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Trip Overview Everyday's a holiday when your playing in the Brazilian sun! |
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An illustrated itinerary of one of our many travel adventures for gay men, lesbians, and friends. This information supplements our
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Flying Down to Rio!
This new trip showcases many different sides of Brazil’s diversity, ranging from two of its most fascinating cities, to a remote eco-resort, to the hills above Rio that were the summer retreat of Brazil’s royalty for over a century. Brazil—sizzling, sexy, sassy, and so filled with possibilities, it is a perfect Alyson Adventure destination. It has the right mix of natural beauties (even away from the beach!), challenging physical activities, and creature comforts to make this one of our favorite new trips. Add in a fascinating cultural blend of food, music and entertainment, history dating back to the 15th century, and an endangered environment which is remote but accessible, you have the opportunity for an unforgettable trip. Those traveling to Brazil with our group will gather in Miami for an early morning flight to Salvador on Day 1. Tour members who do not live in the Miami area will fly from home to Miami the day before our international flight, in order to join the group for the Miami-Salvador non-stop flight. Anyone not taking the TAM Brazilian Airlines flight from Miami to Salvador the next morning will need to fly overnight to Sao Paulo or Rio, then connect to Salvador by the afternoon of Day 1.
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1: Salvador and Golden Afternoon
Salvador was the first capital of Brazil and holds the title of oldest city, being over 450 years old. It remains the capital of Bahia state. The oldest part of town (called "Pelourinho") boasts an elevator that eliminates the steep climb from the sea-level port to the buildings high above. Pastel-colored houses, some adorned with blue Portuguese picture tiles, line narrow cobble-stoned streets and wide open squares. The buildings are reminiscent of New Orleans’ French Quarter, but Pelourinho is far older. The ocean breezes sweep it fragrantly clean while the brilliant equatorial sunshine gilds the old city like glimmering Brazilian gold. The TAM flight from Miami arrives in Salvador in the late afternoon, after which we will transfer to our hotel overlooking the rocky Atlantic Ocean coastline. This evening we will have a reception and our Welcome Dinner.
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2-3: Churrascaria & Cha Cha Men!
In the morning, we drive to Pelourinho and tour churches and other sights in the historic district. We will have lunch at an authentic local restaurant such as Uaua. There will be time for an optional visit to Salvador's Gay Community Center. The rest of the afternoon is free for exploration on your own or to relax at the hotel. Tonight, we will enjoy dinner and a cultural show at Solar do Unhao, featuring male dancers demonstrating Brazilian martial arts and female dancers in huge hoopskirts. The following morning we visit the Bonfim Church and have time to shop for local crafts at the harborfront Mercado Modelo, before taking the elevator to Pelourinho for lunch on your own. The afternoon is free, and our final Salvador dinner will be at the Boi Preto Churrascaria Grill, a unique form of Brazilian BBQ.
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4: Magnificent Marau
Today we journey to a remote peninsula, north of the city of Ilhéus, and part of an environmental protection area called the Ecological Triangle. Marau’s natural attractions seduce the rare visitor: pools formed by coral reefs at low tide and filled with colorful fish; waterfalls with chilly water to refresh the body after long hikes; and mangrove swamps and innumerable islands. It is exactly this harmonious assemblage that makes Maraú a privileged part of Brazil, and defines the term “eco-tourism.” But it takes a bit of an effort to get there… We start by ferry boat, crossing over the Baía de Todos os Santos, the Bay of All Saints. On board we’ll enjoy a beautiful view of Salvador on the one side and the Itaparica Island on the other. Arriving at Bom Despacho, we will continue on the Linha Verde, the Coastal Road. Along the way, we pass small villages, rubber farms, and the waterfall Pancada Grande. We will stop for lunch in a typical Bahian restaurant. In Camamu, we board a motor boat which will take us across the beautiful Bay of Camamu. Arriving at the Porto do Jobel we will continue for a short ride in a 4x4 vehicle crossing over the peninsula, from the bay to Cassange Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. We will spend three nights at the Pousada Lagoa do Cassange, a beautiful beach lodge located between the Lagoa do Cassange, a fresh water lake, and the Atlantic Ocean. Built between palm trees and natural vegetation, it is perfectly integrated into nature. The comfortable bungalows are near the beach and offer beautiful views. Decorated with motifs from Bahia, they accommodate up to four persons and are equipped with ceiling fans, ECOBRISA air coolers, telephone, mini-bar, private bathrooms with hot shower (using a solar heating system) and a wonderful terrace with a handcrafted hammock. It’s the perfect place to relax. On the elevated terrace of the restaurant, we can gaze at the tropical sun, the palm trees, and beautiful Cassange Beach. At our feet, the Atlantic Ocean stretches over the horizon toward Africa. At night the moon and the glittering stars will catch your gaze in the unusually clear sky. In the morning we will enjoy a special Brazilian breakfast with tropical juices, fresh fruits, and local pastries such as coconut cuscuz, mingau or bolinhos de tapioca, a kind of pancake made from tapioca. Walking along the beach, we can watch the local fishermen fishing from their canoes. Their catch will be transformed into delicious traditional meals by our kitchen staff. During our meals, we will savour the carefully prepared fresh fish, crabs, lobsters or other kinds of local seafood.
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5-6: Island Hopping and 4 x 4 Express
Departing from the Porto do Jobel by boat we will initiate the “journey in time” to the Islands of the Bay of Camamu. Hopping from island to island, we will explore traditional fishing villages. In one village we will observe how the local people built their sturdy wooden boats of various sizes. In another, a natural arch connects the two parts of the island. On Tanque Island, we will hike through the Atlantic rainforest and past cultivated land, climbing a hill for a fascinating view of the bay. We’ll visit some villages with their typical houses made out of mud and wood, and thatched with straw, then continue in wooden canoes floating down the Rio do Cèu along the mangroves back to the Porto do Jobel. At the beach of Taipus de Fora, at low tide, nature has created a natural swimming pool surrounded by coral reefs and glittering sand, inhabited by a variety of fish in all imaginable colors, and lobsters, sea turtles, and other marine life. With few waves, the water often offers good visibility, so it is an excellent spot for snorkeling. After our swim, we continue driving on sand trails along the beach and across coconut plantations. On the way, we will hike to the top of a hill to enjoy the view, then during the hike down, we will stop for a refreshing dip in the Blue Lake with its fascinating white and black sand beaches surrounded by coconut trees. Continuing on a trail through the coastal Atlantic rainforest, we will witness the biodiversity of a rare garden of giant bromeliads. The most beautiful view of the Península of Maraú is from the top of Morro da Bela Vista, also known as “Mobile Phone Hill” because it is the only place in the region where a mobile phone works!
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7: Heading Back to Rio
On this traveling day, our four hour transfer, with a stop for lunch (on your own), will include a ride in a 4x4 vehicle and a motor boat ride across the Bay of Camamu. We continue by road through the Atlantic rain forest and past the old cacao farms to the city of Ilhéus, where we board our late afternoon flight to Rio, via Salvador. Upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro, we transfer to our hotel near Ipanema Beach to relax and refresh. Dinner is on your own. Later in the evening, we will have a tour to the Lapa Clubs to get our first taste of Rio’s nightlife.
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8: Redemption in the morning: Temptation at night
Rio has a majestic beauty, with built-up areas nestled between a magnificent bay and dazzling beaches on one side and an abruptly rising mountain range, covered by a luxuriant tropical forest, on the other. Economically, Rio is a service industry center, a key financial center, and the producer of textiles and industrial equipment. But it is the pursuit of leisure for which Rio is best known. With its world famous beaches, such as Copacabana and Ipanema, its splendid bay, and its wonderful climate, a blend of summer and springtime, Rio de Janeiro is a city that lives in, and for, the sun. Our first morning in Rio is free to relax or explore. In the afternoon, we will make a memorable excursion to Corcovado, to get a close-up view of the most famous of all images of Rio, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, and the views from the top of the mountain. Tonight we will enjoy dinner at a restaurant near our Ipanema hotel.
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9: Ride from Rio: Tijuca National Park
The Tijuca National Park is known as the largest urban forest on earth. Its mountains are covered with tropical vegetation and dramatic granite rocks, which form a unique background for Rio's beaches and buildings. We’ll visit the Park's best viewpoints and waterfalls, hike up Tijuca Peak (Rio's highest at 3300 ft.), and end with an afternoon visit to the charming district of Santa Teresa, with its cobblestone hilly streets, old homes, and Rio's last surviving tram line, whose terminal is on a 100-year-old aqueduct high above a street. 
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10-12: Playtime in Rio and Petropolis!
Today, we visit the inland city of Petropolis, a mountain retreat at an altitude of 2750 feet (900 m.), 40 miles from Rio. This Imperial City is where Brazil’s 19th Century Emperor and his family went to cool off during Rio’s steamy summers. On the way to Petropolis, we will visit the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, known for its strangely shaped peaks that have been nicknamed the Organ Pipe Mountains. After an easy hike through the rainforest, we reach a natural pool in the Soberbo River calling us for a refreshing plunge. In the park, we also visit the Von Martius Natural History Museum and the old chapel built in 1713. After lunch in a small restaurant in the forest, we drive to Petrópolis, enjoying breathtaking views of the whole mountain range, and visit the town’s main historic sites such as the Imperial Museum, the Crystal Palace, and the home of Santos Dumont, the father of Brazilian aviation, and inventor of the wristwatch. We return to Rio for the evening, and dinner on your own. The next morning, we will enjoy a trip to Sugarloaf; the dramatic granite rock that is a well-known Rio landmark. With the other tourists, we will take the cable car for part of our tour, but we will also leave them behind by hiking a portion of the climb. The exact routing will depend on the weather. The afternoon is free to tour as you please or try ocean kayaking: This is one of the best ways to explore Rio’s beautiful coast and enjoy unique views of the city and its forested mountains. We start the trip at Praia Vermelha (Red Beach), where Sugarloaf is located, and paddle for about an hour to Cotunduba Island, a ways off-shore. There we stop for snacks, swimming and snorkeling, and enjoy the beauty of Rio from a totally different angle. We then kayak back to the beach where we shower and change at the Kayak Base. The final full day is yours to choose from a variety of activities offered in Rio including: rafting, mountain climbing on or near Sugarloaf, sea kayaking, cycling or learning to surf. OR perhaps you prefer just relaxing on Ipanema Beach and watching the sights. Your guides will assist you in making personal plans. We will finish our tour with a farewell dinner at one of our favorite Rio restaurants.
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13: Departure Day
Wish the beautiful sun (and beautiful Brazilians) good-bye, as our adventure ends. For those flying back to North America, there are non-stop flights from Rio to Miami and Atlanta, and both daytime and overnight connections via Sao Paolo. (An extension to Iguassu Falls may be available. Contact us if you would like details.)
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