoara	Jericoacoara is a remote fishing village surrounded by idyllic mangrove forests, turquoise lagoons and sand dunes. Strictly protected, Jericoacoara was once voted in the World's top 10 beaches by The Washington Post.
Chapada Diamantina	Chapada Diamantina is another of Brazil's great scenic & biodiversity highlights, with tabletop mountains rising above the cerrado.
Brasilia	Brasília is the capital of Brazil, built almost from nothing in 1960. The city's Brutalist architecture is a key feature, crowning it UNESCO City of Design.
The Parnaíba River Delta	The coastal town of Parnaíba is gateway to the Parnaíba River Delta, where we will take you in search of Scarlet Ibis and other birdlife.

Itinerary

Colours, Coast, Mountains & Capital of Brazil

Day 1 - Itatiaia National Park

Starting in Sao Paulo, Rio or Paraty, you will be collected from airport or hotel and be transferred privately to a fazenda overlooking the Itatiaia National Park. You will immediately be able to soak up some of Brazil's most impressive mountain and Atlantic rainforest scenery.

Days 2 & 3 - Itatiaia National Park

2 full days to decide at the villa what guided experiences you would like to undertake during your 3-night stay beside the Itatiaia National Park.

Day 4 - Itatiaia to Salvador

This morning you will be collected from the fazenda to be driven privately to São Paulo airport.

Fly São Paulo - Salvador.

Upon arrival in Salvador, you will be met by our English-speaking guide who will take you to the beautiful 4-star Villa Bahia Hotel in Salvador.

Day 5 - Salvador

Today our English-speaking guide will take you on a private tour of Salvador, introducing you to its best architecture spanning the 16^th Century to modern day; and provide an appreciation of Salvador's unique Afro-Brazilian culture.

Day 6 – Salvador to the Chapada Diamantina Mountains

This morning we will transport you from Salvador to a lovely 4-star hotel in adjoining the Chapada Diamantina mountains. This lies within the more forested parts of the cerrado. Set beside a cascading river, you will be surrounded by luxuriant woodlands.

Day 7 - Chapada Diamantina

Today you will be taken on a full day guided visit to some of the highlights of Chapada Diamantina, which can include Lapa Doce, Pai Inácio Poço do Diabo & the Mucugê river. We can tailor your walking distance and difficulty according to your preference.

Day 8 - Chapada Diamantina

A day to relax and enjoy your setting, making local arrangements if you wish for a light unguided local walk, or a longer guided mission.

Day 9 - São Luis

Today you will be driven back to Salvador in order to take a flight to São Luis on the north coast of Brazil. São Luis is an ideal access point to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Your 4-star hotel will be beside the sea.

Day 10 - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

For prime access to Lençóis Maranhenses, we have a little further to take you today, so after enjoying your ocean location and breakfast, you will be driven to stay in a privileged position, on the banks of the Preguiças River.

Day 11 - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

You will be collected from the hotel for a half day privately guided 4 wheel drive tour to the Azure Lagoons of the Lençóis Maranhenses. This is one of the most unusual and scenic parts of Brazil you will visit.

Day 12 - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Full day privately guided tour of Rio Preguiças and Caburé within the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.

Day 13 - North Coast to Parnaíba River Delta

Today we will transfer you east along the lovely north coast of Brazil, to the coastal town of Parnaíba. Once settled into your hotel, we will take you out to the Parnaíba River Delta in search of flocks of beautiful scarlet ibis and other birds.

Day 14 - Parnaíba to Jericoacoara

Today we will take you on a 4 - 5 hour road trip along the stunning beach coastline east of Parnaíba. Eventually, you will reach one of Brazil's absolute jewels called Jericoacoara. To enjoy it to the full, you will be staying in an eco-chic 4-star hotel overlooking the sea: according to The Washington Post, once listed in the World's top 10 beaches.

Day 15 - Jericoacoara

No guiding required. Just enjoy Jericoacoara.

Day 16 - Jericoacoara – Fortleza - Brasilia

Today, drive further east until your reach the coastal city of Fortaleza, where you can catch a flight to Brasilia.

Upon arrival in Brasilia, you will be met and transferred by car to your well-positioned hotel in the city.

Day 17 - Brasilia

Full day privately guided experience of Brasilia.

Your end point will be Brasilia international or domestic airport - whichever you need.