7 days Brazil: Rio + Iguazu + Salvador Bahia

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Rio de Janeiro

   Direct Paris-Rio (GIG) flight 11h (Air France/Latam, €350-900 return low season, €900-1500 high season). No visa for French (90 days tourist stay, biometric passport 6 months). Land Galeao airport (15 km from Rio centre). Time difference -5h winter, -4h summer. Transfer to Zona Sul: official taxi BRL 80-120 (€15), Uber BRL 60-100, Transcarioca BRT shuttle BRL 5 (1h). Settle hotel Copacabana (Belmond Copacabana Palace BRL 2500-5000, Pestana Rio Atlantica BRL 800-1500, Posto 6 hostels BRL 200-400) or Ipanema (Fasano BRL 3000-6000, JW Marriott BRL 1500-3000). Evening first walk Posto 9 Ipanema (Carioca meeting point), dinner Garota de Ipanema (mythical 'The Girl from Ipanema' bar 1962, caipirinha + petisco BRL 80-120) or rodizio churrascaria (Fogo de Chao, unlimited meat BRL 150-200/person).

   Tips

   • · No visa for French, biometric passport 6 months
   • · Time diff -5h winter / -4h summer (Brasilia)
   • · Zona Sul hotels: Copacabana or Ipanema, BRL 80-120 airport taxi
   • · Caipirinha = national cocktail (cachaca + lime + sugar)
   Rio de Janeiro →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Christ Redempteur + Sugarloaf + Copacabana

   Morning Christ Redeemer (Cristo Redentor, 38 m atop Corcovado 710 m, UNESCO 2012, one of 7 new wonders of the world 2007). Access: Trem do Corcovado train (Cosme Velho, BRL 100 adult return, book 1 week ahead to avoid 2h queue, 20 min Tijuca forest ascent), or official vans (Paineiras, BRL 80). Panoramic view Rio + bay + Sugarloaf + Copacabana. Afternoon Sugarloaf (Pao de Acucar, 396 m, 2 successive cable cars: Morro da Urca 220 m then summit, BRL 165 adult). Signature sunset from summit. Evening Copacabana Beach: 4 km beach, caipirinha kiosks (BRL 15-30), amateur beach football match, futvolley. Dinner Aprazivel (Santa Teresa, panoramic view + Brazilian cuisine BRL 180-300/person) or Confeitaria Colombo (1894 historic pastry shop, Belle Epoque atmosphere).

   Tips

   • · Christ Redeemer: BRL 100 train return, book 1 wk ahead
   • · Sugarloaf: BRL 165, 2 cable cars, signature sunset
   • · Copacabana kiosks: caipirinha BRL 15-30, beach football/futvolley
   • · Aprazivel restaurant: panoramic Santa Teresa view, BRL 180-300
   Rio de Janeiro →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Santa Teresa + Selaron Steps + Lapa

   Morning Santa Teresa (bohemian quarter, old 1872 tramway, colourful colonial houses, artist studios, spectacular Rio view). Access: stairs from Lapa (45 min walk up OR reconstructed historic bondinho tram). Selaron Steps: 215 mosaic steps with 2000 azulejos (tiles) from around the world, life's work of Chilean artist Jorge Selaron who died 2013 on his own steps. Iconic global photo. Lapa: former red light district turned samba + bohemia capital (Arcos da Lapa aqueduct 1750, Sala Cecilia Meireles, Rio Scenarium 3 floors live music). Afternoon Ipanema beach (1.5 km very elegant, Posto 9 Dois Irmaos view), Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (7.2 km lagoon walk/bike rental BRL 15/hour). Dinner Aconchego Carioca (Praca da Bandeira, traditional BRL 80-120/person, one of Rio's best botecos).

   Tips

   • · Selaron Steps: 215 mosaic steps, iconic global photo
   • · Santa Teresa: historic 1872 bondinho tram, panoramic view
   • · Lapa: samba capital, Rio Scenarium 3 floors live music
   • · Aconchego Carioca: best Rio boteco, BRL 80-120
   Rio de Janeiro →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Rio → Iguazu Falls flight

   Morning Gol/Latam/Azul Rio (SDU) → Foz do Iguacu (IGU) flight (2h direct, BRL 500-1200 return, several flights/day). Arrive Foz do Iguacu. Car rental BRL 100-180/day OR taxi (BRL 50 airport → centre). Settle hotel: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas (INSIDE the national park, BRL 2500-5000/night, the ONLY hotel inside the falls, absolute signature), Hotel San Martin (near park BRL 600-1200), Wyndham Foz downtown (BRL 400-800). Afternoon Iguazu Falls Brazilian side (park entry BRL 100, mandatory shuttle to viewpoints): 275 falls on 2.7 km front, including the mythical Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat, 80 m high, most impressive waterpoint). Trilha das Cataratas (1.2 km walk, 1h30, 4 successive viewpoints facing falls). Iconic global photo + sense of humidity + near-permanent rainbow.

   Tips

   • · Rio-Iguazu flight: 2h, BRL 500-1200 return (Gol/Latam/Azul)
   • · Belmond Hotel das Cataratas: ONLY hotel in park, signature
   • · Iguazu BR park entry: BRL 100, mandatory shuttle viewpoints
   • · Garganta del Diablo: 80 m high, iconic global photo
   Iguazu (BR) →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Iguazu Argentine side (day excursion)

   Day Argentine side (Parque Nacional Iguazu, Argentina). Border crossing Foz do Iguacu → Puerto Iguazu (Tancredo Neves bridge, 15 min drive + ARG immigration check, 30-60 min depending crowds). No visa for French in Argentina. Park entry ARS 16000 (~€15). 3 main trails: Circuito Superior (1h30, view from above the falls), Circuito Inferior (2h, view from below at falls foot, swimming possible), and ESPECIALLY Garganta del Diablo Argentine side (free 30 min ecological train from Cataratas Station + 1.1 km walkway over the river, arrival AT the edge of the Garganta — UNFORGETTABLE PLUNGING VIEW, absolute signature experience). Optional: Gran Aventura boat excursion under the falls (ARS 15000, 12 min ride guaranteed soaking, signature). Back Brazil evening. Brazilian side dinner.

   Tips

   • · Argentine side mandatory (plunging Garganta del Diablo view)
   • · Border crossing: 30-60 min immigration controls
   • · ARG park entry: ARS 16000 (~€15)
   • · Gran Aventura boat under falls: ARS 15000, guaranteed soaking
   Iguazu (BR) →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Iguazu → Salvador Bahia flight

   Morning Latam/Gol Iguazu → Salvador (SSA) flight (3h30 Sao Paulo stopover, BRL 600-1400 return). Arrive Salvador, Brazil's first capital 1549-1763 and Afro-Brazilian culture capital. 0h time difference (same zone). Transfer to Pelourinho: Hotel Convento do Carmo (1586 former convent converted into 5* hotel, BRL 800-1800), Casa do Amarelindo boutique hotel (BRL 600-1200), Pelourinho pousadas (BRL 300-600). Afternoon Pelourinho UNESCO 1985 (Salvador's historic centre, largest colonial baroque architectural ensemble in the Americas, but also painful Afro-Brazilian slavery memory). Visits: Largo do Pelourinho paved square + pastel houses + Igreja de Sao Francisco (1708-1750, interior entirely gold-covered, one of the world's richest baroque churches, BRL 5 entry), Jorge Amado House (Bahian writer museum), Olodum workshop (world Afro-Bahian percussion group, open rehearsals Tuesday-Wednesday evenings). Dinner Casa de Tereza (Bahian cuisine: moqueca, acaraje, vatapa - BRL 100-180/person).

   Tips

   • · Iguazu-Salvador flight: 3h30 Sao Paulo stopover, BRL 600-1400 return
   • · Pelourinho UNESCO: largest colonial baroque ensemble Americas
   • · Sao Francisco church: gold-covered interior, BRL 5
   • · Olodum rehearsals: Tuesday-Wednesday evenings, free
   Salvador →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Salvador morning + Paris return

   Free morning Salvador: Mercado Modelo (4 floors Bahian crafts, berimbau capoeira instruments BRL 50-200, Afro clothing), Forte de Santo Antonio Alem do Carmo + Capoeira show (Largo do Pelourinho, free + hat BRL 10-20), Porto da Barra beach (Brazil's most beautiful urban beach, ideal sunset but we won't stay given flight). Brunch Cafelier (specialty coffee + pao de queijo BRL 25-40). Return car Salvador airport. 3h airport margin. Salvador → Paris CDG flight via Sao Paulo or Lisbon (TAP Portugal, Air France-KLM, 14-16h total). +5h time difference back to France. End of Brazilian trip. Souvenirs: artisanal cachaca (Magnifica, Sagatiba BRL 50-150 per bottle), Bahian crafts (capoeira berimbau, fitas de Bonfim wish bracelets, hammock BRL 80-200), peppers and spices Mercado Modelo, Jorge Amado books (in French), Olodum/Carlinhos Brown CDs.

   Tips

   • · Mercado Modelo: 4 floors Bahian crafts, berimbau BRL 50-200
   • · Porto da Barra beach: Brazil's most beautiful urban beach
   • · Salvador-Paris return via Sao Paulo or Lisbon (14-16h)
   • · Souvenirs: cachaca (BRL 50-150), Bonfim fitas, capoeira berimbau
   Salvador →

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