There are cities whose secrets can be told in few words. Others, one is unable to image without the air of pictures. One has to sketch their profiles and color them. With Rio de Janeiro, it is even more difficult. Its color and profile are unique in the world. There is no way to describe such a wealth of sensations. Rio de Janeiro - a city of contrasts. Contrasts of color, of life styles and dazzling scenery that will always fascinate and make one long to be there. Rio de Janeiro is a city sculptured in space that sits capriciously on a thin strip of land between the mountains and the sea. Its horizontal dimensions and hills provide a unique vertical perspective. Every segment of the landscape is different: on the ocean side of the city islands reflect the sun the other side is bounded by a forest with its lush greenery. Winding through the midst of all this, the city, with its avenues and skyscrapers. Rio is the capital of happiness, the sun washed city of Carnival, build around the most beautiful bay in the world. A popular song calls Rio "the wonderful city" and Stephan Zweig wrote: "The beauty of this city is unexplainable".

SERVICES

TRF o.w. Int'l or Domestic Airport /Hotel in Copacabana /Ipanema / Leblon or SãoConrado/Barra da Tijuca - 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.

H/D Corcovado Tour ­ The Corcovado mountain has been Rio's top attraction widely sung by famous Brazilian composers. Tour will leave the hotel riding along the beaches of Rio and taking the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (lagoon) will reach the Rebouças tunnel, a 2.6 km long complex that links the southern and northern parts of the city cut in half by the Tijuca ridge that makes Rio the only city in the world to have a National Park 5 minutes from downtown. Reaching the Cosme Velho district, tour members will take a cogwheel train of Swiss manufacture that climbs the mountain from its base at 15 mts to almost its summit at 670 mts. The very top is reached by climbing a flight of steps reaching the base of Christ the Redeemer statue. This statue covered with a mosaic of soapstone is one of Rio's finest Art Nouveau monuments. The view, from this vantage point, with the surrounding Tijuca National Forest spreading below and a circle of mountains closing the horizon at the very back of the Guanabara bay. Tour will continue taking another way to return the hotel. The longer tour will take a longer road back, passing by downtown and taking a road that climbs the Tijuca National Forest, descending into Barra da Tijuca. If lunch is an option, tour will stop at either one of the fine barbecue restaurants at Barra da Tijuca. Return to the hotel will be by the beaches

H/D Corcovado Tour with barbecue lunch ­ same as H/D Corcovado Tour With lunch at Mariu's Churrascaria or Similar.

H/D Corcovado Tour with lunch seafood restaurant - Same as H/D Corcovado Tour With lunch at Sol e Mar Restaurant or Similar.

H/D Sugar Loaf Tour - a modern cable car will take guests in two stages to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain. On the first level - Urca Mountain - a walk through the gardens and a first look at the scenery. Proceeding to the second and final leg of the ride to the Sugar Loaf mountain peak. Here at 1,300 feet you will enjoy a unique view of Copacabana, Botafogo Bay, Flamengo Park, Santos Dumont Airport, the downtown area and the Rio-Niteri Bridge. Looking west witness the most beautiful sunset behind Christ the Redeemer mountain range

H/D Sugar Loaf with barbecue lunch - Same as H/D Sugar Loaf with lunch at Mariu's Churrascaria or Similar.

H/D Sugar Loaf with lunch at seafood restaurant - Same as H/D Sugar Loaf With lunch at Sol e Mar Restaurant or Similar.

H/D Petrpolis Tour (66 km ) ­ The city of Petrpolis first started as a farm where the imperial family of Brazil built its summer residence. Petrpolis is a fine mountain resort city that is famous for its museum, with a nice selection of imperial times memorabilia and many cultural activities. But Petrpolis even after the abdication of D.Pedro II retained its glory, maintaining the status of the summer residence of the President of the Republic. Petrpolis is today na independent city that is also famous for the manufacture of sports and knitwear with very good prices. On the longer version of the tour, there is time for shopping and bargain hunting.

F/D Petrpolis Tour with barbecue lunch (Maloca) (66 km)- Same as H/D Petrpolis Tour with lunch at Maloca Barbecue or similar.

F/D Corcovado + Sugar Loaf Tour with barbecue lunch - H/D Corcovado Tour + lunch at Mariu's barbecue or similar + H/D Sugar Loaf

F/D Corcovado + Sugar Loaf with lunch at seafood restaurant - H/D Corcovado Tour + lunch at Sol e Mar restaurant or similar + H/D Sugar Loaf.

F/D Tropical Islands Tour with lunch (82 km) - Tour will not operate only if weather conditions will prevent schooner from sailing. Tour members, if the situation arises will be informed prior to departure from Rio de Janeiro. Tour leaves the hotel, taking the south route that leads to the Rio / Santos highway. Driving as far as Itacuruçá, formerly a fishing village to board a schooner (a typical wooden boat and is built to sail in bays and along the coast). Itacuruça is today the place to start an Angra dos Reis bay tour. After some 40 min sailing, schooner will stop at Jaguanum island for a swim in its balmy and tranquil waters. After this stop, schooner will take tour members to Ilha do Martins for lunch. Buffet lunch includes barbecued cuts of meat, sausages and chicken, a variety of salads and desserts. There is ample time for a lazy time in a hammock or beach sports just after lunch. Return trip will start at 16:00 when schooner will leave Ilha do Martins for Itacuruçá. Boarding the bus, return trip to Rio arriving around 18:00.

Rio by Night ­ barbecue dinner + Show Plataforma I - Leaving the hotel, tour will pass the floodlit beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, taking the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, to Plataforma I barbecue and show house. Dinner will be at the barbecue house a favorite place of "cariocas". Plataforma serves its meal in the traditional way, instead of the famous carroussel style of other barbecue restaurants. After dinner, tour members will move to the show house upstairs to enjoy a night of Brazilian music, closing with a go at Carnival. The show is a display of the Brazilian music tradition and tour members will have the opportunity to have a glimpse of the rich Carnival costumes and the contagious sound of the drums.

Scenic Helicopter - On Request

H/D Historical Tour - After pick-up at hotels, tour will have its first stop at the Benedictine Monastery, downtown Rio de Janeiro. After this visit, tour will continue visiting Praia XV (15th of November Square), Travessa do Mercado, Arco do Teles, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Casa França-Brasil (if open to the public), Presidente Vargas Avenue, Candelária, Ouvidor and Gonçalves Dias streets. Tour will stop at Confeitaria Colombo for a cup of coffee (NOT included in tour price). After this tour will continue passing by Uruguaiana street, Largo da Carioca, Avenida Rio Branco, Salão Assyrius, Sete de Setembro street, Paço Imperial (the Vice-Roy residence) and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

H/D Museum Tour - Visit different types of museums: the National Historical Museum, an architectonic group of pieces from Old war Arsenal (1764) and the "Train House" (1762). The collection has more than three hundred thousand pieces; the Fine Arts Museum with approximately twenty thousand of masterpieces from Brazilian artists of XVII & XIX centuries and the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center where you can visit the theater art exhibits and the Banco do Brasil Coin Museum.

H/D Cultural Tour - Departure from Hotel to Rio de Janeiro downtown area passing by Leblon, Ipanema, Arpoador, Copacabana, Botafogo, Flamengo beaches, as well as Aterro do Flamengo where group will have a view from II World War Monument. Stop at Opera House for a private guided visit of one of the most beautiful Opera Houses in the world, built on 1905 in ecletic style with an outstanding ceiling painted by Eliseu Visconti. Departure to Cultural Center Banco do Brasil. The building housing the BB Cultural Center is of great historic importance and rare architectural beauty. Originally the institution's central office, its magnificently restored halls provide the perfect setting for activities that include musical presentations, theater, cinema and video shows and art exhibitions. The center has its own restaurant and cozy tea room and is one of the most important cultural attractions in Rio de Janeiro. After guided visit, group will be taken to Casa França-Brasil. The building was designed by famous French architect Grandjean de Montigny, and was inaugurated in 1820. Having been fully restored in recent years, it is the finest example of the neoclassical style in Rio de Janeiro. The Institution promotes cultural, scientific and technological links between Brazil and France, presenting art exhibitions and video shows, as well as musical theatrical productions. After visit Casa França-Brasil, group will be taken to Quinze de Novembro Square, historical place where can be found the following monuments, churches and old buildings.

H/D Beach Tour ending at Burle Marx Gardens - After a panoramic ride along the famous beaches at he southern outskirts of the city - "Barra da Tijuca", Recreio, Prainha and finally Grumar' " - time to enjoy the sun, sand and water on the spot. Fresh-water shower and towels will be arranged. Continuing the trip endingat Burle Marx gardens.

H/D Beaches Tour and Visit to Casa do Pontal - After a panoramic ride along the famous beaches at he southern outskirts of the city - "Barra da Tijuca", Recreio, Prainha and finally Grumar' " - time to enjoy the sun, sand and water on the spot. Fresh-water shower and towels will be arranged. Continue along Barra da Tijuca Beach until Recreio dos Bandeirantes, where we will visit the unique handicraft museum -

Casa do Pontal.

F/D Angra dos Reis Tour w/ lunch on Francisca Island ­ minimum of 7 PAX - Duration: 9 hrs. Tour operates on Wednesdays leaving at 7:00 am - After pick up at hotels, tour will take Avenida Brasil and later the Rio / Santos highway, where there will be a stop for a snack. Arrival at the Angra dos Reis pier. Boarding a schooner, sailing the Green Coast islands with stop for a swim. During cruise a welcome drink and tropical fruits will be served. A stop at Botina island and lunch on Francisca Island. Return to Angra dos Reis pier and to Rio de Janeiro by bus. Arrival in Rio will be around 19:00.

F/D Buzios with Lunch- minimum of 7 PAX ­ Duration: 9 hrs. Tour operates on Fridays leaving at 7:00 am - Búzios is a summer resort, nestled in a peninsula 190km from Rio that became famous after Brigitte Bardot "discovered" it in the 60's. This small town, once a fishermen's village, has developped and architectural style that resembles that of many mediterranean villages. Búzios' charm lies in its inhabitants, a community formed of several nationalities that have brought to this resort town, gourmet cuisine, small family managed inns, boutiques, etc. Reaching Búzios, tour members will board a schooner for a cruise of the beaches and time for a swim. Búzios many restaurants offer a good choice for lunch. Arrival in Rio in the end of the afternoon.