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DAY 01: MIAMI/SALVADOR Depart Miami International Airport via jet service to Salvador Da Bahia.
DAY 02: SALVADOR DA BAHIA Upon your arrival in Salvador you will be met and transferred to your hotel. As your hotel rooms will not be ready in the early morning, enjoy a welcome to Bahia Drink before embarking on your tour of the Upper and Lower Cities. The city of Salvador is divided into two parts; The "Lower City" is at sea level and contains the old port and commercial district where visitors will find the most complete and astounding assemblage of Brazilian arts and crafts. The "Upper City" is reached by stone steps, alleyways or more efficiently, by the Lacerda Elevator. In this part of the city will be found the old government buildings, residential districts, visit the most important Baroque Churches, the Old Town, Afro-Brazilian Museum, Museum of the Sacred Art and the Market Place. Return to your hotel to rest and freshen up for the evening festivities. This evening, around 6:00pm, enjoy a welcome to Bahia Tropical Drink before transferring to the Solar do Unhao for evening festivities including a FOLKLORIC SHOW and typical Bahian Dinner.
Bahian folklore is very rich, the main legacy is samba de roda, capoeira, reisados (epiphany), and bumba-meu-boi. Capoeira is a distinctive dance style which features bodily self defense techniques which are performed to the accompanying music of the berimbau and African type drums. The folklore shows include Candomble, which while taking on a folkloric form, Candomble is a religion brought over by African Slaves. It is believed that a supreme God, Olorum, created Obatala (the Sky) and Odudua (the Earth) who were united to give birth to Iemanja (the waters) and Aganju (the firm ground). Iemanja and Aganju had a son, Orunga (the air) - beginning of life in the universe. Orixas (saints) usually associated with catholic saints, govern natural phenomena and things on Earth. Thus, Iansa is the goddess of storms and is identified with St. Barbara. Xango, god of thunder, is St. Jerome. Oxossi, god of hunting is St. George. Oxum, goddess of fountains and beauty, is Our Lady of Candeias. Ogun, god of iron, is St. Anthony. Each god or goddess is also associated with a color and a day of the week. Thus, Iansa's color is red and her day is Wednesday, Xango dresses in red and white and his day is also Wednesday. Ogun dresses in blue on his day, Tuesday, Oxossi dresses in green or blue on Thursday. Iemanha dresses in transparent clothes on Saturday and Oxala to whom the people show the greatest devotion due to his identification to Senhor do Bonfim, dresses in white on Friday. After the dinner and show, return to your hotel.
DAY 03: BAY CRUISE Today take an all day cruise on the Bay, stopping for lunch and visiting island focusing on local handicrafts, particularly hand-made lace. Return to your hotel.
DAY 04: CACHOEIRA Morning drive to Cachoeira, 66 miles away by paved roads. Because of its great cultural and architectural value, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, Cachoeira has been designated as a national monument. Go to Cachoeira to meet the Boa Morte, a sorority of Black women, all descendants of African slaves; see its distinctive samba-de-roda. This form of samba is, unlike others, a group dance with soloists. At the center of the circle, the soloist moves gracefully to the insinuating rhythm of the percussion ensemble. Late afternoon return to Salvador.
DAY 05: SALVADOR Complete day at leisure for your personal exploration and shopping.
DAY 06: SALVADOR/IGUASSU FALLS Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Iguassu. Upon your arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
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DAY 07: IGUASSU/RIO DE JANIERO Full day at leisure for your shopping and to explore the World's Widest Waterfalls. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janiero. Upon your arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
RIO DE JANIERO The sky is always blue; summer all year around. Sun, beach, sea, mountains and lush tropical forest. There is the statue of Christ the Redeemer, always with arms wide open. This exciting city is the soul and symbol of Brazil and may well be the capital of the pleasure-seeking world. Rio covers a narrow strip of coast with 15 miles of legendary beaches. Rio is famous for Carnival and its' Samba Schools that rehearse all year round.
DAY 08: SUGARLOAF A solid rock mountain 1,229 feet high at the entrance to Guanabara Bay is one of the landmarks most readily identified with Rio. On top is a restaurant, souvenir shop, open air theater and a lookout with telescopes. Sugar Loaf is reached by means of a cable car which affords a splendid view of the city, beaches, nearby islands and sea. Balance of the afternoon at leisure. This evening proceed to Plataforma for a cultural show.
DAY 09: RIO BEACHES/CORCOVADO Drive along Rio Beaches, the most frequented in the world, filled not only with bathers and sun-worshipers but by people enjoying a stroll or any of the innumerable outdoor sports. Then on to Corcovado Mountain, crowned by the gigantic statue of Christ the Redeemer. The spectacular panorama spread at your feet is breathtaking, encompassing the city of Rio, Guanabara Bay, the mountain skyline, Sugar Loaf, the 8-mile Rio-Niteroi Bridge, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Return to the hotel for the balance of the afternoon at leisure.
DAY 10: RIO DE JANIERO Full day at leisure for your personal exploration and shopping. Enjoy an evening on your own in the infamous Samba Schools of Rio.
SAMBA - Samba is popular art and music. As dance, the rhythm is kept by the beating of the drums - batique - derived from African percussion instrument possibly with roots in Angola and Congo and introduced in Brazil by slaves. On the hillside composers from the poorer districts cultivated the primitive 'samba de morro.' It was on the hillside that singers, drummers and dancers gathered around the composers giving birth to the recreational association known as the Samba Schools. Samba finally got down the hills and won the city. The Samba School has grown fast and today in the great parades, rich in sound and color, it is the star of the show, for they witness the Samba and Carnival match. The show goes on in the very loud and noisy balls where to have fun is a must. Everyone vibrates at the rhythm of the music and fun is contagious. In the south district, the famous bands run down several streets like a river carrying children, old people, passers-by, artists and intellectuals in the stream of its beat.
DAY 11: RIO DE JANIERO/MIAMI Full day at leisure. After dinner, transfer to the airport in time to board your return flight to Miami.
DAY 12: MIAMI Arrival in Miami in the early morning local time.
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