Rio de Janeiro

Your scenic drive takes you to the bustling downtown area, the heart of the commercial city, where traditional Rio blends with modern architecture. Passing through Rio Branco Avenue, you will see the classic Candelaria Church. Highlights en route include the Opera House, Cariocan Square and the 17th century Church of Santo Antonio. The dramatic contrasts between old and new Rio can clearly be seen during the tour.

Visit Rio’s modern Cathedral, with its fascinating architecture: in spite of its size, there are no columns inside to support it. Towering at 246 feet, the Cathedral has the capacity to hold 20,000 people.

The highlight of your tour will, without doubt, be a visit to the infamous Sugar Loaf Mountain. Transfer by cable car to the 1st stage of the giant rock, towering over the entrance to Guanabara Bay. The midway station invites you to admire the surroundings, before embarking on the 2nd stage of the ride to the peak. From 1,230 feet, enjoy breathtaking views of the city on both sides.

Start your day with a fascinating city tour taking in the highlights and sights of this amazing city, featuring a ride along Rio’s most celebrated Guanabara Bay.

Ascend via cable car to the stunning Sugar Loaf Mountain rising 1,299 feet above sea level and experience breathtaking views of the Corcovado, sandy beaches, Rio de Janeiro-Niteroi Bridge and the city of Niteroi across the Bay.

A drive along Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon beaches leads you to a delightful lunch venue, where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere of this unique city.

After lunch, visit one of the new 7 wonders of the modern world, the famous and awe inspiring Statue of Christ the Redeemer at the top of the Corcovado Mountain. You will reach the monument aboard the cogwheel railway, climbing 2,400 feet. From here, you can enjoy an outstanding view of Guanabara Bay.

Your scenic drive will take you through downtown Rio, where the colonial past meets the modern day skyscrapers. Visit Rio’s modern Cathedral, which in spite of its size, has no columns inside to support it, making it a most interesting piece of architecture. The Cathedral is the seat of the cardinal archbishop of Rio De Janeiro and stands at a height of 246 feet. Pass the Sambodromo district where the famous world Carnival parades are held. See Flamengo Park, the largest leisure area and urban park in Rio with its strong sporting traditions.

Continue to the exclusive Botafogo Bay, the high class commerce community area, which offers stunning views of the legendary Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Pass by the Botanical Gardens, the Barra da Tijuca district and travel along the coast passing Rio’s popular beachfronts. See São Conrado, Leblon, famous Ipanema and, of course, Copacabana with its vibrant bars, elegant hotels and fashionable nightclubs.

The mountain of Corcovado is topped by the immense 150-foot-high statue of Christ the Redeemer facing out over Guanabara Bay; it is one of the great enduring images of Rio de Janeiro. On a clear day you can virtually see the entire city, from the bustling downtown business district to the fantastic beaches of Copacabana.

Your scenic drive to Corcovado station will show you the sights and sounds of the city before boarding the cogwheel train to reach the peak of this outstanding monument. Climbing the 2,400 feet to the top is a breathtaking experience; be sure to take your camera to capture the incredible sights. Marvel at the magnificence of the statue and the wonderful views from this world famous landmark.

Your return drive will take you via some of the famous beaches in Rio including Leblon, Ipanema and the well known and beautiful Copacabana Beach.

Your scenic transfer will take you to the appealing Marina da Gloria to board your schooner and set off on your unique journey to unforgettable shorelines.

The schooner will sail along the coastline of Rio de Janeiro, passing by the famous beaches such as Flamengo, Botafogo and Urca, offering outstanding views of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Glide towards the Niterói beaches; Niterói is separated from the capital by the Guanabara Bay.

Relax onboard admiring the brilliant coastlines of Jurujuba, Charitas and Icaraí. You will also enjoy views of Fiscal Island, Rio-Niterói Bridge and historic fortresses.

This cruise is a wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with Rio and the beautiful Guanabara Bay from a totally different perspective.

DAY 1 – RIO DE JANEIRO
Your overland adventure begins with a whistle-stop tour of the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro. See the skyscrapers of modern Rio as well as the 17th and 18th century architecture of the Opera House and Cathedral. Drive through Flamingo Park where you’ll see the iconic Sugar Loaf Mountain. Travel 1,200 feet up by cable car to witness one of the world’s most spectacular views. Enjoy lunch at the famous Porcao Rio’s Restaurant for a taste of traditional Brazilian BBQ. You’ll take a flight from Rio to Iguassu and check into the Hotel Das Cataratas, situated on the Brazilian side of the Falls, where you will stay for 2 nights. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

DAY 2 – IGUASSU FALLS
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a tour of the mighty Iguassu Falls. Travel by coach across the Tancredo Neves bridge, over the Iguassu River, which forms the border between Brazil and Argentina. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Iguassu National Park before stopping at the visitors centre. From here, you’ll follow the upper circuit and the up-river cascades to see as much of the Argentinean side of the Falls as possible. Your tour takes you down-river where you’ll board the Ecological Train leading to the most impressive viewpoint of the Falls, the Devil’s Throat. Lunch will be served at a restaurant near to the Falls. In the afternoon you’ll return to the hotel where you will have an opportunity to take a walking tour of the Brazilian side of the Falls. Follow the pathways which trace the cascades and then take the ‘cat walk’ leading close to the bottom of the Devil’s Throat for incredible views of the magnificent Falls. Dinner will be served at your hotel.

DAY 3 – BRIEF BUENOS AIRES
Breakfast will be served before check-out and departure for the airport. You’ll take a flight from Iguassu to Buenos Aires where you will be driven down-town for lunch. Leaving the airport, you’ll have a short drive to the newly developed Puerto Madero area of the city to enjoy a typical Argentinean steak lunch before returning to the airport for your connecting flight from Buenos Aires to Montevideo. On arrival in Montevideo, you will be met by your Uruguay host and checked into the Sheraton Hotel where you will have a late dinner.

DAY 4 – MONTEVIDEO
Following breakfast, you’ll take a brief tour of Montevideo. The city was founded in 1726 by the Spanish and features wonderful contrasts between classic European and modern architecture. Enjoy the sights as you head out of the city into the countryside. On arrival at Estancia Renacimiento, a Uruguayan family will welcome you to their traditional agricultural ranch. Local Gauchos will show you around the estate and explain the various activities of the Estancia and typical Gaucho duties. A rustic BBQ lunch will be served at the ranch before you head back to Montevideo to re-join Adonia.

DAY 1 – RIO DE JANEIRO
Your overland adventure begins with a whistle-stop tour of the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro. See the skyscrapers of modern Rio as well as the 17th and 18th century architecture of the Opera House and Cathedral. Drive through Flamingo Park where you’ll see the iconic Sugar Loaf Mountain. Travel 1,200 feet up by cable car to witness one of the world’s most spectacular views. Enjoy lunch at the famous Porcao Rio’s Restaurant for a taste of traditional Brazilian BBQ. You’ll take a flight from Rio to Iguassu and check into the Hotel Das Cataratas, situated on the Brazilian side of the Falls, where you will stay for 2 nights. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

DAY 2 – IGUASSU FALLS
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a tour of the mighty Iguassu Falls. Travel by coach across the Tancredo Neves bridge, over the Iguassu River, which forms the border between Brazil and Argentina. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Iguassu National Park before stopping at the visitors centre. From here, you’ll follow the upper circuit and the up-river cascades to see as much of the Argentinean side of the Falls as possible. Your tour takes you down-river where you’ll board the Ecological Train leading to the most impressive viewpoint of the Falls, the Devil’s Throat. Lunch will be served at a restaurant near to the Falls. In the afternoon you’ll return to the hotel where you will have an opportunity to take a walking tour of the Brazilian side of the Falls. Follow the pathways which trace the cascades and then take the ‘cat walk’ leading close to the bottom of the Devil’s Throat for incredible views of the magnificent Falls. Dinner will be served at your hotel.

DAY 3 – BRIEF BUENOS AIRES
Breakfast will be served before check-out and departure for the airport. You’ll take a flight from Iguassu to Buenos Aires where you will be driven down-town for lunch. Leaving the airport, you’ll have a short drive to the newly developed Puerto Madero area of the city to enjoy a typical Argentinean steak lunch before returning to the airport for your connecting flight from Buenos Aires to Montevideo. On arrival in Montevideo, you will be met by your Uruguay host and checked into the Sheraton Hotel where you will have a late dinner.

DAY 4 – MONTEVIDEO
Following breakfast, you’ll take a brief tour of Montevideo. The city was founded in 1726 by the Spanish and features wonderful contrasts between classic European and modern architecture. Enjoy the sights as you head out of the city into the countryside. On arrival at Estancia Renacimiento, a Uruguayan family will welcome you to their traditional agricultural ranch. Local Gauchos will show you around the estate and explain the various activities of the Estancia and typical Gaucho duties. A rustic BBQ lunch will be served at the ranch before you head back to Montevideo to re-join Adonia.

‘Fazendo Criança Sorrir’ is a kindergarten located in the Ilha do Governador neighbourhood that looks after children from 4 months to 7 years old. Their families are very poor and need to work, but they do not have anywhere to leave their children, so the aim of the project and its volunteers is to provide a safe and clean place where the children can be looked after.

Many of these children do not have parents and live with their closest relatives; indeed some of them actually live in the kindergarten after being adopted by the coordinators. The crèche currently looks after 42 children and 15 youths and has school support classes in the afternoons.

The project has a waiting list of 120 children and is sponsored by various partnerships. The volunteers play a vital role in the development of these children, assisting with the day to day tasks of encouraging recreational activities, helping them with eating, cleaning, providing school support classes and encouraging the teenagers to participate in sport activities.

In order to continue supporting these children, the Project has decided to look for institutional support as the goal is to provide the children with a kindergarten that has a larger range of activities, improved teaching facilities and a library.