Rio, the Pantanal and Iguazú Falls

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro and make your way to Hotel Arpoador, superbly positioned beside the beach at the meeting point of Ipanema and Copacabana. Ease into the city at your own pace: borrow one of the hotel’s complimentary bicycles for a ride along the waterfront, unwind beside the rooftop pool or steam room, or stroll out to Arpoador Rock as the sun begins to sink over the Atlantic. It is a relaxed opening to a journey that soon turns towards Brazil’s wilder interior.

Set out privately through downtown Rio, tracing the city’s colonial and belle époque heritage around Praça XV, Cinelândia, Candelária Church, São Bento Monastery and the ornate Confeitaria Colombo. After lunch, continue to Urca and board the celebrated cable car, first ascending Morro da Urca before continuing to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. From above, the city unfolds between Atlantic Forest, Guanabara Bay and the sweeping curves of Rio’s famous beaches — an unforgettable perspective on its remarkable geography.

Step behind the scenes of Rio’s Carnival traditions with a visit to a samba school, joining percussion and dance activities before raising a caipirinha with local performers. Afterwards, climb into Santa Teresa, a historic hillside neighbourhood known for cobbled streets, old mansions, galleries and its distinctive tram. After lunch, continue to Parque das Ruínas and the Chácara do Céu Museum before finishing around Largo do Guimarães, where cafés and creative energy capture the bohemian personality of the district.

Fly west from Rio to Campo Grande, then continue overland into the Southern Pantanal. The transformation is striking as urban scenery gives way to immense skies, open wetlands and wildlife-rich ranch country. Arrive at Caiman Lodge, set within a vast conservation landscape that also serves as the Pantanal base for Onçafari. After meeting the lodge’s specialist naturalist guides, head out as evening settles across the marshes for your first introduction to one of South America’s most extraordinary ecosystems.

Rise early for a full day alongside the Onçafari conservation team, travelling by adapted off-road vehicle with a biologist and experienced Pantanal guide. Morning and afternoon tracking sessions venture deep into the reserve, where researchers combine direct observation with camera traps, GPS and radio-collar data to better understand jaguar movements and behaviour. Along the way, gain an unusually close look at the science behind long-term predator conservation and its relationship with ranching communities. Wildlife remains genuinely wild, so sightings can never be promised.

Spend the morning in the field with the Hyacinth Macaw Project, joining specialist researchers to learn about efforts to protect the world’s largest macaw. Depending on the season and conditions, the experience may involve observing birds in the wild, checking active nesting sites or witnessing elements of the team’s breeding-season monitoring work. Afterwards, return to Caiman’s regular nature programme, choosing from possibilities such as a 4×4 safari, guided walk or a tranquil sunset canoe outing across the wetland bays.

Enjoy a final full day immersed in Caiman’s wildlife programme, with at least two shared naturalist-led activities selected according to weather and wildlife movements. Cross the reserve by open 4×4, follow forest trails on foot or glide quietly through the waterways by canoe as the evening light softens. After dark, a nocturnal safari may reveal an entirely different cast of wildlife, from giant anteaters and ocelots to the possibility of another jaguar encounter. The reserve is also exceptionally rich in birdlife.

Leave the wetlands behind and travel north to Campo Grande, marking the transition between the Pantanal and the next great natural spectacle of the journey. After several days devoted to wildlife and field conservation, today is deliberately straightforward: settle into Deville Campo Grande and enjoy a comfortable overnight before tomorrow’s early flight towards Iguazú.

Fly to Foz do Iguaçu, cross into Argentina and continue to Awasi Iguazú, secluded within the Atlantic Rainforest close to the falls. Your private villa is set among dense jungle foliage and includes its own terrace and plunge pool. More importantly, Awasi assigns every villa a dedicated private guide and 4×4 vehicle, allowing the next two days to unfold with exceptional flexibility. Arriving after dark, settle into the sounds of the rainforest and prepare for a private exploration of Iguazú.

Begin early on the Argentine side of Iguazú, following elevated trails through the Upper and Lower Circuits for intimate views of cascades including San Martín, Bossetti and Dos Hermanas. Butterflies, coatis and tropical birdlife add another layer to the experience. Later, continue by train and boardwalk towards the mighty Devil’s Throat, where the river plunges into a vast cloud of spray. With Awasi’s private guide and flexible touring model, the day can be paced around quieter moments and changing conditions.

Cross back into Brazil for a contrasting panoramic perspective over the vast Iguazú waterfall system. Follow the park’s main Falls Trail through the Atlantic Forest, with viewpoints revealing the cascades spread across the opposite side of the gorge before reaching the dramatic walkway towards Devil’s Throat. Later, return to quieter forest on the Macuco Trail, where birds and capuchin monkeys may appear among the canopy. Depending on your interests, your private guide can also arrange a river experience away from the principal viewpoints.

Enjoy your final morning amid the Atlantic Rainforest before a private transfer to Puerto Iguazú Airport for your onward flight. The journey concludes after twelve days linking three dramatically different faces of South America: Rio’s coastal culture, the wildlife-rich wetlands of the Pantanal and the immense power of Iguazú Falls.