Green Coast and Iguassu Falls 9 days

Foz do Iguassu © Embratur

The spectacular beaches of the Green Coast, in Rio de Janeiro State, is formed by a strip of sand between the lush green mountains and the emerald sea. Along the Green Coast are hundreds of islands and many small colonial towns, including Paraty. Paraty is both a colonial relic, well preserved and architecturally unique, and a launching pad to a dazzling section of the Brazilian coastline.  On the border between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, where the mountains of the Serra do Mar meet the sea, is Bocaina National Park. Rising from sea level to the 2132m, the park contains a mixture of vegetation, from Atlantic Rainforest to Araucária (pine forest) and windswept grassy plateaus in the higher altitudes.  

The Iguassu National Park is one of the largest reserves of "mata atlantica" in Brazil and represents one of the most recent environmental protection areas in the state of Paraná. The Park contains an area of 185 000 hectares of subtropical rain forest.  During the General Assembly of UNESCO in Paris on 17th November 1986 the Iguassu National Park was declared a Human Heritage Site. Today, the region is the border among three countries: Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, and can be reached by plane or roads. Iguaçu Falls, in the Iguaçu River, is, actually, a system of 275 falls along almost five kilometers in the Brazil-Argentina border. The highest fall is 64 meters high and the others have 30 to 40 meters high.

Day 1 - Inbound - Rio de Janeiro
Meet guide at Rio international airport and transfer to hotel. Have a welcome drink and check in.  Lunch at a nearby restaurant accompanied by tour leader. ‘Sunset’ tour to Sugar Loaf Mountain. Return to hotel around 6:30 pm.
Overnight: Ipanema Plaza Hotel .

Day 2 - Rio de Janeiro
Breakfast at hotel´s restaurant and departure on a jeep tour to Corcovado and Tijuca Forest. Lunch at a churrascaria (a Brazilian barbecue restaurant). 
Free afternoon (suggestion: “Handicraft Fair” in Ipanema). Around 7pm, transfer with your guide to Lapa neighborhood for a musical program.
Overnight: Ipanema Plaza Hotel .

Day 3 - Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast, departure for a half day tour to  Rio’s Botanical Garden .
Afternoon: Optional historical city tour (min 2 people)
Overnight: Ipanema Plaza Hotel ..

Day 4 - Rio de Janeiro – Green Coast
Check-out after breakfast. Departure to Costa Verde (Green Coast). Around 11am, arrive at Hotel do Bosque Eco-resort. Have a welcome drink and lunch.
Free time (beach, optional activities)
At 7:30 pm, dinner at the hotel restaurant followed by live music at a kiosk bar
Overnight: Hotel do Bosque .

Day 5 - Green Coast (Trip to Paraty)
Breakfast at hotel´s restaurant. Departure to Paraty with half-hour stop at traditional fishing village. Around 10 am, arrive in Paraty and go on a 3-hour schooner tour. After the tour, lunch in Paraty. City tour in the afternoon.  
Transfer back to Hotel do Bosque and have dinner
Overnight: Hotel do Bosque .

Day 6 - Green Coast (Serra da Bocaina National Park)
Breakfast. Morning tour to Serra da Bocaina National Park .
Optional activities at the park: (1) Rafting trip; or (2) Jeep tour including 15min hike, with stop for 45min at a waterfall surrounded by bromeliads, orchids and birds (min. 4 people).
Return to hotel around noon. Free afternoon (beach, pool and optional activities)
Dinner at the hotel´s restaurant
Overnight: Hotel do Bosque .

Day 7 - Green Coast - Sao Paulo
After breakfast, transfer to São Paulo international airport (5-hour scenic trip)
Flight to Iguassu Falls - not included (suggested flight: TAM JJ 3559 ETD 3:40pm / ETA 5:10pm).
Meet guide at Iguassu airport and transfer to Hotel das Cataratas. Hotel das Cataratas is the only hotel inside the Iguassu National Park.
Overnight: Hotel das Cataratas

Day 8 - Iguassu
Breakfast at the hotel´s restaurant. Early departure for Argentinean side of the falls. Lunch in Argentina and return for tour on Brazilian side of the falls.
Optional boat tour
Overnight: Hotel das Cataratas

Day 9 - Iguassu – Sao Paulo
Breakfast at the hotel´s restaurant. Transfer to Iguassu airport to catch flight to São Paulo: (a) 5:30 am for those making extension to Pantanal or Amazon;
(b) 11:30 am for others. 
Suggested flight TAM JJ 3558 ETD 1:35pm

Optional City tour of São Paulo and lunch

General Information

Capacity:	10 travelers
Guide Language:	English. Other language upon request
Level:	Easy Level Program
Included:	All transfers, overnights with breakfast, bilingual nights, tours and meals as described above
Not Included:	Air tickets in/outbound of Brazil & domestic flights, airport taxes, insurances, optional tours, meals not described above, beverages unless otherwise stated, personal gear and bank fees
Personal Gear:	Swimsuit, sunblock, sunglasses, raincoat, cap, mosquito repellent, personal medications, light comfortable clothing for warm days and warm jacket and pants for chilly days
Optional Gear:	Camera and film