Northeastern Brazil is a startling mixture of modernity, colonial history and Caribbean-like beach resorts. With its location on the easternmost tip of South America, Recife is the closes point to Europe and Africa, and received many international visitors. Recife was called Mauritzstad - after Mauritius de Nassau - when the Dutch governed the area. Recife now presides only over the small state of Pernambuco but Brazilians rave that the beaches there are the best on Brazil's 8,000km coastline. The city, with over 1,5 million inhabitants, is spread over three islands at the confluence of 2 rivers, the Capibaribe and Beberibe. The city has the delightful watery quality of Venice or Amsterdam. One of the delights of a visit to Recife is the 18^th and 19^th century town houses, reflecting the impact of the Dutch era and brightly colored colonial bridges, including the first built in Brazil (1644). Recife's sister city Olinda, only 6km away, was the original Dutch settlement put to the torch during the Portuguese takeover. Olinda was rebuilt high on a hill and is a gem of traditional Portuguese architecture. The baroque churches and stone façades abutting the steep cobblestone streets are charming. The city was recently designated a historical monument by UNESCO, and today is a haven for artists. Year round the weather is warm-to-hot, usually with high humidity. The saving grace is the reliable tradewind, which keeps the oceanfront breezy and pleasant.

SERVICES

TRF o.w. Airport / Hotel in Recife + Jaboatão (Sheraton Petribu) - Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures. Gratuities are included.

TRF o.w. Recife / Hotel in Porto de Galinhas (64km) - Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures. Gratuities are included.

TRF o.w. Recife / Hotel in Cabo de Santo Agostinho (49km) - Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures. Gratuities are included.

TRF o.w. Recife / Hotel in Maria Farinha (27km) - Passengers will be met at the arrival gate and will be accompanied to the hotel. Guide will assist passengers with handling of luggage at the airport, at the hotel and check-in procedures. Gratuities are included.

H/D Recife + Olinda Tour - Duration: 3:30 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00 and 14:30.

Tour will visit the cities of Recife and Olinda starting at Boa Viagem beach - famous for the reef barrier that protects bathers. The name Recife, is a corruption of the Portuguese Arrefices - meanin reefs. Proceeding to downtown Recife, tour will pass by old historical churches and wrought iron bridges that span the Capiberibe and Beberibe rivers. Tour will continue to Olinda, appointed by UNESCO as a Cultural and Natural Heritage of the World. Olinda is famous for its fine examples of Baroque architecture that is translated in churches, convents and monasteries. Narrow and steep streets, lined with colonial style houses that are now artists' ateliers lead to Olinda's highest hill - the Alto da Sé (Top of the See) opening up to a beautiful view of Recife, and surrounding palm-lined beaches.

H/D Cultural Recife Tour - Duration: 4 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00 and 14:30.

Recife, crisscrossed by the Capiberibe and Beberibe rivers, is known as Brazil's Venice. Tour will start at Boa Viagem Beach where major hotels are located and a varied choice of restaurants and boutiques are to be found. The natural pool formed by a reef barrier makes this beach of lukewarm waters a swimming paradise of calm pools. Moving on to downtown Recife, tour will visit the interesting mix of old and modern architecture. Highlights of downtown Recife are: Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), Santa Izabel Theater, Pátio de São Pedro and the food market and the former Jail House, today a thriving handicrafts center and a must to visit. After a brief visit, a visit to the Homen do Nordeste Museum, starting point to the archaeological studies of the civilization of the area, mainly the sugarcane cycle. Northeastern culture artifacts, game and utilitarian pieces are the main points of its collection. Tour will continue, visiting Iputinga - a district - that has become a center of tapestry's production. Hand embroidered rugs may be of traditional Portuguese or very modern designs. The tour's climax is a visit to the Museu Oficina Cerâmica de Francisco Brennand - a museum as well as a manufacture of ceramics, which may span from normal ceramic tiles for floors, to gigantic sculptures that, grace many of Recife's apartment buildings.

H/D Cultural Recife Tour - Duration: 4 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00 and 14:30.

Recife, crisscrossed by the Capiberibe and Beberibe rivers, is known as Brazil's Venice. Tour will start at Boa Viagem Beach where major hotels are located and a varied choice of restaurants and boutiques are to be found. The natural pool formed by a reef barrier makes this beach of lukewarm waters a swimming paradise of calm pools. Moving on to downtown Recife, tour will visit the interesting mix of old and modern architecture. Highlights of downtown Recife are: Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), Santa Izabel Theater, Pátio de São Pedro and the food market and the former Jail House, today a thriving handicrafts center and a must to visit. After a brief visit, a visit to the Homen do Nordeste Museum, starting point to the archaeological studies of the civilization of the area, mainly the sugarcane cycle. Northeastern culture artifacts, game and utilitarian pieces are the main points of its collection. Tour will continue, visiting Iputinga - a district - that has become a center of tapestry's production. Hand embroidered rugs may be of traditional Portuguese or very modern designs. The tour's climax is a visit to the Museu Oficina Cerâmica de Francisco Brennand - a museum as well as a manufacture of ceramics, which may span from normal ceramic tiles for floors, to gigantic sculptures that, grace many of Recife's apartment buildings

H/D Igarassu + Itamaracá Island Tour (65km) - Duration: 4 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00 and 14:30.

Leaving Recife, tour will reach Igarassu - 65km away. Igarassu is a historical city founded in 1535. The most important building in Igarassu is the Santos Cosme e Damião church - Brazil's oldest church. This stop will also visit the Santo Antônio dos Franciscanos Convent and passengers will have time to appreciate the colonial residences of this sugarcane area. Crossing the bridge to Itaramacá Island, a stop at the Agricultural Penitentiary and the São João Sugar Mill. The highlight of a visit to Itamaracá is the Orange Fortress built by the Dutch in 1631, and rebuilt by the Portuguese after the Dutch had been ousted from the area, in 1671. It is the biggest stonemason fortress in the whole northeastern Brazil. It had 32 cannons and was occupied until the end of the 19^th century and later abandoned. In 1966 the army restored the fort to his original design and it has become a favorite lookout to the continent and Coroa do Avião - a sand bank, some kilometers away that has a very good leisure infra-structure.

F/D Igarassu + Itamaracá + João Pessoa Tour (250 km) - Duration: 10 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 8:00.

Leaving Recife, tour will reach Igarassu - 65km away. Igarassu is a historical city founded in 1535. The most important building in Igarassu is the Santos Cosme e Damião church - Brazil's oldest church. This stop will also visit the Santo Antônio dos Franciscanos Convent and passengers will have time to appreciate the colonial residences of this sugarcane area. Crossing the bridge to Itaramacá Island, a stop at the Agricultural Penitentiary and the São João Sugar Mill. The highlight of a visit to Itamaracá is the Orange Fortress built by the Dutch in 1631, and rebuilt by the Portuguese after the Dutch had been ousted from the area, in 1671. It is the biggest stonemason fortress in the whole northeastern Brazil. It had 32 cannons and was occupied until the end of the 19^th century and later abandoned. In 1966 the army restored the fort to his original design and it has become a favorite lookout to the continent and Coroa do Avião - a sand bank, some kilometers away that has a very good leisure infra-structure. Tour will continue on the road to João Pessoa passing by the Solon de Lucena Park, Cabo Branco / White Cape and Seixas Point. One of the easternmost points of the Brazilian coast. Tour will visit Tambaú beach and other highlights of João Pessoa.

F/D Caruaru + Nova Jerusalem Tour (177km) Duration: 10 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 8:00. Admittance ticket not included. Important Note: best day to operate this tour is on Saturdays, because of the fair.

When one thinks of a tour leaving Recife, it will automatically think of hot weather and beaches. Caruaru was designated by UNESCO the most important city in the world for its art of clay figures, but also an important market of leather and rope handicrafts. A first stop will be at Vitria de Santo Antão ­ the land of the sugar cane liquor, then Gravatá - famous for its miniature rag dolls, wood handicraft and many studs. and lunch will be in Caruaru. Caruaru - 134km from Recife, is situated on the hills. During the month of June - Caruaru becomes the Brazilian capital of folk dance / forr. After time for optional lunch, tour will proceed to Vila de Fazenda Nova, where one finds the Nova Jerusalém / New Jerusalem and one of the biggest open-air theaters of the modern world. During Easter week, In Nova Jerusalém its inhabitants act the Passion of Christ to crowds that may be as big as 12,000 persons.

F/D Caruaru Tour (134km) Duration: 10 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00.

When one thinks of a tour leaving Recife, it will automatically think of hot weather and beaches. Caruaru was designated by UNESCO the most important city in the world for its art of clay figures, but also an important market of leather and rope handicrafts. Caruaru - 134km from Recife, is situated on the hills. During the month of June - Caruaru becomes the Brazilian capital of folk dance / forr. Tour will visit the Alto do Moura - a hill ­ where several artisans work in their homes. Also at Alto do Moura, Mestre Vitalino's museum - a much copied clay figure artisan that died in the 60's.

F/D Porto de Galinhas Tour (64km) Duration: 8 hrs. Tour operates daily, leaving at 9:00.

Porto de Galinhas / Port of the Chickens: 64 km south of Recife, has been named like this, because in the 19^th century it was a clandestine port for the disembarkation of slaves. Today Porto de Galinhas is one of Pernambuco's state main resort areas, well equipped and installed. One can rent beach buggies, join a "jangada"- log raft - ride and other water sports

Recife by Night with Show (Fridays + Saturdays) Duration: 3 hrs. Tour leaves hotel at 20:00.

Tour will begin with a ride by floodlit Boa Viagem beach and its ever-present gentle breeze. Driving into the downtown area, one will enjoy the reflection of the neon lights in the Capibaribe and Beberibe river waters. After dinner at Spettus, tour members will enjoy a presentation of the Ballet Popular de Recife - a folklore group that shows participants the richness of the Pernambuco folklore and religious tradition.