Arrive in São Paulo / Welcome Dinner

Plan your flights to arrive in São Paulo by mid-day today. Use airport code GRU when searching for the best flight options. You’ll be booking a “multi-city” itinerary, arriving in São Paulo and departing from either Salvador (SSA) or Rio (RIO). Most flights from the USA to São Paulo leave in the evening and arrive in the morning, so that means you’ll want to depart your home city on June 8. Your hotel room is available from 3pm. We meet your arriving flight and transport you to our beautiful hotel, just steps away from Avenida Paulista where the Gay Pride Parade takes place on Sunday. Leave your bags with reception and explore the cafes and shops near the hotel until check-in time. Your afternoon is free until we meet at the hotel bar for a welcome drink and introductions, followed by dinner at the hotel. (Meals aloft / Welcome Dinner Included)

São Paulo City Tour / Nightlife

After breakfast we meet in the lobby to commence our tour of this exciting city. First stop is the beautiful district of Liberdade; the largest Japanese community outside of Japan. It is adorned with traditional decorations and filled with delicious Japanese restaurants. Continue towards the Praça da Sé in the downtown area. Here we visit the majestic Cathedral of Sé with its splendid windows, and then walk to the Patéo do Colégio where the city of São Paulo was founded. Visit as well the 35-story Banespa Tower, where we will have a breathtaking view of the entire city.

Next, continue in the direction of one of the most elegant areas of the city, the Higienópolis district, and visit the museum of precious Brazilian stones. Walk through the new Financial Center of Sao Paulo on Paulista Avenue, which is the most important avenue in the city. The avenue has many prestigious buildings, such as the MASP (Museum of Art from São Paulo ) which is considered one of the best museums in the world.

Stop for lunch at Fogo de Chão restaurant for a delicious barbecue. Next, visit the gorgeous Ibirapuera Park. The museums inside the park were designed by the most famous architect of Brazil, Oscar Nieymer. Finish the tour of the city at the Mercado Municipal, a fantastic building built in 1933 that supplies the public market with various fruits, cheeses, fish, and many other delicious treats. This evening our guide will escort us to one of the best night clubs in São Paulo. (Breakfast / Lunch)

Gay Pride Celebrations

Breakfast is included at the hotel. We have purposely kept the entire day free for you to enjoy the Gay Pride Parade and other celebrations at your own pace. We’ll make a group plan for those who wish to stay together, and we imagine it will be easy to get swept up in the revelry and party the day and night away. (Breakfast)

Recovery Day

Breakfast is included at the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax and recover from any excesses of the Pride Celebration. We join the itinerary for the main tour this evening with welcome drinks and dinner. (Breakfast)

Arrive in São Paulo / Welcome Dinner

Plan your flights to arrive in São Paulo by mid-day today. Use airport code GRU when searching for the best flight options. You’ll be booking a “multi-city” itinerary, arriving in São Paulo and departing from either Salvador (SSA) or Rio (RIO). Most flights from the USA to São Paulo leave in the evening and arrive in the morning, so that means you’ll want to depart your home city on June 11. Your hotel room is available from 3pm. We meet your arriving flight and transport you to our beautiful hotel, just steps away from Avenida Paulista (which will be in recovery mode from yesterday’s Gay Pride Parade). Leave your bags with reception and explore the cafes and shops near the hotel until check-in time. Your afternoon is free until we meet at the hotel bar for a welcome drink and introductions, followed by dinner at a nearby local restaurant. (Meals aloft / Welcome Dinner Included)

Fly to São Luis / São Luis City Tour

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our domestic flight to São Luis. Transferring to our seafront hotel upon arrival, we check in and then embark on a half-day city tour. To tour São Luis is to experience a trip back to the colonial times of Brazil. Walking through the streets of the historical center of São Luis, we note that this was the only city in Brazil to be founded by the French and not the Portuguese.

Cobblestone alleyways, colonial buildings, stairways of stone, and dozens of important historical monuments preserve the memory of the town that is considered "The City of Tiles and Mansions". The "Projeto Reviver", gave life back to an important part of the historical center, and made it what it is today--an attractive and bustling tourist spot.

In addition to the beautiful old center, which contains the most extensive collection of secular Portuguese architecture in Latin America, we visit the two most scenic beaches and learn about local people, legends, and folklore. The ancient Cânhamo Factory has been transformed into a shopping center where you can buy the best handcrafts from Maranhão. We also visit the theatre and museums. Our day concludes with dinner at Flor de Vinagreira restaurant. (Breakfast / Dinner)

Drive to Barreirinhas / Grandes Lençóis

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and drive about three hours to Barreirinhas, and our resort which is surrounded by a beautiful forest. After settling in and taking time for lunch, we head out in four-wheel drive vehicles for our first adventures in this magical region. Crossing the Preguiças River by ferry, we continue driving across the sand dunes to a point where we disembark to start a light walk along the white sand to stunning lagoons of crystalline waters that were formed in the rainy season. We’ll make stops for swimming and contemplating the beautiful landscape and finally admiring a stunning sunset before returning to our resort for a free evening. (Breakfast)

Rio Preguiças Circuit

This morning we head out after breakfast for an adventure by speedboat on the Rio Preguiças. This is an environmentally protected area, and during our tour we can appreciate the landscape of typical mangrove vegetation and the fauna of the region by the river. Our first stop is at the local community of Vassouras, where we’ll enjoy some coconut water while observing a small community of riverside capuchin monkeys that love to interact with visitors. We continue to the small village of Mandacarú. Here we can climb the Preguiças Lighthouse that is about 115 feet high for spectacular views in all directions including sand dunes, the river and its mouth, the sea, the dense vegetation of the region, and the town.

Leaving the iconic lighthouse, we head to our next stop, the community of Caburé on a beach that divides the river and the sea. There are opportunities here to swim and cool off. Afterwards, we continue to Praia de Atins in 4x4 (jardineira) vehicles to enjoy lunch at the Atins Beach Bar. After lunch our jardineira drivers take us to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park for our final chance to frolic in the dunes and lagoons with crystal clear waters. Swim and relax in this remarkable solitary paradise which is in stark contrast to the urban settings that await us on the rest of the journey. We return to our resort for a free evening. (Breakfast / Dinner)

Fly to Recife

We bid fond farewell to our beautiful resort this morning and drive back to São Luis to board our domestic flight to Recife. Upon arrival we transfer to our oceanfront hotel and settle in before heading out for a festive dinner at Cais Rooftop Lounge Bar. The bar and restaurant are located on the top of Cais do Sertão (a museum dedicated to celebrating and preserving Brasilian countryside culture), installed in the historic part of Recife. Sophisticated and hip, it is one of the most popular places in Recife. From the rooftop we have beautiful views to the sea and to the sculpture park by Francisco Brennand, great music and an impeccable menu. Upon arrival, we'll have a drink in the outdoor area, enjoying the sounds of the house DJ. Then we'll go to dinner in the indoor area. This will be a unique evening experience, situated between the sea and the historic architecture of Recife. (Breakfast / Dinner)

Olinda City Tour / Recife River Cruise and Brewery Visit

After breakfast we drive a few miles north of Recife to the beautiful town of Olinda, which is listed by UNESCO as a Natural and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. During our visit to Olinda we will make a circuit on foot through the historic center, with visits to Igreja da Sé with its stunning viewpoint, Convento Franciscano, Alto da Sé, and a stop to buy local handicrafts. We continue along the old streets with their colorful houses, where we see the Quatro Cantos, Mercado da Ribeira, Casa do Alceu Valença, Monastery of São Bento, Convento do Carmo, among others. We also visit a giant puppet workshop, a tradition of the local carnival. Lunch will be served at the Oficina do Sabor restaurant.

After lunch, return to Recife for a river tour on a catamaran including craft beer. The tour will be accompanied by a Beer Sommelier who will explain the history of craft beers in the Pernambuco State as we navigate the canals of Recife and its bridges. After the boat excursion, we visit the Debron Bier factory to learn about the beer production process. Our visit ends with a tasting of one of their beer labels and time for shopping. We return to our hotel for a free evening. (Breakfast / Lunch)

Historic Recife Tour / Fly to Salvador

After breakfast this morning we check out of our hotel and commence a half-day tour of historic Recife, with a visit to the Ricardo Brennand Institute, also known as Brennand Castle. The Castle has an English medieval style and holds the largest collection of bladed weapons in Brazil. This museum is considered one of the best museums in South America, with a varied and interesting collection. The space is a complex of buildings consisting of: Castelo São João Museum (museum of bladed weapons), Art Gallery, Library, Auditorium, Sculpture Gardens, a space for temporary exhibitions and events and the Castelus restaurant - where we will be stopping for lunch. The main highlights of the collection are these famous works: David - by Michelangelo, The Thinker - by Rodin, The Lady and the Horse - by Botero, among many others.

Leaving the Castle, we return to the Cais do Sertão Museum where we had our rooftop dinner during our first night in Recife. The museum space brings to the seaside of Recife some of the rich and generous soil of popular culture, using the most varied and innovative exhibition and technological resources to provide visitors, through a dialogue between tradition and invention, an immersive experience in the beautiful and suffering universe of a person living in the arid countryside. We continue from here to visit the main attractions of the historic city of Recife, stopping at Março Zero, Rua do Bom Jesus, Kahal zur Israel Synagogue, Praça da República, Teatro Santa Isabel, and the Casa da Cultura. In the Recife Antigo district, we see the rich urban beauty of bridges and colorful houses, full of history, that give a peculiar European touch to this northeastern city.

Our Recife tour concludes at the airport where we board our domestic flight to Salvador de Bahia. Upon arrival we drive to our fabulous hotel, in the historic center near the port. Situated inside a monumental art deco building constructed in 1934, its triangular architecture is inspired by the famous Flatiron Building in New York. We indulge ourselves for three nights in this opulent residence, at a prime location, where contemporary luxe décor combines with a truly historic atmosphere. (Breakfast / Lunch)

Exploring Salvador / Cultural Performance

Discover the essential sights of Salvador on a half day tour tracing the development of the city from its simple beginnings to what is now the third largest city in Brazil. Visit the mouth of the immense Todos os Santos Bay and then traverse elegant tree-lined avenues and bustling city streets to the Pelourinho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the largest complex of colonial architecture in South America. We leave our vehicle at the Muncipal Square, by the towering Lacerda Elevator, and take in great views of the bay stretching out to the lower city. Stroll through the narrow, bustling streets lined with buildings in pastel shades of an age gone by, soaking in the sights and sounds of this vibrant city. We visit the church of São Francisco with its exuberant gold-leafed Baroque interior in Pelourinho Square, the heart of the old town.

Enjoy lunch at Cuco Bistro in intimate surroundings with attentive service nestled in the same square as the famed São Francisco church. Cuco’s décor borrows heavily from Northeastern Brazil’s history and folklore, while its cuisine looks not only to this iconic region but also seeks wider horizons with influences from Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. Toto Tours offers you a special cachaça tasting experience before lunch from Cuco’s amazing collection of Brazilians famous spirit.

After lunch we visit the lower city to appreciate a different perspective of this sprawling city. See the quiet waters of the Itapagipe Peninsula, where life moves at a slower pace than in the bustling upper city. Watch the fishermen plying their trade from dugout canoes and locals collecting shellfish at low tide, whilst schooners lie at anchor. The famous Bonfim church, one of the most important churches of pilgrimage in Brazil, overlooks the area. Continue to the Monserrat district with its panoramic view of the city and on to the Mercado Modelo, a thriving market for local artifacts and souvenirs.

After a dinner break, enjoy an evening immersed in African heritage with an exhilarating performance by the Balé Folclórico da Bahia, one of the most respected folklore dance troupes in the world. The Company performs in the intimate Miguel Santana Theatre, just a short walk from our hotel. It is a seamless presentation of the multiple African traditions that underpin Bahian culture. Watch the sacred dances of the Candomblé including; “puxada de rede”, a song by fishermen in honor of Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea; “maculelê”, an acrobatic stick and sword dance originating in the sugarcane fields; the exhilarating capoeira martial art dance, and the grand finale of “samba de roda”, a spinning, swirling version of this exuberant national dance. (Breakfast / Lunch)

Culinary Adventure / Sunset Cruise / Farewell Dinner

Our culinary adventure today begins at the São Joaquim market, the best place to see and understand the local culture. For centuries Salvador’s São Joaquim market has provided an essential link to the farming hinterland of the western shores of the bay. Sugarcane and tobacco come here to be exported, as well as all the produce needed to supply the city. Ever-bustling and bordering on the chaotic, the market sells everything from fruits and vegetables to spare parts for domestic appliances, sacred herbs and religious artifacts of the candomblé, as well as the ingredients for Bahia cuisine’s signature dish, the Moqueca, which we will learn to create today with the assistance of a local chef who will host us in his home for a cooking class and lunch.

This evening we board a comfortable boat to enjoy the sunset while cruising on Todos os Santos Bay. At the conclusions of our cruise, we proceed to our Farewell Dinner at Casa de Teresa restaurant.

After dinner it’s time to enjoy some Rio Vermelho nightlife. Rio Vermelho is a popular place for Bahians to party. It is affectionately referred to as the “bairro boemio”, or the bohemian quarter, as it embraces the city’s bon vivants with open arms until the wee hours. The neighborhood has a myriad of restaurants and botecos (neighborhood bars), the latter being key to the district’s charm where the boteco tradition is synonymous with a bohemian lifestyle. They offer an informal ambience where friends meet and drink a cold beer or their favorite cachaça, always accompanied by the all-important petiscos or snacks. (All Meals)

Farewell to Brazil (or continue to Rio)

The main tour ends after breakfast today. Book your departing flight to make your best connections. We provide one group transfer to the Rio airport, timed to accommodate the greatest number of departing group members. If this transfer does not meet your needs, we can schedule a private transfer for you at an additional cost. Let us know if you would like to extend your stay in Salvador. (Breakfast)

Rio de Janeiro is the Brazilian capital of tourism, with a population of six million. Known by its inhabitants, the Cariocas, as the “Cidade Maravilhosa” (Marvelous City), its reputation precedes it. Images abound of stunning mountains, glittering carnival costumes, the statue of Christ the Redeemer spreading its arms in welcome, skimpy bikinis and the endless rhythm of samba. Behind all the glitz and glamour, this wonderful city, located in the Southeast Region of Brazil, is also rich in history and culture. There are many fine buildings, historical neighborhoods and museums from its time as the capital of Brazil. The Cariocas are very friendly and welcoming people, guaranteeing that this conclusion to your Brazilian vacation will be a most memorable one.

Fly to Rio / Sugar Loaf Mountain

After breakfast at our Salvador hotel, we check out and drive to the airport for our morning flight to Rio. Upon arrival we transfer to our beautiful hotel located at the end of Copacabana Beach. Enjoy free time to settle in and get familiar with your new surroundings before we begin our excursion to Sugar Loaf Mountain. We take a scenic drive to Praia Vermelha in the Urca neighborhood of Rio. To reach the Sugar Loaf peak, we ride a cable car to the top of Urca Hill where we take in the gardens and lookout points over the Guanabara Bay. Next, take a second cable to the Sugar Loaf peak, nearly 1,300 feet above sea level. The views of the beaches, the bay, hills and harbor are breathtaking from this vantage point. We’ll linger to enjoy the setting sun before returning to our hotel for a free evening. (Breakfast)

City Tour / Carnival Backstage / Corcovado / Samba

After breakfast, depart your hotel and head to downtown Rio for a walking tour in the historic center. During the walk we pass many places of interest, central to the history and culture of Rio, such as the São Bento Monastery, Candelária Church, Praça XV, Imperial Palace, the Cultural Center (located in the beautifully restored Banco do Brasil), the Casa França-Brasil and Gonçalves Dias Street. We also visit Olimpic Boulevard and see Kobra Street Art before going to Carnival Backstage.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is one of the biggest events in the city, attracting people from all corners of the world to experience this lively celebration. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes backstage tour, showcasing the artistry and imagination involved in the creation of Carnival. Witness the construction and production process of the costumes and floats. This experience also includes a visit to a samba school warehouse as well as exhibitions about the history of Samba and the Carnival Parade. You even get a chance to dress up in carnival costumes for great photo ops!

Lunch at Assador Restaurant is sure to fuel you for the entire evening! Located in one of the most famous places in town, the restaurant has a rustic style with an elegant ceiling that enhances the natural light and complements the beautiful views of Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf and the Burle Marx gardens surrounding the dining rooms. Assador goes straight to the point by offering high-end meat cuts in its all-you-can-eat “rodizio” service. There are also a delicious variety of side dishes and a buffet, where you will find a good selection of fresh salads, vegetables, plus a table of charcuterie and Brazilian artisanal cheeses. But the main attractions are the skewers and boards that circulate the dining room, serving classic and exquisite meat cuts.

After lunch, enjoy a scenic drive past the popular beaches of Rio to the foothills of the Tijuca National Forest. From the Cosme Velho, a traditional neighborhood in the Southern part of Rio de Janeiro, join the cog-wheel train that makes the steep climb to the summit of Corcovado Mountain, through the Atlantic rainforest. The view of Rio from Corcovado Mountain is world famous, providing a panoramic overlook of Rio’s mountains, rainforest, coastline and the unique natural composition that rank as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The peak of Corcovado Mountain is more than 2,300 feet above sea level. It is crowned by the 100-foot-high statue of Christ the Redeemer. Just beneath the statue sits a chapel in honor of the Lady of Aparecida, patron Saint of Brazil.

Tonight, experience a taste of the samba nightlife in Rio de Janeiro. Your local guide accompanies you to the Rio Scenarium live music venue to enjoy a night of Brazilian music and dance. This is a “must” to truly experience the sensual vibe of Rio. The Rio Scenarium is housed in a 19th century building crammed with antique cupboards, dolls, clocks, and colonial furniture. The magic of the place lies in its decoration and the amazing live music. Various types of Brazilian music are played here, including Samba, Bossa Nova, Carnival songs, Forro and many more. Choose to dance the night way or simply marvel at the local Cariocas on the dance floor. Roundtrip transfers and fast-track entrance to the venue are included. (Breakfast / Lunch)

Farewell to Brazil

The Rio tour extension ends after breakfast today. Book your departing flight to make your best connections. We provide one group transfer to the Rio airport, timed to accommodate the greatest number of departing group members. If this transfer does not meet your needs, we can schedule a private transfer for you at an additional cost. Let us know if you would like to extend your stay in Rio. (Breakfast)

EASY TO MODERATE WALKING

This Toto Tours Cultural and Scenic Expedition is accessible and suitable to all those with good health and who are able to walk 2-3 hours without much carrying. This tour is based on moderate city walking for several hours daily. Good walking shoes are essential for our city tours, which may involve uneven cobblestone streets and some increase / decrease in elevation. No shoes necessary for the dunes!