Situated in the east of South America, Brazil is the largest country on that continent, commanding a staggering half of its overall landmass. It covers approximately 8.5 million square kms (bigger than Australia) and is home to over 200 million people. Brazil has a diverse geography of natural environments, the most famous being the rainforests of the Amazon Basin. The country hosts a plethora of endemic flora (over 3,500 species) and fauna covering the north and the west. Its landscapes are influenced by the Atlantic Coast, The Andes mountain range, wide grass plains and wetlands.

It is Brazil’s people and varied cultures that primarily make this country a must-visit destination. Cave paintings found in the protected Serra da Capivara National Park date inhabitants back 25,000 years. Fast forward to around 1500 AD and the Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares claimed the region for his country. Over many years, the Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish all fought over the country, and it was not until 1822 that Brazil was declared a republic. In the late 19th century, immigrants from all over the world settled in various regions around the country, and today there is a wonderful mix of intermingled nationalities hard to find anywhere else in the world! Today, Brazilians speak Portuguese, but it is greatly influenced by indigenous peoples and the slaves from Africa who worked the early sugar plantations.

Like Australians, many Brazilians are keen followers of sport. Football is their national game, and they have been World Cup champions a record 5 times. Volleyball, beach volleyball, martial arts, basketball, and Formula 1 racing are also highly popular. Ayrton Senna who tragically died in an F1 race in 1994, is regarded by many as their greatest sporting legend. In 2016, Rio became the first South American city to host an Olympic Games.

Join us for two weeks of culture, history, amazing scenery, people and fabulous food.

INCLUDED

• Internal flights; Rio - Salvador |Salvador - Recife | Recife - Maunas
• All ground transportation as per itinerary
• Twin-share accommodation
• All tipping, including drivers and guides
• Group transfers to and from hotels as per itinerary
• Meals as listed on the itinerary
• Entry fees to places of interest as per itinerary
• Experienced English-speaking local tour guide
• Escorted by an Australian host (subject to a minimum number of 10 clients)

NOT INCLUDED

• International flights
• Electronic travel authorisation or tourist visa
• Travel insurance
• Any meals not indicated on the itinerary
• Optional excursions
• Items of a personal nature, e.g. drinks, laundry, hotel charges
• Transfers to and from airports if not travelling on group flights

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Add our 10-day Galapagos Islands expedition with Lindblad NG at the end of this tour
• Tours depart with a minimum of 4 clients
• No more than 16 clients
• Tour extensions – before or after tour extensions can be arranged on your behalf
• Blue Dot Travel can arrange international flights
• To book and reserve your place on tour, a deposit of $500 and a completed booking form is required

ITINERARY

TOUR MAP