Rio Carnaval

Upon your arrival in Rio de Janeiro, you will be met and transferred to you hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure.

Today, after breakfast, you will explore Rio, Corcovado and Sugar Loaf; just a few of Rio's many world famous sites.

You begin with a drive through downtown Rio, passing by the Sambadrome, the Metropolitan Cathedral, visit the traditional Cinelandia Square with its many historical buildings, the Municipal Theatre, the National Library and the National Museum of Fine Arts.

It is then onto the neighbourhood of Urca where one of the world's most recognizable landmarks sit: Sugar Loaf. The journey to the top is by cable car and is made in two steps. The first cable car takes passengers to Urca Hill which is 215 meters high and from where one can have a beautiful view of Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niteroi Bridge and Corcovado Hill. It is then onto the Sugar Loaf itself where panoramic views of downtown Rio, the city airport, Christ the Redeemer in the distance and Copacabana Beach are all on offer.

From one stunning view to another it is now onto Corcovado to stand at the feet of the immense statue of Christ towering above the city of Rio with open arms.

After taking a cog railway to the summit, it is a short walk through the many stalls selling all incarnations of the statue of Christ where you come face to feet with one of the country's and world's most recognizable sites - the Statue of Christ the Redemeer.

From one hand to the other, the statue measures almost 30mts / 98ft. Since it was placed atop the 700mts / 2300ft peak of Corcovado Mountain in 1931, this figure has been one of the most famous symbols of Rio. It weighs 700 tons and is visible night and day from most of the city's neighbourhoods. With stunning views all over Rio it is a photo opportunity not to be missed and never forgotten. The spectacle is truly incredible.

As the Sambadrome and parade do not kick off until late in the evening today is free to relax, enjoy and explore at your own pace. It is worth looking at an afternoon nap as you will be up and partying with the locals until the wee hours of tomorrow!

This is the big one; 90,000 spectators, tens of thousands of dancers, and a spectacle that will make your jaw drop while your hips sway to the music. The energy and love devoted to this parade has to be seen to be believed. The 363 days of preparation are followed by five days of madness and it's all over. A specially built stadium provides the backdrop to an orgy of color and samba.

The previous night you soaked up the Carnaval atmosphere from afar. Today you can relax on a beach, do some shopping, enjoy the hotel pool or simply explore at your leisure (activities not included in your trip price).

Alternatively, why not ask about the option to Dance in the Sambadrom parade tonight. Please ask your destination specialists for more information (extra costs apply). MUST BE PRE-BOOKED!

This is the perfect excursion to get outside the hustle of Rio and enjoy the relaxing and serene forests in Rio's backyard. After you meet your guide, depart towards Tijuca Forest, the largest urban forest in the world aboard your convertible jeep. Stopping at the Chinese Belvedere, lookout with a magnificent view of the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, Guanabara Bay and the famous Sugar Loaf. Inside the forest, take a walk along good pathways to enjoy the forest up close (easy difficulty), before visiting a beautiful waterfall. With luck, you can see tropical animals like monkeys, sloths and exotic birds. On the way back to your hotel, stop at Pepino Beach to watch hang gliders before proceeding into the city.

After breakfast, you will head to the airport for your departure flight.