Amazonia 1 (Rio de Janeiro to Quito)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive Rio de Janeiro

Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. Our tour begins in fantastic Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You may want to arrive a couple of days early to get the most out of your stay here. The many optional excursions on offer include Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado with its famous Statue of Christ – both offering great city views, a visit to the Botanical Gardens and the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Plus you should get ready for the world’s biggest party, THE RIO CARNIVAL! Please note that the 4 nights during Rio Carnival are not included in the tour price and it is essential to pre-book accommodation during this time.

Day 2 to 6

Ouro Preto -Porto Seguro

We depart the fantastic city of Rio along the main autopista heading north into the interior destined for Ouro Prêto. The whole area was once a mining region and this celebrated town was founded in 1711 and is a National Historic Monument. This quaint municipality has much colonial architecture, which gives an aura of times past. We camp en route as we make our way towards the beautiful coastal town of Porto Seguro. It has miles of palm-fringed beaches and bars, which are great places to sample delicious fresh fruit juices, or the Brazilian national cocktail of caiparinha (be careful of this one though). Just north of here is where the Portuguese, led by Pedro Alvares Cabral, first landed in 1500 and a cross marks the site. There is plenty of typical Bahian food available in Porto Seguro and you may want to try the delicious moqueca, a hot spicy seafood casserole. A great chance to top up the holiday tan or to experience some of the local nightlife.

Day 7 to 17

Salvador -Maceio - Olinda/Recife - Canoa Quebrada

Continuing up the coast we head for Salvador, we enter the city by ferry over the bay of all saints to the capital city of the state of Bahia. The centre of Salvador has many historic colonial buildings and dates back to 1549; it was the original Brazilian capital until 1763. It is situated on the bay of Todos os Santos, is the largest bay on the Brazilian coast and has 38 islands, some of which can be visited by ferry on an optional excursion. There are also enormous elevators going from the upper to the lower city, where the docks are situated. It is in this area, just outside Mercado Modelo, where we can find the Bahians practising the foot fighting sport of Capoeira, which was originally brought to Brazil by black Angolan slaves. Another key feature of Bahian life is the Afro-Brazilian religion of candomblé and you may be able to see one of their amazing ceremonies (please check locally for schedules of these optional tours), alternatively, we can enjoy the traditional music of the area with a strong emphasis towards drums in the evening.  Our next stop is Maceio, where you have the opportunity to hire jangadas, typical Brazilian sailing boats. The boatmen can take you out to a natural reef swimming pool about two kilometres from the shore, where you can order cocktails and crayfish from the surrounding boats. Following the coast northwards our next exciting destination is the old colonial town of Olinda, which has a variety of historic churches, convents and monasteries, dating back to 1537. Nearby is Recife, a city built on three islands and joined by a series of bridges. Here an old prison has been converted into a cultural centre, which is not only impressive and interesting, but also houses some unique shops. If you want to see how the other half live in Brazil, then you can visit the rich suburb of Boa Viagem. Continuing our journey north we enter the State of Rio Grande do Norte, which is famous for its beautiful beaches. We have some short drives as we work our way up the coast with a stopover in Praia Pipa where we spend a couple of days enjoying the beach. With opportunities to either take a boat trip to see dolphins or maybe a dune buggy trip in the nearby sand dunes(Optional). Continuing our travels, we carry on to Canoa Quebrada, a fishing village built on a sand dune with long deserted beaches ideal for relaxation and swimming. For the more active there are two exciting optional activities: sandboarding down the dunes or horse riding along them. But the nightlife is not to be missed.

Day 18 to 22

Ubajara National Park -Sete Cidades National Park - Belem

Leaving the coast behind we head inland to our next stop at Ubajara National Park famous for its caves, pretty forest scenery and waterfalls. Here you can take a cable-car ride down into the caves, which also accords great views of the Sertâo, scenery. About ½ a day’s drive brings us to the Sete Cidades National Park, which contains strange 190 million year old rock formations, caverns and natural swimming pools. Sete Cidades Park was named after the ‘seven cities’ its rock formations are said to resemble. From here we travel along the rough roads of Brasil’s northern region to Bom Jardin and further to the mouth of the mighty Amazon River, to the port of Belém.

Day 23 to 29

Belem -Amazon Cruise - Manaus

Belèm has fascinating waterfront markets, the Theatre of Peace (one of the largest theatres in Brazil), the excellent Goeldi Museum which houses a zoo, and there are many stalls in the markets for cheap and tasty meals. Another interesting spot to visit is the Bosque Rodrigo Alves, a public garden with many species of native flora as well as a small collection of animals. From Belém we cruise up the world’s longest river, the Amazon, which flows for 6,200 kilometres. We travel by riverboat for 1,368 kilometres into the jungle. At the start of this adventure the river is narrow as we travel through one of the hundreds of estuaries in the delta but then it widens to in excess of 10 kilometres and it is still around 8 kilometres wide at our destination, the city of Manaus. As we are going upriver, the boat stays mostly close to the shoreline to avoid the stronger currents coming downstream in the centre of the river. Accommodation on the riverboat is in hammocks (purchased locally for approx. US$20 to US$50) for 5 nights (depending on the river current) and usually, each boat has a bar on board plus all meals are included. A stop is generally made at the port city of Santarem. On board the river ferry is a great opportunity to relax, read books and enjoy incredible sunsets, keep an eye out for the pink dolphins on the first couple of days. Before eventually arriving in Manaus with new Brazilian friends and fond memories of the mighty Amazon.

Day 30 to 35

Manaus -Amazon River & Jungle

The jungle city of Manaus used to be the world’s largest suppliers of rubber. During that heady era the famous Teatro Amazonas (Opera House) was built and completed in 1896. Manaus is our base for the opportunity to join an exciting optional excursion deep into the jungle by boat or dugout canoe in search of caiman, fresh water dolphins, jaguar and many other creatures of this threatened rainforest. The local guide on this trip will give you an in-depth view of the past and present day lives of the Amazonian Indians. He or she will also explain the importance of manioc (a root vegetable which must be processed to remove the cyanide) to the Indian economy and diet as well as explaining the uses of numerous other jungle plants. You will also go to the meeting point: where the black waters of the Rio Negro and the yellow-brown waters of the Solimões River run side by side for several kilometers, providing an excellent photo opportunity. We return to Manaus where we highly recommend a visit to the fascinating waterside markets.

Day 36 to 41

Boa Vista -La Gran Sabana - Santa Elena - Ciudad Bolivar - Canaima - Angel Falls - Caracas

Rejoining our expedition vehicle we drive due north through the jungle with a photo stop at the Equator Monument. We gradually leave the jungle behind, as we reach the drier climate near the city of Boa Vista. Continuing north, we cross into Venezuela, a country renowned for its large oil reserves. This is savannah country, dotted with hundreds of mountains and the whole region is known as La Gran Sabana. This area was totally inaccessible until the 1970’s when a road was built. It was finally completed in 1990 and is now one of the best roads in the country. Santa Elena is our next stop. Travelling through the Gran Sabana region, which has an abundance of delightful waterfalls, lagoons and flat-topped mountains called tepuyes. Throughout the park you can see many local Pemòn Indian settlements in this sparsely populated land, which covers an area of 30,000 square kilometres. You will never forget the beauty of this “lost world” region. After passing through this beautiful area we arrive to Ciudad Bolivar on the Orinoco River; this town was once called Angostura and is where Angostura Bitters originate. It is also where Simón Bolívar was declared President of Gran Colombia. This interesting little colonial town is our base for the optional excursion to the Angel Falls. From Ciudad Bolivar we fly south to the small village of Canaima where there are many interesting waterfalls flowing into a black lagoon - the colour emanating from the tannin of the local vegetation. From here you can fly over the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls. The falls, named after an American pilot, Jimmy Angel, who discovered them in 1937, drop nearly 1,000 metres from the flat-topped mountain called Auyan-Tepuy to the jungle floor below. From here we return to Ciudad Bolivar before heading north again where we climb the steep highway into Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, which is 960 metres above sea level and has one of South America's most pleasant climates. It is a very modern city with an efficient metro system, which goes from our hotel area into the city centre in minutes. Caracas has many lovely plazas, parks, museums and impressive buildings, it was the birthplace of the Liberator, Simón Bolívar, whose presence is still seen everywhere. Because of the warm climate, there are many outdoor cafés and restaurants where you can sit and watch the world go by.

Day 42 to 49

MeridaLos Llanos

We leave Caracas and travel to the city of Mérida, surrounded by mountains. You will have plenty of time to get to know this picturesque city. Founded in 1558, the city still retains many interesting colonial buildings. In the nearby Sierra Nevada National Park there is an opportunity to take a 2 or 3 day hike through breathtaking scenery culminating in an exciting cable car (teleférico) ride back to the city. This cable car was built by the French in 1958 and is the longest and highest aerial cableway in the world. Please be aware that the cable car is frequently closed for maintenance. Our next destination is the flatlands of Los Llanos, a vast tropical grassland plain area which harbours abundant wildlife including a vast variety of birds, capybaras, caimans, anacondas, pumas, monkeys and freshwater dolphins. Most of the country’s cattle also graze in this area living side-by-side with wildlife. The cattle are mostly the Zebu variety, which comes from Brazil and India.

Day 50 to 54

Cucuta - Bucaramanga - Santa Marta -Tairona National Park

Leaving the plains behind we head across the border to the pleasant frontier town of Cúcuta in Colombia, where we spend the night before moving on to Bucaramanga known as ‘City of Parks. We then continue on to the slightly more touristy port town of Santa Marta, Colombia's first town, founded on the Caribbean coast in 1525. It was here that ‘The Liberator’ Simón Bolivar came to die in 1830 and you can visit the lush gardens around the hacienda where he spent his final days. The Gold Museum houses a superb collection of pre-Columbian gold and Indian artefacts or you can take time out in one of the scenic open-air waterfront bars. Our next stop is the Tairona National Park, known for its tranquil beaches and pre-Colombian ruins. Here we have plenty of free time to explore the beautiful, unspoilt beachside woodland where you may see iguanas, other lizards, snakes and the occasional monkey. There is also the chance to trek to the small ruins of El Pueblito, left by the original Taironian people.

Day 55 to 60

Cartagena - Bucaramanga - Villa de Leiva

We continue to the historic city of Cartagena, one of the most interesting colonial towns on the continent and where the film “Romancing the Stone” was made. Enjoy a walk along the city walls or wander through the fascinating narrow streets adorned with wooden balconies and hanging plants. There are several interesting optional excursions on offer such as a visit to Castillo San Felipe and the fortress on San Lazaro Hill. Beneath this fortress is a maze of tunnels and there are still cannons in place along the battlements. Also worthwhile is a trip up La Popa Hill to visit the colourful convent with great views over the city. The Bocagrande area of Cartagena is where Colombians come for their beach holidays and it is full of shops, nightclubs and bars. For an excellent evening out you could take a tour around the city by night in a chiva (also known by some as a “booze bus”). Frequent stops are made to see local street performers en route to a local disco. Another optional excursion that can be arranged here is a boat ride to the beautiful Islas del Rosario where it is also possible to go snorkelling or scuba diving around the islands. Near Cartagena is the Volcán de Lodo El Totumo, a mud volcano where you can relax and wallow in the mud, which is believed to be a good treatment for the skin. We return briefly to Bucaramanga for one last glimpse of this pretty historic town and a perhaps try its famous cigars and sample some hormiga culona, a dish made of large fried ants! We then continue on to Villa de Leiva, an attractive colonial town founded in 1572 which has been preserved, with virtually no modern architectural influences at all, as a National Monument by the Colombian Government. You’ll have time to enjoy its incredible colonial plaza, quaint cobblestoned streets, red-tiled roofs, white-washed walls, beautiful balconies and private courtyards. This is also a popular area for hiking and mountain biking options.

Day 61 to 66

Bogota - Zona Cafeteria - Cali - Popayan

We head to Santa Fe de Bogotá, the capital of Colombia with a population of 6 million. The main square - Plaza Bolívar, the Cathedral, Simón Bolívar’s house and the colonial area of Candelaria are all points of interest. You may like to take the funicular to Monserrate for the incredible city views, or visit the world famous gold museum. Finally, a trip to Bogotá would not be complete without an evening out, dancing the night away to salsa and merengue music at one of the city’s pulsating nightclubs. Next we visit the terraced slopes of the Zona Cafeteria (Colombia’s coffee zone) which produces almost half of the country’s coffee. This area is particularly scenic with green valleys surrounded by imposing snow-capped peaks. The area was only settled by the Spanish in the 1800s. You will have plenty of time to explore this area which offers a range of activities: such as a butterfly park, botanical gardens, Parque del Café and Panaca, an agricultural park. Ask your tour leader about some of the more adventurous activities available. It's then on to the bustling city of Cali, the home of salsa dancing and in the Juanchito district you can dance until dawn any night of the week. Next we reach Popayán for our last overnight stop in Colombia. Known as the ‘White City’ because of the colour of the houses which are painted during the commemoration of Christ´s passion and resurrection, this is a stunning colonial city second only to Cartagena for beauty. On the way to the border with Ecuador we will visit the famous Las Lajas Cathedral, a spectacular Neo-Gothic church, built on the bridge spanning the river gorge to commemorate the appearance of the Virgin Mary. Legend has it that her image appeared on an enormous vertical rock 45m above the river. As you walk down the hill you will notice the plaques along the cliff wall placed there by pilgrims.

Day 67 to 69

Valle de Chota - Otavalo - Quito

Our next stop is an overnight stay in the dry Valle de Chota. Many of the local people here are of Afro Caribbean decent, with their own traditions and heritage dating back to the colonial period. Leaving the dusty valley we continue to Otavalo. The local population is made up of a mixture of European descent, mestizos and people of indigenous descent, known as indígenas, who dress mainly in traditional attire. The men keep their hair in long braids down their backs and wear calf length white trousers, blue ponchos, dark felt hats and sandals while the women traditionally wear white frilly blouses with flared lace sleeves and black skirts with layers of gold and coral necklaces twirled around their necks. Every Wednesday and Saturday you can visit one of the best markets to be found anywhere in South America. People come from remote villages to sell their livestock, produce and textiles. The market offers fantastic photo opportunities and wool handicrafts, and you may also find good quality wood carvings, polished leather products made by artisans from nearby villages. The last leg of our journey takes us across the equator on our way to our final destination, the colonial capital of Quito, the first city to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. Here you can explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas. Visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compania (Society of Jesus Church) and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. You may wish to enjoy a last dinner together and reminisce about this great adventure before you continue on your way.

Day 70 to 70

Depart Quito

Our tour concludes after breakfast. This is also the departure city for Expedition Cruises to the Galápagos Islands. Talk to us about how you can add a Galápagos cruise to your itinerary.