Adventure Travel Vacations in Rio and Iguazzu Falls, Brazil

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Brazil and Argentina

High Energy Extravaganza

Biking, Hiking, Rafting, Kayaking and Rappelling

(9 Days)

Venture into Brazil and Argentina on this all encompassing multi-sport nirvana. We launch in Rio, with 4-days of hiking and climbing Sugar Loaf and Corcovado Mountains. Then it's biking along the sugary beaches of Copocabana and Ipanema and sea kayaking on the aquamarine seas in warm tropical breezes. Mid-trip we fly to the famous Iguazu Falls, bordering both countries. Iguazu contains 275 cascading waterfalls that thrust down steep canyon walls. The next few days we bike, rappel and raft in the Iguazu National Park region of both Brazil and Argentina. Engulfed by the frothy curtains and tropical rainforest, we safely rappel down steep cliff walls to the rivers edge, then jump into our rafts and plunge down the bubbling Iguazu River. The adventure concludes back in Rio biking through the Tijuca Forest. Brazil and Argentina, combined with this much activity will charge your spirit and just may turn you into an adventure junkie!

Trip Highlights

Hiking up Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio
Rapelling and rafting in Iguassu Falls National Park
Biking in Tijuca Forest

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Rio de Janeiro (Biking)

This morning you'll arrive into the Rio International Airport. A BikeHike Adventures representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to a comfortable hotel. After you've had time to relax and unwind from the long flight, we'll have an orientation meeting and set off for a warm up ride exploring the beaches of Rio. The boardwalk is paved, flat and charged with active Brazilians running, walking their dogs and sunbathing on the sugary beaches. It’s a leisurely 20km/13 mile ride, offering a glimpse of Brazilian life.

Day 2: Tijuca National Park (Hiking)

Today we venture into Tijuca National Park, one of the largest urban rainforests on the planet. Tijuca is a secondary rainforest, densely covered with hanging lianas, giant bromeliads and strangler figs. It is also quite mountainous with granite cliffs that rise high above the sea. It is home to many exotic inhabitants including Tijuca monkeys, green parrots, toucans, coati, sloths, agoutis and lizards. Our goal is to reach the statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado peak, 3300 feet/1020 meters. This vantage point offers a spectacular view of the city with the densely forested mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Later in the afternoon we’ll visit the charming district of Santa Teresa, with cobblestone hilly streets, old homes, interesting museums and Rio's last surviving tram line. The evening entertainment is a samba show. (B)

Day 3: Guanabara Bay – Sugarloaf Mountain (Kayaking and Hiking)

We’ll start the day with an introductory paddle and safety lesson before slipping into the ocean in our sleek sea kayaks. We’ll paddle to Guanabara Bay, at the bottom of Sugarloaf Mountain, approximately 3 hours. Afterwards we’ll switch gears and hoof up Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), one of Rio’s most notable landmarks, rising 1,300 feet/400 meters above sea level. The route begins with a flat stretch, then becomes quite steep with some easy climbing. The views soaked in from atop are truly dramatic. We’ll return to the terra firma by cable car and then head back to our hotel for the evening. The night is at leisure. (B)

Day 4: Fly to Iguazu Falls, Brazil and Argentina

This morning we’ll transfer to the local airport in Rio to catch an internal flight to Iguazu Falls. Upon arrival we’ll be met and transferred across the border into Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, where we’ll check into a comfortable hotel. We’ll have the remainder of the day to explore the town, visit the local markets, sample some of the wines and feast on homemade cheeses and cold cuts. (B)

Day 5: Iguazu National Park Brazil (Biking, Rappelling, Kayaking, Rafting)

Today is an action-packed day of adrenaline charged adventure. We start early this morning crossing back across the border into to Brazil, about a 40 minutes drive. Once we’ve cleared customs, we’ll drive just a few more minutes into The Visitor’s Centre in Brazil’s Iguazu National Park. Here our fat tire adventure kicks off, with a 10 km/6 mile stretch of mountain biking through an Atlantic rainforest, riding on twisty trails. We’ll ride to the Iguazu River, where our inflatable duckies will be docked on the riverbank awaiting us. We’ll cast off the shore and paddle 8kms/5 miles, on a calm stretch of the river, with the current fueling our crafts. At the take out we’ll have a short hike along a jungle trail back to a bus that will lead us back to the Visitor’s Centre. Next we drive to Devil’s Throat, a U-shaped cliff, marking the border between Argentina and Brazil. Most of the falls are within Argentine territory, but there is a more panoramic view from the Brazilian side. We’ll break for lunch in one of the local restaurants, and then walk a 2 km/1 mile stretch to Canyon Iguazu, where we gear up for a thrilling 182 foot/55 meter rappel down a canyon wall, landing on the shores of the Iguazu River. Our rafts are at the bottom awaiting and we jump in and navigate 4 km/2 miles of class 3 bubbling rapids downstream. Late afternoon we’ll transfer back across the border into Argentina, and return to our same hotel. (B)

Day 6: Iguazu National Park, Argentina (Mountain Biking, Hiking, Boating)

We rise early to the vibrant chorus of the jungle, recharge with a hearty breakfast and get on our bikes to pedal along a trail, through Iguazu National Park in Argentina. We’ll carve along trails through the rainforest, with some sections of paved road. Once we reach the tourist area of the park, we’ll break for some photos and again get close to the magnificent Devil’s Throat, although this time from Argentina. Lunch is in the park and then we’ll pedal back to our hotel, by bike late afternoon at our same hotel. Dinner tonight is a traditional Argentinean Befe Chorizo. (biking 60 km/40 miles) (B)

Day 7: Iguazu National Park, Argentina & Brazil (Mountain Biking & Boating)

After breakfast this morning we’re back on our bikes for a 12km/8 mile stretch to the Iguazu River. Here we’ll board a motorboat and motor up to the confluence of the Iguazu and Parana Rivers, bordering Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. If the water levels permit, we’ll navigate up the Parana River to the Itaipu Dam, the largest dam on the earth. When we return downstream there’s an opportunity for a refreshing swim. Finally we’ll jump back on our bikes and pedal back to our hotel, on a combination of dirt and paved roads. (B,L)

Day 8: Rio-Tijuca Forest (Mountain Biking)

We have a very early flight back to Rio this morning. Upon arrival we’ll check into our hotel, freshen up and then head out for our final day of biking, in the Tijuca Forest. We’ll carve along mountainous paths surrounded by gnarled and twisted lianas, giant ferns and bromeliads, and a variety of wildlife including monkeys, squirrels, and an abundance of birdlife. We have approximately 30 km/19 miles of riding today, then we’ll return to our hotel and have our final evening in Rio to enjoy the boisterous Brazilian culture in this vibrant city. (B,L)

Day 9: Departure

You’ll be transferred to the international airport for your international flight home. (B)

Feb 7, 2009	-	Feb 15, 2009
Mar 7, 2009	-	Mar 15, 2009
May 30 2009	-	Jun 7, 2009
Jul 4, 2009	-	Jul 12, 2009
Aug 8, 2009	-	Aug 16, 2009
Sept 26, 2009	-	Oct 4, 2009
Nov 28, 2009	-	Dec 6, 2009
Dec 12, 2009	-	Dec 20, 2009


Hotel
8 Nights