Brazil: A Celebration of Life

Enjoy included VIP airport lounge access before your overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro.

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro and transfer to your chosen hotel. You'll have some time to relax and freshen up after your flight before heading out with your local guide for a fascinating orientation tour of Rio, where you'll explore the roots of African culture in Brazil through a visit to a Candomblé temple - a uniquely Brazilian religion combining elements of the Catholic and Yoruba faiths. As you journey through the city you'll also get a flavour of life on Rio's bustling streets and beautiful beaches. Return to your hotel this evening and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Stay: Porto Bay Rio Internacional (Superior) or Belmond Copacabana Palace (Deluxe)

Today's tour sees you head to famous Sugar Loaf Mountain, set at the mouth of Guanabara Bay. Head to the summit by a series of cable cars to enjoy jaw-dropping views across the city, beaches and surrounding forested peaks that give Rio one of the world's truly iconic settings. From there, you'll dive into the Afro-influenced world of samba and Carnival, Rio's famous annual celebration. Your first stop will be the Sambadrome, which is the focal point for the city's carnival parades. A visit to the Carnival Museum will give you an understanding of the cultural and historical aspects of this incredible celebration. You'll also visit Samba City to see local artisans working on the colourful floats and costumes that are the centre point of the parade. This evening you'll enjoy a traditional dinner at a restaurant specialising in feijoada, the native Brazilian dish created by slaves. And, once dinner's over, you'll head to the downtown area to a gafieira, one of the city's traditional dance halls (Fridays and Saturdays only).

Stay: Porto Bay Rio Internacional (Superior) or Belmond Copacabana Palace (Deluxe)

Take a tour of Rio's beautiful beaches and pass through the charming neighbourhood of Cosme Velho on the way to Corcovado Mountain. At the base of the mountain you'll board a narrow gauge railway that will take you through the verdant Tijuca Rainforest to the summit, home to Rio's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. From here you'll enjoy incredible views across the city of Rio to the Atlantic Ocean beyond. This evening you'll have the option of taking a "Rio by Night" tour, taking in some of the city's famous night spots, including the lively Lapa district, home to some of Rio's best Samba clubs. We also suggest a dinner at a churrascaria, a typical eat-all-you-can Brazilian barbeque.

Stay: Porto Bay Rio Internacional (Superior) or Belmond Copacabana Palace (Deluxe)

After breakfast you'll transfer to Rio's domestic airport in time for your flight north to Salvador da Bahia on Brazil's tropical east coast. On arrival you'll be met and transferred to your chosen hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, relaxing or exploring the city at your own pace.

Stay: Villa Bahia (Superior) or Fera Palace (Deluxe)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before embarking on an African-oriented historical city tour, tracing the Salvador's African roots from the old central slave market, through the city's historical centre to the newer, modern neighbourhoods. View traditional works of art at the Afro-Brazilian museum; visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, built by the black community with meager resources over a period of 100 years; and make a stop at Casa do Benin, which further highlights illustrates the significant African influences that permeate all facets of life in Salvador. In the evening, enjoy an excursion to a uniquely Bahian event; a rehearsal of one of Salvador's many Afro-blocos musical groups, many of which are enjoying great success in the current renaissance of Afro-based music in the region.

Stay: Villa Bahia (Superior) or Fera Palace (Deluxe)

Leave the city behind today as you head into the countryside to explore some Brazil's oldest farmland. Here you'll discover a world of sugar cane and tobacco plantations, peaceful colonial towns and bustling country markets. Visit an experimental cacao plantation before making a stop at a self-sufficient farmstead with its own manioc flourmill, offering a unique insight into rural life in Brazil. Later in the day you'll visit the Sisterhood of the Boa Morte, a sorority that traces its origins back to the time of slavery.

Stay: Villa Bahia (Superior) or Fera Palace (Deluxe)

Today's excursion takes you to a traditional candomblé house of worship, set on the outskirts of the city and offering a fascinating look at the religious and social values of Afro-Brazilian daily life. Later on you'll visit a shrine to Yemanja in the Rio Vermelho district, a simple shrine located within a local fishing community. Then. as darkness descends, you'll head out once more, this time a performance of traditional folklore dance by the Bahia Folklore Company.

Stay: Villa Bahia (Superior) or Fera Palace (Deluxe)

Leave Salvador this morning and head an hour north to Praia do Forte, part of a stunning coastal region with 12 kilometres of semi-deserted beaches, surrounded by lush coconut trees on the edge of the Atlantic Rainforest. Check in to your hotel and spend the next few days exploring the town and surrounding region. You'll discover gorgeous golden beaches where sea turtles come to lay their eggs; pristine coral reefs; charming rural villages and peaceful fishing communities; and the only medieval-style building in Brazil, the Garcia D'Avila Castle. In the small town centre you'll find a wonderful selection restaurants, bars, inns and shops.

Stay: Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte - Premium Room (Superior) or Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte - Master Room (Deluxe)

Your Brazilian adventure comes to a close. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Salvador airport in time for your onward flight, arriving the next day.