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CITY TOUR AND SUGAR LOAF Approximate Duration: 4 hours
Tour After picking up the participants in the tour from their respective hotels, we set off for the centre of Rio de Janeiro. Passing the dream beaches of Ipanema and adjacent Copacabana, we arrive at the monument in honour of Estácio de Sá, who laid the foundations of the city in 1565. Affording us a lovely view of our final destination, i.e. the Sugar Loaf, we hop off the bus to capture the magnificent scenery in a photograph. We continue our bus-ride alongside Guanabara Bay, casting glances at the tall stone Memorial to the Dead of the Second World War, the Modern Art Museum, Rio's most important centre of contemporary art, and Glória Church, a precious gem of Luso-Brazilian Baroque perched on a hill.
Leaving Santos Dumont airport, that links Rio to São Paulo by shuttle flights, behind us, we head towards the Quinze de Novembro Square, where the history of Rio de Janeiro began. On the way there, a fine example of art nouveau will arouse our attention: Rio's ferry boat terminal. Besides, a little, enchanting castle floating in Guanabara Bay will catch our eyes and evoke childhood fantasies of fairyland: The lime green, neo-Gothic palace on Fiscal Island is primarily associated with the last ball hosted by Brazil's Empire, six days before the Brazilian Republic was proclaimed, on 15 November 1889. Thereafter, the Paço Imperial comes into sight. Built in 1743, it functioned as royal palace and seat of government. In 1888, the Freedom from Slavery Act was proclaimed from its steps. We pass Candelária Church, the largest and wealthiest church of Imperial Brazil and learn that São Bento Monastery, located atop a hill, is considered to be one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in Brazil.
Continuing past Praça Mauá, where Brazil's first skyscraper came up, we reach Rio's ultramodern Cathedral, dating from 1976. We take a look inside to see the four huge stained-glass windows. Our third stop (traffic conditions permitting) is in front of the Teatro Municipal, a tribute to Paris whose opera house inspired its design. Since its inception in 1909, it has been Brazil's Mecca for the erudite arts. Located in Cinelândia Square as well are the National Fine Arts Museum, the country's foremost repository of classic Brazilian artwork and the National Library displaying neo-classic and art nouveau paintings.
Leaving the city's vibrant area we take the Presidente Vargas Avenue, one of Rio's main traffic arteries, and bound for the Sambódromo. Completed in 1984, it is a kilometre-long tiered street custom-made for samba parades. We step onto this 'holy ground' where on 2 consecutive days year after year Rio's 14 top-flight samba schools have some 60 minutes each to present the results of one year of preparation. Proceeding further north, we get to Maracanã, where everything revolves around soccer. More than 11,000 people were involved in the construction of the world's largest football stadium. Being acquainted now also with the outside of Rio's temple of sport, it is time we are wending our way to the Sugar Loaf. The domed rock sentinel that guards the entrance of Guanabara Bay constitutes - along with Corcovado Mountain - one of Rio's most emblematic natural landmarks.
At Praia Vermelha, Rio's only beach with yellow instead of white sand, we check in for the Sugar Loaf. Two cable cars lift us 396 m above Rio: The first takes us to the top of Urca Hill. From here, we can enjoy a nice view of Guanabara Bay and the coastline. Urca Hill has its own restaurant, souvenir shops, a playground, a helipad and an amphitheatre. The second cable car goes up to the peak. And when Rio de Janeiro lies at our feet, we are offered the visual proof that the city deserves its nickname 'Cidade Maravilhosa' (Marvellous City). We feast our eyes on the beauty of Rio and drunk with awe, we return to our hotels.
CORCOVADO AND TIJUCA FOREST Approximate Duration: 4 hours
Once the tour participants have been picked up from their hotels, we sally forth to Rio's trademark statue: Christ the Redeemer surmounting the hunch-backed peak of Corcovado. To reach our destination, we ride along the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, a natural salt-water lagoon surrounded by luxurious homes, and head for the tunnel Rebouças which runs beneath Corcovado. We see light at the end of the tunnel in the Cosme Velho District. Before boarding the Corcovado cog train, we take a step back to the early 19th century: The Largo do Boticário is a quaint square bearing witness to neo-colonial architecture.
After this look back, the steep cog railway takes us up to Christ. Our journey aboard the miniature train that runs 3.8 kilometres (2.4 miles) through a luxuriant tropical forest affords stunning glimpses of Rio from different angles. The 90,000 seedlings that were planted between 1861 and 1874 gave birth to the world's largest urban forest covering today some 3,300 hectares. Tijuca forest is home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife and has been declared part of Brazil's national heritage.
From the upper railway terminus, 220 steps lead us to 1,145 tons of concrete taking shape of God's son. Since 1931 Christ has been stretching out his arms and keeping a watchful eye on Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and the French sculptor Paul Landowsky were the fathers of the massive statue which rises - 710 metres (2,329 ft) above sea level - 30 metres (98.4 ft) up into the sunny skies of Brazil and extends its arms horizontally; its fingertips covering a distance of 28 metres.
So close to heaven, and so far away from the world's problems . what enviable position!
We have approximately an hour to enjoy the divine views of Rio and to spot its sandy beaches, rocky islands, granite peaks and several outstanding man-made attractions. Besides the city's symbolic monument, Corcovado Mountain also features a small chapel in the statue pedestal and some secular phenomena: a café and souvenir shops.
Thereafter, the Corcovado cog train will take us back to Cosme Velho through the thick, exuberant Tijuca forest. Getting on our private coach again, we traverse the Rebouças tunnel and on our right side we will catch a glimpse of the Hipódromo, the city's horse-racing track, designed in Louis XV-style. Before returning to our hotels, we bend right towards the exclusive São Conrado District and stop at the tranquil Pepino beach. While we may try some coconut water straight from the shell, an ideal thirst-quencher and praised for its numerous positive effects on health, we can raise our heads towards the hang-gliders who fly overhead. They take off at Pedra Bonita, one of Rio's giant rocks, and touch down at Pepino beach.
But now it is high time to direct our steps towards home. Our coach will first call at the hotels on Ipanema Beach and then proceed along Copacabana.
RIO BY NIGHT Approximate Duration: 5 hours
Leave your diets at home and spend with us a memorable evening by experiencing two Brazilian icons: churrasco & samba.
We will pick you up from your hotels and take you through the illuminated night-time landscape of Rio de Janeiro to the Barra da Tijuca District, where a typical Brazilian churrascaria awaits us. A mixed grill, including excellent steak roasted on a spit over an open fire and served with roasted manioc flour goes under the name of churrasco. Brazilian churrascarias bring you all the meat you can eat . it's meat-eaters' paradise
After pampering our palates, we move on to the second highlight which will be a feast for eyes and ears: Plataforma I stages a variety & samba show in the Leblon District, thereby offering us the unique opportunity to see - during 1¾ hours - some of the city's samba stars and percussion players in action. The seductive rhythm of the samba is the most typical of Brazilian popular music and the signature music of the best known carnival in the world. Dressed in colourful costumes, units of dancers from Rio's leading samba schools will portray aspects of their main themes for the next Carnival . a flavour of Carnival is in the air.
TROPICAL ISLANDS After the tourists' pick-up from their hotels we go through the districts of Botafogo and Flamengo, pass by the centre and drive due . paradise. Our tour guide reveals to us some facts about Brazil's 'emotional' capital and about what lies ahead.
After an hour and a half we have a short stop prior to proceeding to the fishing village Itacuruçá, some 90 kilometres (56 miles) from Rio de Janeiro. This is the boarding point for our tropical islands schooner cruise.
The smiling sun above us, the sea underneath us, a myriad of islands around us and holiday-mood in us, isn't that the stuff that dreams are made of ? And to put the finishing touch to a 'perfect day', we are tempted to tropical fruits and Brazil's national drink: Caipirinha. The recipe is simple, the taste divine: cachaça (made from sugar-cane), lime, sugar and crushed ice.
Some fishermen's and weekend-chalets frame the islands. The overwhelming majority, however, belongs to lush forests. In awe of such beauty everything seems to hold its breath and time seems to stand still. Only some playing dolphins and fish may break the silence. The Sea invites us to get in touch with her and who could turn down such tempting a offer?
When our stomachs start 'speaking' up, we change the course and head for one of the islands. A buffet-luncheon enriched with fresh seafood will certainly be a delight for our taste-buds and calm our stomachs down. After this Epicurean feast and some idle moments we go on board our schooner to return to the mainland, where our coach already waits for us. We leave the tropical islands behind us, but take pleasant memories with us. Two hours later, i.e. at approximately 6 p.m. we shall arrive in Rio de Janeiro and will leave the excursionists on their hotels' doorsteps.
PETROPOLIS Approximate Duration: 6 hours
After collecting the participants in the excursion from their hotels we steer for 'imperial' Petrópolis.
While approaching Petrópolis, we pass the history of the tiny town in review: When Rio got too muggy in summer, the imperial family escaped to this charming mountain retreat, some 53 kilometres (33 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro. The past of Petrópolis is inextricably linked with one of Brazil's greatest historic figures: Dom Pedro II. His 50-year reign starting in 1840 is regarded as the most prosperous period in Brazilian history. The son of the Austrian empress Leopoldina and Brazil's first emperor, Dom Pedro I, abolished slavery, encouraged mass immigration and forged a nation that would do away with the monarchy forever.
On our way up the steep, scenic mountain road we make a short 'technical' stop. Our first encounter with the summer hill resort - some 809 metres (2,654 ft) above sea level - takes place at the Palácio Quitandinha, a grandiose palace, built in 1944 as a casino and hotel. An attraction definitely worth a photo! Afterwards, the city's main cultural site, the Imperial Palace, deserves our undivided attention. This perfectly preserved summer palace, neo-classical in style, expresses very faithfully what we know of Dom Pedro II's character. It goes without saying that we will not miss the imperial sceptre and the 1.7 kg crown with its 639 diamonds and 77 pearls! After approximately an hour in this cultural shrine, we proceed to Dom Pedro II's last resting-place in the Gothic-style Catedral de São Pedro de Alcântara. A subsequent coach ride featuring buildings, parks and squares of historic interest reveals the city's undeniable European face.
We leave you some time for lunch or for an individual exploration of the city before we return to our hotels, where we are supposed to arrive after an hour's drive.
ANGRAS DOS REIS As soon as all enrolled voyagers are seated, our air-conditioned coach sets a south-westerly course for Angra dos Reis.
One of the world's most beautiful highways leads to this resort town. We drive along the Costa Verde (Emerald Coast) and witness the mountains touching the sea. On our right side the savage beauty of forested mountains passes by; and, undoubtedly, hundreds of islands with sun-baked beaches that are the most spectacular in Brazil turn our heads - to the left side.
Some 150 kilometres (93 miles) distant from the city of Rio de Janeiro, we find a small port on an enormous bay facing some 365 tiny islands - one for every day of the year according to popular belief. Angra dos Reis is said to have been founded on 6 January 1502 (Dia dos Reis - Day of The Three Kings). Its calm waters and the natural ports and coves allowed safe passage to the Portuguese ships that came to transport sugar, and later gold, to Europe.
A schooner waits for us to take us for a trip around the bay. The natural beauty that envelopes the islands seems to herald paradise. On one of its 365 islands we go ashore and should not miss the opportunity to cool off in the crystal-clear sea. Some powerful strokes give us an appetite ... the ideal prerequisite for enjoying a copious buffet-lunch on one of the islands featuring some of Brazil's culinary highlights.
Although another hundreds of islands and its secluded beaches wait to be explored, the hour has come for us to say farewell and to return to the mainland. Savouring the lovely memories of our stay on these treasure islands, we follow the roads back to Rio de Janeiro.
BUZIOS We collect the tourists enrolled in this day-trip from their hotels and . change the side by crossing the Rio-Niterói bridge, incredibly 15.5 kilometres (9.6 miles) long, 60 metres high and 26.6 metres wide. Enjoying a splendid view of Guanabara Bay with Rio in the background, we steer due northeast towards Búzios.
The picturesque beach resort numbering some 26,000 inhabitants is located in the Lakes Region, also known as the Costa do Sol. It was a sleepy fishing village until the early sixties, when it was 'discovered' by Brigitte Bardot and her Brazilian boyfriend. Because of its natural beauty - calm unpolluted waters of the Atlantic edged with white sand beaches - the illustrious couple grew fond of Búzios and returned summer after summer; it did not take long until the peninsula became a mecca for trendy travellers.
After a two-hour coach-ride we will cross the boundary to Búzios and will change the means of locomotion: We put out to sea and can enjoy the allure of the green waters and the resort's 22 beaches. Aboard the schooner, we also have the opportunity to sample the delights of Brazil's tropical fruits and 'batidas', i.e. mixes of cachaça (Brazil's firewater made from sugar-cane), sugar and assorted fruit juices. Being on terra firma again, we have lunch in a typical restaurant. In the afternoon we invite you to a leisurely walk along the town's narrow streets lined with fancy villas, colonial inns, posh pousadas and luxurious boutiques. Time flies and our guide will sound the departure. We shall be back in Rio by 7 p.m.
