4* & 5* South America Adventure Tours - South Brazil Adventure Tour

Day 1: Florianópolis/Estaleiro – Arrival

Your guide welcomes you at the airport and takes you to your pousada located directly at the lonely beach of Estaleiro where you will be welcomed with a Caipirinha - Brazil's national drink. Enjoy the rest of the day on the beach and relax from the long flight. In the evening you will enjoy a delicious welcome Churrasco, a typical Brazilian BBQ.

Day 2: Day to relax on the beach

Enjoy the beach right in front of your door, take a bath in the ocean, relax in one of the hammocks or go on a shopping trip to the nearby town of Balneario Camboriú – the Rio of South Brazil!

Day 3 & 4: Trekking in the Atlantic Rainforest

After breakfast we will leave for the interior to the Atlantic Rainforest where we build up our camp right at the riverside. Afterwards we will go on a trekking tour which will last for several hours. Your guide is going to explain you the flora and fauna of the rainforest. At the end of the hike you will have the chance to bath under a waterfall in midst of the rainforest. Dinner will be prepared over the campfire. Overnight stay in a 2 person tent. The next morning after breakfast you will have the chance to go on another jungle hike or you can just go bathing in the river and relax. In the afternoon you will return to Estleiro.

Day 5: Beach - free day

Enjoy the beach right in front of your door, take a bath in the ocean, relax in one of the hammocks or go on a shopping trip to the nearby town of Balneario Camboriú.

Day 6: Trekking tour "Route of the Waterfalls"

Our destination today is the "Rota das Cachoeiras" (Route of Waterfalls). The "Rota das Cachoeiras is an ecological park with an area of 41 hectares where you can find 14 waterfalls. The biggest one is "Salto Grande" with a height of 125 meters (370 ft.) which you will see on your hike along all of the 14 waterfalls. Overnight stay will be in the Pousada Casa antiga with rustic and spartan rooms.

Day 7: Horseback riding through the Serra Princesa Donna Francisca

After breakfast we will set out on an extensive ride in the interior of Campo Alegres. On the back of the horses we will explore the beautiful nature. Here you will have the chance to get to know the life of the rural population in Santa Catarina. One of the local families will serve a real Brazilian lunch. In the afternoon we will return to the Pousada and end the day with a cool beer or a glass of wine.

Day 8: Roping down a 40 meter (120 ft.) high waterfall

Today you will experience a rush of adrenalin: After having spent a relaxed morning we receive a short introduction from our rappel guides that show us how to get down the waterfall safely. Finally the adventure begins and we rope down a 40m (120 ft) high waterfall into a naturally formed basin. An unforgettable experience!! Overnight stay in a guesthouse situated near the small village ‘Doutor Pedrinho’, in a beautiful valley on 600 m (1800 ft) altitude.

Day 9: Rafting tour on the Itajai-Acu river and return to Estlaiero

After breakfast we say goodbye to the small mountain village ‘Doutor Pedrinho’. We will head off to the hot spot of rafting: the village ‘Apiúna/Ibirama’ situated in the ‘Itajaí’ valley. It is very popular with professionals and beginners due to its easy access, its rapids and the fantastic flora of the valley. The river offers white water parts of class I-V. Equipped with helmets, paddles, life vests and team-spirit we will fight our way through the white water. For 2 ½ hours we will go down the river surrounded by a wonderful landscape. We will have to pass three waterfalls which should not be a problem because of the technical instructions we got from our professional guides. In the late afternoon we will return to our beach in Estaleiro.

Day 10: Free day

After so many adventures you can now relax, enjoy the beach or go on a walk in the nearby city.

Day 11: White-water kayaking and visit to a Cachacaria

Today is another highlight of this tour. Our driver will bring us to the Tabuleira National Park for a kayaking excursion. Being equipped with helmet and swimming veste and with your personal guide you will go on this truely adventurous tour which has a few surprises in store.

In the evening you will visit a rustic Cachacaria. Here the famous sugar cane schnaps is produced. The owner will prepare a Churrasco for us and we can taste the self-made sugar cane schnaps. In the late evening we will return to Estaleiro.

Day 12: Relaxing and beach

From experience we can tell that most likely you will be happy to have a day off today having spent the previous night in the Cachacaria.

Day 13: Taking leave from Estaleiro/heading on the Iguacu Waterfalls

Today you have to say goodbye to Estaleiro but the next highlight is waiting for you: the gigantic waterfalls in Foz do Iguacu! We bring you to the bus station from were a comfortable buse will take you over night to the waterfalls. The falls are one of Brazil's natural wonders. 275 waterfalls stretch along 3 kilometers (2 miles) with heights up to 80 meters (240 ft.) Thus they are wider than the Victoria waterfalls, higher than the Niagara Falls and more beautiful than both together.

Day 14 & 15: Visit to the waterfalls

Having arrived at the bus station you will be brought to your hotel San Rafael or to a comparable 3 star hotel. You can have breakfast here. Later on you will visit the Brazilian side of the waterfalls from where you have a great view over the entire waterfall sytem.

The next day you will cross the border to see the waterfalls from the Argentine side. There you can see the waterfalls from a close distance with hypnotizing views. This is going to be an unforgettable experience for you.

Day 16: Saying good-bye

Today is the day of departure.

Dates in 2008: