Ultimate Brazil: Self-Launched Rio to Salvador

Land at Galeão (GIG) and take the airport bus or the real shuttle to Copacabana/Botafogo and check into a hostel in Botafogo or Copacabana (the metro makes both easy). Spend the late afternoon walking Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, buy a metro card (Bilhete Único Carioca), and grab an early dinner of açaí and a pastel at a boteco. Optional evening samba in Lapa if you have energy.

🚌Airport bus or Real shuttle from GIG to Copacabana (~£2-3); metro thereafter

🛏Hostel dorm in Botafogo or Copacabana

• →Copacabana and Ipanema beach walk
• →Lapa evening saunter (optional)

Take a bus from Rio (Novo Rio rodoviária) down the Costa Verde to Paraty — around 4-5 hours, or book a shared transfer for speed. Check into a pousada or hostel in the colonial centre. Spend the evening wandering Paraty's cobblestoned streets, whitewashed churches and boutique cachaça shops down by the harbour.

🚌Long-distance bus Rio to Paraty (~£12-16, 4-5 hrs)

🛏Pousada or hostel in Paraty historic centre

• →Colonial centre walk
• →Cachaça tasting at a local loja

Free day to pick your Paraty adventure. The classic is a schooner boat trip around the bay's islands with swimming stops and caipirinhas onboard (book direct at the pier for ~£25-30). Alternatives: sea kayaking the mangrove channels, horseback riding to waterfalls, or a 4x4 trip up to the old gold trail. Later, dinner at a family-run restaurant in the historic centre.

🚌On foot; boat trip departs from the historic centre pier

🛏Pousada or hostel in Paraty historic centre

• →Schooner boat trip around Paraty Bay
• →Kayaking or horseback riding (optional)
• →4x4 to the gold trail (optional)

Fly from Rio to Foz do Iguaçu (GIG/SDU to IGU, ~2 hrs, budget fares on Gol/Azul/LATAM if booked early — around £70-110). Transfer the short distance into town and check into a hostel. Stock up on groceries for the next few days and plan your two days at the falls.

🚌Domestic flight Rio to Foz do Iguaçu (~£70-110); local bus to hostel (~£1)

🛏Hostel in Foz do Iguaçu

• →Evening at leisure in Foz do Iguaçu

Spend the day on the Brazilian side of the falls. Take the 120 bus from the terminal to the Parque Nacional entrance (~£1), pay the park entry (~£18) and follow the catwalk trail to the panoramic viewpoint over the Devil's Throat — the best wide-angle view anywhere on the river. Optional extras: the Parque das Aves bird park next door (~£16) and a helicopter flight over the cascades (~£105 — a real splurge, book on arrival).

🚌Local bus 120 to the national park (~£1)

🛏Hostel in Foz do Iguaçu

• →Iguaçu Falls Brazilian side catwalks
• →Parque das Aves bird park (optional)
• →Helicopter ride over the falls (optional, ~£105)

Cross the border into Argentina on a public bus (about 1 hour to Puerto Iguazú, including immigration) and spend the day on the Argentine side — the upper and lower circuits, the Devil's Throat train, and the trail to San Martín island. Entry ~£24. In the afternoon, cross back to Foz; if you want to slow down, stay the night in Puerto Iguazú instead (cheap hostels, great steaks).

🚌Public bus across the border and back (~£3-4)

🛏Hostel in Foz do Iguaçu (or Puerto Iguazú)

• →Iguaçu Falls Argentine side circuits
• →Devil's Throat train and walkway
• →Border crossing by public bus

A long travel day south into Mato Grosso do Sul. Take the bus to Campo Grande (8-10 hrs overnight or early morning) and connect to Bonito (~4 hrs). If you'd rather save time, fly Foz–Campo Grande and bus from there. Arrive, check into a pousada, and book your river snorkelling for tomorrow — Bonito's rivers require pre-booked guided excursions with licensed operators.

🚌Bus Foz to Campo Grande then Campo Grande to Bonito (~£25-35 total)

🛏Pousada in Bonito

• →Travel day

Snorkel the impossibly clear Rio da Prata or Rio Sucuri — a float down crystal-clear water among fish, with a guide, wetsuit and mask included (~£35-45 booked via a local operator or GetYourGuide). Afternoon back in town, where there are plenty of cheap churrascaria options and a relaxed small-town vibe.

🚌Operator pickup from Bonito town centre

🛏Pousada in Bonito

• →Snorkelling the Rio da Prata or Rio Sucuri

A second free day in Bonito. Pick a different excursion: the Gruta do Lago Azul, a huge cave with an electric-blue lake (~£12), the Boca da Onça waterfalls and trails, or a kayak trip on the Formoso river. Spend the evening planning your Pantanal pickup.

🚌Local excursions by shared van

🛏Pousada in Bonito

• →Gruta do Lago Azul cave
• →Boca da Onça waterfall trail (optional)
• →Kayaking on the Formoso river (optional)

Get picked up early and head into the Pantanal wetlands. Book a 2-night/3-day package with a local fazenda or camp — this is the standard way to do it and includes transport, meals, accommodation in hammocks or basic rooms, and a local guide. Afternoon boat trip along the rivers spotting caiman, capybara and herons.

🚌Included 4x4 pickup from Bonito or Campo Grande

🛏Pantanal fazenda or camp (multi-share hammock/room)

• →Pantanal boat safari
• →Wildlife spotting (caiman, capybara, macaws)

A full day out in the wetlands: sunrise walk with your guide, piranha fishing, horseback riding through flooded grasslands, and a night safari by spotlight after dinner. Bring binoculars, bug spray and a head torch. This is the single best wildlife experience in Brazil outside the Amazon.

🚌On foot, boat and horse with local guide

🛏Pantanal fazenda or camp (multi-share hammock/room)

• →Sunrise nature walk
• →Piranha fishing
• →Horseback ride through the wetlands
• →Night spotlight safari

Morning transfer out to Campo Grande and fly back to Rio (fares ~£70-110 if booked ahead). Check into a hostel in Copacabana or Botafogo and spend the evening on the beach or at a rooftop bar — you've earned it after three big travel days.

🚌Transfer to Campo Grande (~£10) + flight to Rio (~£70-110)

🛏Hostel dorm in Copacabana

• →Evening at Copacabana

Hit Rio's big two. Take the Corcovado train or van up to Christ the Redeemer early (book tickets online to skip the queue, ~£18), then ride the cable car up Sugarloaf (Pão de Açúcar, ~£16) for sunset. Wander Santa Teresa's bohemian streets and the Escadaria Selarón steps in between. Cheap eats at a kilo buffet for lunch.

🚌Metro and local buses (~£2)

🛏Hostel dorm in Copacabana

• →Christ the Redeemer
• →Sugarloaf cable car
• →Santa Teresa and Selarón Steps
• →Lapa at night (optional)

Fly Rio to Manaus (3.5-4 hrs, ~£110-150 booked early) and head straight out to your jungle lodge — book a 3-day Amazon package direct with a Manaus-based operator or through GetYourGuide; they collect you from the airport or the city. Note the 7 kg soft-bag limit for the motorised canoe; store the rest at your Manaus hostel. Evening jungle walk and dinner at the lodge.

🚌Flight Rio to Manaus (~£110-150) + included lodge transfer by road and canoe

🛏Amazon jungle lodge (basic rooms or hammocks)

• →Motorised canoe transfer into the jungle
• →Guided night walk

A full day of jungle activities with your local guide: sunrise canoe trip to watch river dolphins and birds, a hike through the igapó forest learning about medicinal plants, piranha fishing, and an evening caiman-spotting trip by canoe. Nights are spectacular — bring a head torch and long sleeves for the mosquitoes.

🚌Canoe and on foot with local guide

🛏Amazon jungle lodge (basic rooms or hammocks)

• →Sunrise canoe trip
• →Jungle hike with local guide
• →Piranha fishing
• →Caiman spotting at night

Morning canoe out of the jungle, back to Manaus, and check into a hostel. Spend the afternoon at the Teatro Amazonas opera house and the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, and try tambaqui ribs at a riverside restaurant. Pick up supplies for the next flight.

🚌Included canoe/road transfer back to Manaus; walking locally

🛏Hostel in Manaus

• →Teatro Amazonas
• →Mercado Adolpho Lisboa
• →Riverside dinner

A travel day. Fly Manaus to Fortaleza (via Brasília or direct, ~4-5 hrs, ~£90-130) and then take the shared 4x4 transfer from Fortaleza or Jijoca into Jericoacoara (~4-5 hrs, ~£15-20) — access is by 4x4 over the dunes. You arrive in a sand-street village with no cars. Settle into a pousada and walk to the Sunset Dune (Por do Sol) for the free evening spectacle.

🚌Flight Manaus to Fortaleza (~£90-130) + shared 4x4 transfer to Jeri (~£15-20)

🛏Pousada in Jericoacoara

• →Por do Sol sunset on the dunes

Full day around Jeri. Take a shared dune buggy tour out to Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Paraíso — fresh-water lagoons among white dunes with hammocks in the water (~£10-12 per person shared, or ~£55 per buggy if you hire one). Back in town, try sandboarding on the dunes, or just swim and eat grilled shrimp on the beach.

🚌Shared buggy tour

🛏Pousada in Jericoacoara

• →Dune buggy to Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Paraíso
• →Sandboarding on the dunes

A free day in Jeri. Jeri is one of the world's best kitesurf spots — a beginner lesson runs ~£60-75; surf lessons are cheaper (~£30). Otherwise walk to Pedra Furada rock arch at sunrise, swim at Malhada beach, and hang out in the village's beach bars after dark.

🚌On foot

🛏Pousada in Jericoacoara

• →Kitesurfing lesson (optional)
• →Pedra Furada arch walk
• →Malhada beach

Long travel day: shared 4x4 back to Fortaleza or Jijoca, then fly to Salvador (~1.5 hrs, ~£70-100). Check into a hostel in Pelourinho (the colonial historic centre) and take a first evening stroll through the colourful streets — expect live drumming in the squares.

🚌4x4 transfer out (~£15-20) + flight to Salvador (~£70-100)

🛏Hostel in Salvador's Pelourinho

• →Evening walk through Pelourinho

Bus from Salvador to Lençóis, the gateway town to Chapada Diamantina National Park (about 6-7 hrs, ~£15-20; there are also direct shuttle vans). The bus crosses the sertão and climbs into the table mountains. Arrive in Lençóis' colonial riverfront town, check into a pousada or hostel, and book the next few days' guided hikes with a local agency in town.

🚌Bus Salvador to Lençóis (~£15-20, 6-7 hrs)

🛏Pousada/hostel in Lençóis

• →Travel to Lençóis
• →Evening in the colonial riverside town

First guided day in the park. A typical route covers the Poço Encantado (a cave with an unearthly blue light shaft) and the Poço Azul, where you can float in luminous water. Local guides are mandatory in several caves; joining a small-group day tour from Lençóis costs ~£25-35.

🚌Shared 4x4 with guide

🛏Pousada/hostel in Lençóis

• →Poço Encantado cave
• →Poço Azul swimming
• →Small-group guided day tour

Hike to the Cachoeira da Fumaça (the 'Smoke Waterfall'), one of Brazil's tallest at around 340m — about 12 km return on the plateau, or a shorter viewpoint route. Alternatively do the Ribeirão do Meio and Serrano trail, ending at a natural rock slide and pool. Pack lunch, water and sun protection.

🚌Guide and shared van to trailhead

🛏Pousada/hostel in Lençóis

• →Cachoeira da Fumaça hike
• →Ribeirão do Meio natural slide
• →Sunset at Pai Inácio (if timing works)

Your last Chapada day: hit the classic Morro do Pai Inácio viewpoint for sweeping views of the table mountains, and stop at the Lagoa do Pai Inácio for a swim. If you want a big day, consider the Marimbus wetlands boat trip or the Mixila waterfall trek. Final dinner in Lençóis with the new friends you've made on the trails.

🚌Shared van with guide

🛏Pousada/hostel in Lençóis

• →Morro do Pai Inácio viewpoint
• →Lagoa do Pai Inácio swim
• →Marimbus wetlands (optional)

Bus back to Salvador and spend your final day exploring Pelourinho properly: the São Francisco church (gold leaf everywhere), the Elevador Lacerda down to the Mercado Modelo, the Olodum drum school, a capoeira performance in the streets. Finish with acarajé from a Bahian street vendor and a sunset at Porto da Barra.

🚌Bus Lençóis to Salvador (~£15-20, 6-7 hrs) + local transport

🛏Hostel in Salvador's Pelourinho

• →São Francisco church
• →Mercado Modelo
• →Capoeira show
• →Acarajé tasting
• →Porto da Barra sunset

Fly home from Salvador's airport (or extend with a few beach days on Bahia's coast). Airport bus from Pelourinho takes about 40 minutes and costs around £2.

🚌Airport bus (~£2)

🛏None

• →Departure