Ports of Call
Rio de Janeiro Package - Rio City & Itaipava (6D/5N)

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
When one thinks of Rio de Janeiro, the images that instantly spring to mind are of beautiful beaches with gorgeous suntanned bodies, carnival and soccer (Brazilian football), to list but a few. These are all an integral part of Rio's exuberant culture and help to make this state one of the most exciting and interesting places to visit in Brazil. Rio has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is blessed with stunning natural aspects and a year-round pleasant climate. Uniquely situated on a narrow strip of land between the green mountains and the deep blue sea it is surrounded by granite based mountains, coves and white sand beaches. The most famous landmark is the Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf), which has wonderful views of the city, the bay, and the Corcovado (the statue of Christ).

Itaipava, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This charming village, about an hour's drive north of the city of Rio de Janeiro, is famous for its wonderful cuisine. The small village has many good hotels and a wide variety of good restaurants as well as several bars and boutiques. Itaipava is set in picturesque green, mountain scenery and is a favorite weekend getaway for locals from Rio de Janeiro. It first gained fame when the Portuguese royal family fled from Napoleon's conquering army in 1808 and set up home in Petropolis, founded in 1843 as a summer refuge by Dom Pedro II. Petropolis is only 15 km (9.3 miles) away and houses the famous Crystal Palace given by Pedro II to Princess Isabel as a wedding present. Itaipava has a pleasant climate with an average high temperature of 23°C (73°F) and a low of 14°C (57°F). The warmest months are September to December. The wettest months are January to March.