Brazil's carnival celebrations: Rio de Janeiro & Iguaçu Falls

At leisure in Rio to explore. Stroll along the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and absorb the exciting atmosphere of the world-famous Carnival.

Today take a guided tour of Rio's most iconic sights, such as the statue of Christ the Redeemer and a cable car ride up to Sugarloaf.

Carnival day! The morning is at leisure, maybe relax by heading to the tranquil Santa Teresa district before things get much more frantic and lively in the evening when you transfer to the famous Sambadrome to enjoy the colourful samba parades. (Tickets in the non-numbered bleachers are included but upgrades are available for additional cost.)

Free day in Rio to recover from the Carnival or arrange further tours. You could visit the botanical gardens or try a local cookery class.

After your morning flight to Iguaçu your chauffeur-guide meets you and drives you to your hotel. You have the afternoon to settle in and relax. Depending on what time your flight arrives, you could spend the afternoon visiting the Brazilian side of the falls. There are several walking trails, which take you to different panoramic viewpoints over the falls.

Your guide picks you up at your hotel for a private half day guided tour of the Argentinian side of the falls. You'll walk over the jungle boardwalks to different viewpoints, allowing you to get up close to the water, and will also visit the 'Devil's Throat' — the most powerful section of the falls. Your afternoon is free and we suggest visiting the nearby bird park or spend more time exploring the Brazilian side of the falls.

Today you will transfer to the airport for your domestic flight and begin the journey home.