Brazil is an enchanting land where one of the most exciting cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro, coexists with an abundance of adventure sports options in natural settings right on the city’s doorstep.  Where else in the world can you stay on one of the world’s most famous beaches, visit a rainforest,  and hike a mountain all in one day!  In other words, Rio de Janeiro offers you the best of a beach vacation destination and endless adventure sport options.  Join us on this unique action-packed adventure through cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro and the charming colonial town of Parati while enjoying the company of other gay and lesbian travelers in a small group.  This trip is designed for the outdoor sports enthusiast who wants to participate in numerous adventure activities including biking, rafting, sea kayaking, and surfing.

During the trip, you will be provided with instruction to develop your skills in surfing and sea kayaking kayaking.  In addition to learning new skills and participating in numerous adventure activities, you will have time to explore the pulsating city of Rio de Janeiro  and relax in gay friendly Paraty.

Highlights

• Experience the pulsating cosmopolitan city of Rio de Janeiro
• Surf the waves in Rio • Bike along the beaches of Rio
• Kayak through the emerald waters of the Bay of Paraty
• Visit one of Brazil’s oldest rain forests

Dates
April 10 to 17, 2010

Price
$ 3,995 USD
$500 deposit required to reserve your space for this trip. If reservations are made less than 60 days prior to the date of the start of the trip, full payment is due at the time of reservation.  Final payment is due 60 days prior to commencement of the trip.

Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Rio de Janeiro
Arrive at Rio de Janeiro airport.  Transfer in a private vehicle to your 4 star hotel on
Ipanema Beach.  The day is yours to begin exploring this incredible city.  Get
out your swimsuits because the hotel is located just steps from the beach. 
Tonight, we welcome you with dinner at the finest and most famous Brazilian
Barbecue restaurant in Rio.

Day 2 Rio de Janeiro
Today you will experience all that Rio has to offer on our eco-friendly city tour.  From the comfort of an open air jeep, we explore Rio’s most famous historical and cultural sites, including the Christ the Redeemer Statue (one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World) and the Tijuca Forest, the largest urban rain forest in the world.  You will see waterfalls and have the chance to take a short hike through the forest.

In the afternoon, we visit one of Rio’s landmarks, the Sugar Loaf.  An exciting ride on the cable car takes you to the mountain’s peak to enjoy spectacular views of the city.  Alternatively, get a little more adventurous and take a historic hike to the top with a small and easy section of light rock climbing.

After dinner on your own, be sure to check out Rio’s lively gay nightlife.

Day 3 Rio de Janeiro
Brazil is famous for its beautiful beaches and excellent surfing conditions.  This morning, we will follow the best currents to find the perfect waves.  No worries if you are just a beginner.  Our expert instructors will show you all of the right moves.  After some instruction, we will head south on the coast to put our surfing skills to the test!

Tonight, we head out to explore one of Rio’s hippest bohemian neighborhoods Lapa, famous for its intoxicating Samba dancing.  You will experience live music, lots of dancing and the famous Brazilian national drink, the caipirinha.

Dinner on your own.

Day 4 Rio de Janeiro
This morning you explore the city in an ecological way by taking a bicycle tour of Rio’s captivating neighborhoods and beaches.  With our fantastic local guide, we get to know the city and her culture from a different perspective.  

The afternoon is yours to enjoy the unique neighborhood of Ipanema and her fantastic cafes and shopping.

Dinner on your own.

Day 5 Paraty
This morning you will be taking a private transfer to the charming colonial town of Paraty.  Our journey goes along the Costa Verde or “Green Coast” where and the views of the lush tropical mountains are breathtaking.  We will then arrive in the coastal town of Paraty, a charming colonial gem with cobblestone streets full of art galleries and cafes.  Spend your evening strolling the pedestrian only streets and sample some of the best local
cuisine at a favorite restaurant.

Day 6 Paraty

In the afternoon, we will take a short scenic drive to the river head and our expert guides lead our group on a rafting excursion down the rapids.

Dinner on you own.

Day 7 Paraty
This morning we venture into the Mata Atlantica, one of Brazil’s oldest rain forests for a stunning hike to view nature, wildlife and discover secluded beaches.

Spend you final evening in Brazil with a group dinner at one of Paraty’s top restaurants and enjoy live Brazilian music.

Day 8 Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, you will be transfered back to the international airport in Rio for your flight back home.

Important Trip Information

Group Size:
Minimum of 6, maximum of 12

Arrival & Depart Information:
Trip starts and ends in Rio de Janeiro.

Price Includes:

• 4 nights hotel accommodations in double occupancy rooms at a 4 star hotel on Ipanema beach
• 3 nights accommodations in double occupancy rooms at a charming inn in Paraty
• All ground transportation including transfer from and to Rio’s international airport
• Equipment usage (rafting safety equipment, bikes and gear, kayaks, surf boards)
• Local guides and instructors
• Support of Big Wolf Expeditions tour leader
• 7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Not Included:

• Transportation to and from Rio de Janeiro
• Meals not specified as included
• Personal items
• International health insurance
• Soft drinks or beer/wine
• Gratuities

Passports and Visas:
It is the responsibility of the traveler to be in possession of a valid passport.  Travelers are responsible for obtaining their own visas in advance for entry to Brazil.  Residents of the United States, Canada, and Australia are currently required to obtain a visa to enter Brazil.  As requirements do change, please verify the requirements for your country of residency.

Single Travelers:
In order to keep our prices reasonable, our group tours are based on shared accommodations.  Single travelers will be matched up to share twin bed accommodations with other members of the same sex for the tour.

Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is required to participate in any of our tours.  The policy must include personal accident, medical expense, and emergency evacuation coverage.  When purchasing insurance, clients should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities in their trip.  We recommend that you purchase insurance that includes cancellation coverage so that you are covered in certain circumstances if you need to cancel your trip.  A copy of your insurance policy must be provided to Big Wolf Expeditions prior to the departure date of the tour.

If you do not currently have travel insurance, we can provide you with some options.

Physical Condition:
This trip involves engaging in some serious physical activities. While you do not need prior experience in the activities offered, you should be in reasonable shape to enjoy the trip.

Conduct:
All travelers are expected to obey the laws of the countries we visit.  Possession of illegal drugs is prohibited on all our trips. Possessing and using illegal drugs puts the entire group at risk. We reserve the right to ask a traveler to leave the trip if drugs are found in their possession.

Pre-Departure Information
In advance of you trip, we will send you the final trip details and a Release From Liability Agreement which must be signed and returned.  Additionally, we will provide suggestions about clothing and equipment to bring with you and other travel advice.

Final Note:
Due to the nature of travel, we sometimes need to make changes to the itinerary. We will make every effort to keep you informed of any changes, but cannot be held liable for any alterations made to the itinerary.

How to Book

We are excited to have you join us on one of our expeditions and look forward to providing you with a great adventure.  Please take a few minutes to read our Terms and Conditions prior to reserving your trip.  Once you are ready, you can reserve directly with us or through your travel agent.

Reserve
Send us an e-mail or give us a call to check on availability. Or if you prefer, contact your travel agent.

Deposit
If you choose to reserve directly with us, you can send us your deposit via check or we can send you an invoice via e-mail for online credit card payment.

Final Payment
Final payment can be made by check or online credit card payment.

Reservations: +1-617-792-5569
E-Mail: info@bigwolfexpeditions.com

Photos courtesy of Green Roots Travel