Brazil Explorer

DAY 1 Arrive in Brazil

Your direct flight from London to Rio leaves at around lunchtime and takes just under 12 hours. You touch down into Rio de Janeiro in the evening and after you've cleared immigration, a private guide will be waiting to take you to your hotel by the sea. Fancy a taste of Rio's famous nightlife? We can recommend samba clubs and live music hotspots where you can be sure to get on to Brazil time on a fun night out.

DAY 2 Rio on the Rise

After breakfast, head to a local market with your private guide and sample a mind-boggling array of exotic fruit. Sweet tooth? Make sure to grab a caju juice for the journey. Hop on a cable car to the Sugarloaf Mountain for picture-perfect views over the entire bay below and then travel down to the Lapa district to see its 215 brightly coloured Selaron steps. Your guide will introduce you to Rio's burgeoning port region where you can witness the largest graffiti mural in the world. If you have time, the Museum of Tomorrow is also worth a look-in, even just for a photo outside its spaceship-like structure.

This evening, take a taxi into the well-heeled Botanic district for dinner with your Brazilian hosts. Learn how to make a traditional moqueca and the perfect caipirinha (the first of many, we presume). Gazing out from the penthouse, you'll be treated to views of Rio's twinkling evening lights.

DAY 3 Up in the Hills

Today you will be able to gain a different perspective of the city from high in Rio's forested hills. A transfer will take you to the foot of the Two Brothers Hill, twin peaks rising some 1,750ft above the sea. After booting up, you can navigate a labyrinth of footpaths, all the while stopping to take in 360-degree views over Leblon and Ipanema beaches and the sweeping Atlantic Ocean. You'll also have the chance to visit one of Rio's favelas (shanty towns) for insight into its tight-knit local community and social development projects. Finally, nothing sheds light on true Carioca (Rio residents) verve like the city's samba culture. Tonight, we can reserve front-row seats at the best samba club in the city where couples whisk each other around the floor to the sultry sounds of a live band. Sit back with a caipirinha or dance the night away. Need a bit of practice before hitting the floor? We can arrange a private samba lesson to master the basic moves.

DAY 4 Paraty

This morning, a private chauffeur transfer will take you four hours along the lush emerald coast to the pretty colonial town of Paraty. Arriving into what was once a port for exporting gold, time stands still with not a single car in sight. Check into your charming pousada (inn) and meet your private guide (a savvy local) who will accompany you through cobblestone streets full of historical charm. Visit exquisitely preserved churches and well-curated art galleries and appreciate the town's centuries-old architecture and colourful doorframes. You have the rest of the afternoon free to explore the town, perhaps stopping in at the plethora of artisan shops and small cafes.

DAY 5 Sail Away

Paraty has many strings to her bow including the 65 neighbouring islands and dreamy bays. In the spirit of true exploration, hop on a traineira (one of the local fishermen's boats that you would have seen bobbing in Paraty's port) and embark on a seafaring adventure along the tropical coast. Moor up for dips in warm turquoise water and for private picnics on hidden beaches. Don't forget to pack the snorkelling gear; the waters surrounding the islands are teeming with exotic fish.

DAY 6 Angra dos Reis

This morning, a private transfer will take you to Angra dos Reis, a mirage in the jungle. Check in to your ultra-glam outpost by the sea and slip on the Prada sandals. It's time to relax on the terrace and look out towards the yachts with a cold glass of rose.

DAYS 7 & 8 Beach Days

Lazy days can be spent lolling on Angra's bright white beaches or by the hotel's chic swimming pool. Break up the day with long seafood lunches and dinners of fresh fish straight from the morning catch. Should you feel energetic, you can board a schooner to explore the archipelago or embark on jungle jaunts. On your return we can arrange for pampering massages and facials in the spa.

DAY 9 Santa Teresa

After lunch, say goodbye to the beach and a private transfer will take you the three hours back to Rio de Janeiro. This time you can stay in the leafy hills of the Santa Teresa district brimming with bohemian attitude and artists' residences. Some our favourite restaurants are within striking distance of your hotel. They're popular amongst the locals, so we'll make reservations for you well in advance.

DAY 10 Iconic Rio

You've already explored Rio's remote hillsides, but today your private guide will help you discover the city's iconic landmarks. First stop, Christ the Redeemer which you can reach on a cog railway. Sitting at 2,300ft at the summit of Corcovado Mountain, the statue is a glorious spectacle and offers city views stretching all the way to the sea. Then hike into the thick of the surrounding Tijuca Forest where you'll find rivers, lakes and hidden waterfalls. Keep your eye out for capuchin monkeys and the quatis (a Brazilian raccoon) that live in the verdant vegetation. You can then recover with an acai juice by the sea and beach-hop back to your hotel.

DAY 11 Minas Gerais

This morning your private guide will drive you four hours into the countryside of Minas Gerais. During the 17th century gold rush, bandeirantes (fortune hunters) flocked to its mountains and forests in search of treasure. Now Minas Gerais's riches can be found in its natural beauty, much of which still feels undiscovered. Arrive at your 18th century farmhouse where a home-cooked feijoada (Portuguese stew) and icy caipirinha awaits.

DAYS 12 & 13 Into the Wild

Spend your days hiking through a fertile nature reserve with expert local guides. Whilst you traverse forest-clad mountains, you'll see crops of sugarcane, lush coffee plantations and exotic birdlife. When you reach the summit, you can gaze out blissfully at rolling bucolic landscape. Your guide will pack sandwiches made from freshly baked bread and slices of homemade lemon cake to keep you going. Feeling hot? Cool off under the picturesque waterfalls dotted around the reserve. We'll make sure towels and treats are there at the ready. Those with the need for speed can go galloping on horseback through the grassy valleys and cantering through the woodland. We can also arrange a visit to local villages and communities; specific bird watching trips; cooking classes; 4x4 drives; abseiling and white water rafting.

Come evening, you can rejuvenate in an outdoor jacuzzi underneath a blanket of stars.

DAY 14 Homeward Bound

After fourteen days of exploration, it's time to head home, but only after one last morning and lunch. Your private chauffeur transfer of around four hours will then take you to Rio airport in good time for your international flight home. Don't forget to charge your iPad for the journey ahead. The flight leaves in the late evening and takes 11-and-a-half-hours.

DAY 15 Arrive in the UK

Your flight into London Heathrow arrives around lunchtime.