You will arrive in Rio de Janeiro and be met at the airport by a private guide who will take you to the elegant oceanfront Miramar Palace Hotel. After checking in you may want to relax and have some lunch. We suggest lunch at Porcão, a Brazilian barbecue buffet restaurant. In the afternoon you might like to take a wander around Copacabana and visit this famous beach near your hotel. .

Today you will be taken on a city tour in your own private air-conditioned Land Rover to visit some of the most famous sites of Rio. Driving on the scenic Castorina Road towards the Corcovado (the Christ statue) you will stop to see the Mesa do Imperador (the Emperor's Table) and the Vista Chinesa (Chinese Lookout point) before entering the Tijuca National Park. In the park you will visit the principal hotspots: the Taunay Waterfall, the Mayrink Chapel and not to mention the view of the beautiful flora and fauna of the forest. Still driving through tranquil scenic roads in the Tijuca National Park, the tour will take you across the top of the mountain in the direction of the Corcovado . After experiencing the panoramic 360º views from the top of the Corcovado, your next stop will be the neighborhood of Santa Tereza, a historical district of old Rio, where artisans and artists live and work. You will be able to visit an authentic local artisan store and have lunch in one of the local restaurants, where you will experience the flavors of Brazilian cuisine. After lunch you will visit the Chacara do Céu Museum, a special place where nature, panoramic views of the Guanabara Bay and art are in total harmony with the landscape. Ending your tour at the Sugar Loaf, where you will be able to watch the magnificent sunset over the city and the bay, you will no doubt have fallen in love with this enchanted city. We suggest dinner at Da Brambini (Italian seafood) in Praia do Leme.

After breakfast you will check out of the Miramar Palace hotel and be driven in an air-conditioned vehicle by an expert English-speaking guide to Petropolis (67 km/ 41 miles). The scenic route takes you through the Serra da Estrela Mountains, at an altitude of 809 m (2,657 ft). The main attraction of Petropolis is The Imperial Museum, a pink palace with 44 rooms, built by Dom Pedro II as his summer house in the mountains. This colossal structure is a 19 th century work of art, with polished wood floors, grand chandeliers and beautiful gardens. Your next stop will be The Crystal Palace, a stained glass and iron structure made in France and assembled in Brazil in 1884. This beautiful palace was a wedding present to Princess Isabel, and was used as a ballroom in the 19 th century. It is still used today for gardening and art exhibits. Your tour today will end with your arrival and check-in at Hotel Tankamana in Itaipava.

The next few days are yours to enjoy this marvelous hotel and all it offers. You can take advantage of the following activities offered during your stay. Activities other than the Spa you must organize with the hotel staff in advance, so they can prepare the necessary equipment.

• Horseback riding - in the beautiful mountain scenery and Atlantic rainforests around hotel Tankamana
• Bow and Arrow classes
• Spa within hotel

All meals and non-alcoholic drinks during meals are included in this package. Below are some samples of the gastronomic delicacies that await you at Tankamana. If you would like to receive a complete menu description, please let us know and we will send you one.

Appetizers:

• Californian salad with peaches, oranges, grapes, pineapple, fresh salmon and a kiwi vinaigrette
• Shrimp soup with croutons

Main Courses:

• Bahian Moqueca - exotic shrimp or fish stew served with rice.

- Magret de Canard - grilled duck breast in a passion fruit coulis served with palm hearts in butter sauce

Dessert:

• Chocolate fondant in custard with milk chocolate drops
• White chocolate mousse with raisins soaked in rum

On the last day of your Itaipava package you will check out of the Hotel Tankamana and be driven back to Rio de Janeiro in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the airport. We are certain that you will have enjoyed your trip and we look forward to seeing you again in Brazil.

• If you happen to be in Rio on a Sunday the hippie fair (open-air handcrafts market) at Praça Gen Osório in Ipanema is worth a visit.
• There is an evening dinner show (Samba show and dinner) available, if you are interested, which is not included in the above package. Please let us know if you would like us to book this for you.