9-Day Itinerary in Brazil: City, Beach, and Nature

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro, a Cidade Maravilhosa (the Marvelous City), and check in to your boutique hotel located in Rio's hills, favored by celebrities. Ascend Sugarloaf Mountain for epic sunset views. Pick your adventure level for your ascent: ride a cable car, go on a 50 minute hike with monkeys and sea views, or rock climb to the summit.

Check a world wonder off your bucket list and visit the Christ the Redeemer statue - it's a 3 hour hike up or a ride on a Swiss-made train. Spend the afternoon strolling/snacking/shopping through chic Leblon, popular Ipanema, and classic Copacabana. For dinner, enjoy a meal made by a local host at her home overlooking Copacabana beach. If you're up for it, dance the night away to live music at one of the city's beloved Samba clubs.

Discover the bohemian Santa Teresa neighborhood on a morning walk with a local guide. Your journey through Brazil continues. Take a domestic flight from Rio de Janeiro to Porto Seguro, and after a 1 hour drive arrive in Trancoso, former fishing village turned trendy getaway.

Go on a jungle trek with a naturalist guide, kayak up and down Troncoso's rivers or the sea, try net fishing like the natives, go horseback riding on the beach, or visit an indigenous tribe in the heart of the jungle. In the evening, mingle with the locals in the Quadrado, the town square.

The day is yours to uncover why everyone says Trancoso is so magical. Get a birdy on a golf course overlooking the ocean, learn how to make Bahian food from locals, break a sweat with a Capoeira class, visit the town’s charming boutiques, or do your best impersonation of a seal on one or all of Trancoso’s eight exceptional beaches.

Arrive in Manaus, the gateway to the Amazon. Learn about the Amazon’s flora, fauna, and culture at Museu da Amazônia and watch the sunset from the museum’s jungle observation tower. For dinner, sample traditional Amazonian cuisine.

A 3 hour drive through the jungle will bring you to your rustic luxury lodge where you can explore the Amazon by foot or canoe with local expert guides.

Continue to experience the wonders of Anavilhanas National Park. Spend the day exploring the jungle – maybe you'll find pink porpoises or search for nocturnal wildlife. Cool off in the lodge pool, claim a hammock to nap in, or both.

After breakfast, take a seaplane over the stunning Anavilhanas archipelago back to Manaus. Obrigada, Brazil! Bittersweet goodbyes. Manaus offers direct flights to the U.S. and other international hubs.