Brazil Women-only Tour 2027
Dates: May 31 – June 13, 2027
Number of Days: 14
Cost: $6,850
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Soak up the energy of Rio de Janeiro, from Copacabana’s beach culture to the mountains surrounding the city
- Track wildlife and watch birds in the South Pantanal, one of the world’s richest wildlife sanctuaries
- Walk along the roar of Iguazu Falls, from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides
- Dance to the beat of Salvador, the country’s Afro-Brazilian capital of music, dance and history
- Share a meal in a Rio favela, where a walking tour reveals the heart and resilience of local community life
* SORRY, this tour is now sold out. Please contact us if you’d like to be on the waiting list or would like to join one of our future trips to Brazil!
Brazil Tour Itinerary – May 31 – June 13, 2027
The adventure starts in Rio de Janeiro on May 31, 2027. If you’d like to arrive early, we can arrange additional hotel nights prior to the tour.
Day 1 – Rio de Janeiro
Monday, May 31, 2027
Meals: Dinner
Upon arrival at Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão Airport, you’ll be met by a driver and taken to our hotel (about 30 to 45 minutes away), for the start of our Brazilian adventure!
You’ll have the rest of the day to settle in and get your bearings before we gather in the evening for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at Windsor California Hotel or similar in Rio de Janeiro.
Day 2 – Rio de Janeiro
Tuesday, June 1, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, after breakfast, we’ll do as the locals do and hop on public transportation for a four-hour walking tour of Rio’s historic center. Our guide will walk us through the city’s fascinating history, from its days as the capital of the Brazilian colony and later the Portuguese Empire, to the eclectic mix of colonial, Renaissance and modern architecture that lines its streets today.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll tour one of Rio’s main samba schools. Here we’ll find walls of spectacular costumes, enormous floats and the full story of Carnival: its history, how the parades work and why the tradition runs so deep in Brazilian culture.
We’ll return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner is on your own tonight to explore the city’s cuisine and vibrant nightlight.
Overnight at Windsor California Hotel or similar in Rio de Janeiro.
Day 3 – Rio de Janeiro
Wednesday, June 2, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we’ll explore one of Rio’s favelas on a walking tour led by a guide who lives in the community. As we make our way through the hills and alleyways, we’ll learn about the history, structure and daily life of the favela in a way that isn’t possible from the outside.
Our tour supports a local cooperative working to reforest the area and carry out other social initiatives within the community, so your visit literally gives back.
Lunch will be at a woman-owned organic restaurant right in the favela. Regina prepares her meals with locally sourced ingredients and a deep commitment to conscious eating and sustainability. The views aren’t bad either!
We’ll be back at the hotel by mid-afternoon, with time to relax before dinner on your own this evening.
Overnight at Windsor California Hotel or similar in Rio de Janeiro.
Day 4 – Rio de Janeiro
Thursday, June 3, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we’ll visit two of Rio’s most iconic landmarks! We’ll start by boarding the city’s electric tram, which will carry us up through a beautiful stretch of Atlantic Forest and through part of Tijuca National Park to Christ the Redeemer. The statue is even more impressive in person than in photos, and the views of the city from the top are extraordinary.
After some time at the top, we’ll head back down for lunch at a local restaurant before making our way to Sugarloaf Hill. The cable car ride up has panoramic views of Rio’s famous beaches, mountain ranges and waterways.
In the afternoon, we’ll wander the neighborhood of Santa Teresa, one of the few areas of Rio that has held onto its colonial character. The narrow, cobblestone streets are lined with studios, cultural centers, bars and restaurants that give this hillside neighborhood its distinctly artistic and bohemian atmosphere.
In the heart of this area is the Selarón Staircase, one of Rio’s most photographed spots (with good reason!). Chilean artist Jorge Selarón began the mosaic as a simple personal project and ended up creating a cultural landmark covered in more than 2,000 colorful tiles from over 60 countries.
We’ll return to the hotel in the late afternoon, and dinner is on your own this evening.
Overnight at Windsor California Hotel or similar in Rio de Janeiro.
Day 5 – Rio de Janeiro – Foz do Iguaçú
Friday, June 4, 2027
Meals: Breakfast
Today is a travel day as we make our way from Rio to Foz do Iguaçú. We’ll depart from the hotel in the morning and head to the airport for our flight to IGU Airport.
There won’t be an official lunch stop today as we’ll be traveling, but we’ll be sure to have plenty of snacks with us.
Once we arrive, we’ll get settled into the hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight, whether at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.
Overnight at Sanma Hotel or similar in Foz do Iguaçú.
Day 6 – Foz do Iguaçú
Saturday, June 5, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we visit Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side, which offers the most sweeping panoramic views of what many consider the greatest water spectacle on Earth.
The falls span two countries and are comprised of 275 individual waterfalls arranged in a nearly 9,000-foot-long semicircle. Of that, about 2,600 feet are on the Brazilian side and about 6,200 feet on the Argentine side.
We’ll take a short bus ride to the start of a trail with stairs, walkways and a series of lookout points that bring you up close to experience the sheer scale and power of these falls.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll return to the hotel in the mid-afternoon. Dinner is on your own tonight either at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.
Overnight at Sanma Hotel or similar in Foz do Iguaçú.
Day 7 – Foz do Iguaçú – Puerto Iguazú (Argentina) – Foz do Iguaçú
Sunday, June 6, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we’ll cross the border into Argentina for a completely different perspective on the falls.
After an easy border crossing, we’ll board a small train that takes us to three separate circuits around the falls, each offering its own atmosphere and vantage point. The Argentine side puts us right in amongst the falls in a way the Brazilian side doesn’t.
After our walk along the boardwalks, we’ll have lunch at a local restaurant before our big adventure of the day. We’ll be taking a safari boat upriver to get close to Iguazu Falls!
The afternoon starts with a ride in a large truck that takes us to a short trail that then leads up to the bank of the Iguazu River. Here, we’ll board boats for one of the most unforgettable experiences in the region: direct (and wet) contact with the mighty Iguazu Falls!
NOTE: You’ll need a change of clothes after this experience as we will get very wet. There are changing rooms on the river’s edge that we’ll use before we return to the trucks.
After our “immersive” experience, we’ll head back to the riverbank and into the trucks that will take us back through the forest and to our bus.
We’ll return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner is on your own tonight either at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.
Overnight at Sanma Hotel or similar in Foz do Iguaçú.
Day 8 – Foz do Iguaçú – Pantanal Sul
Monday, June 7, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today will be another travel day as we make our way from Iguazu Falls to the Southern Pantanal.
We’ll head to the airport for our flight to Campo Grande, then make the four-hour drive to our lodge in the Southern Pantanal.
There won’t be an official lunch stop today as we’ll be traveling, but we’ll be sure to have plenty of snacks with us.
This vast, seasonally flooded wetland is one of the world’s great wildlife destinations. Unlike the dense Amazon, its open savannahs and marshlands make spotting animals relatively easy. This includes giant anteaters, caimans, armadillos, macaws and an extraordinary variety of bird life. Jaguars are spotted here too, though less frequently.
Depending on our arrival time, we may be able to jump straight into one of the lodge’s activities. Then, over the next two days, we’ll partake in two of these activities each day (chosen by the expert guides at the lodge):
- night tour
- boat trip on the Aquidauana River
- photo safari, with a “focus” on wildlife
- nature walk, to learn about the flora
- horse carriage ride
- piranha fishing in the river
- cattle handling
Dinner and overnight at Pousada Pequi in Southern Pantanal.
Day 9 – Pantanal Sul
Tuesday, June 8, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a hearty breakfast, and very likely some birdwatching while we sip coffee, we’ll head out for our first full day of Pantanal exploration.
The lodge’s expert guides will determine our schedule around weather, wildlife activity and the rhythm of the lodge. We’ll partake in two of the activities listed under Day 8, but we will need to be flexible. There will be a break for lunch and a rest in between these activities.
Dinner and overnight at Pousada Pequi in Southern Pantanal.
Day 10 – Pantanal Sul
Wednesday, June 9, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a hearty breakfast, and very likely some birdwatching while we sip coffee, we’ll head out for our second day of Pantanal exploration.
Again, the lodge’s expert guides will determine our schedule around weather, wildlife activity and the rhythm of the lodge. We’ll partake in two of the activities listed under Day 8, but we will need to be flexible. There will be a break for lunch and a rest in between these activities.
Dinner and overnight at Pousada Pequi in Southern Pantanal.
Day 11 – Pantanal Sul – Salvador
Thursday, June 10, 2027
Meals: Breakfast
After our final breakfast at the lodge, we’ll make the four-hour drive back to Campo Grande for our flight onward to Salvador.
There won’t be an official lunch stop today as we’ll be traveling, but we’ll be sure to have plenty of snacks with us.
We’ll be met by our guide on arrival and transferred to our hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight, either at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.
Overnight at Fera Palace Hotel or similar in Salvador.
Day 12 – Salvador
Friday, June 11, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is a full day of music and culture. And it starts with a bang, literally! 🤣
Our morning kicks off with an interactive workshop with Banda Didá, an all-female percussion group. We’ll listen, learn about the history and traditions of Afro-Brazilian drumming, and then give it a try ourselves. World-renowned, Banda Didá was founded as part of a social initiative to empower women through music, education and community.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll explore Salvador’s historic center on foot.
The Pelourinho neighborhood is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful urban spaces in Brazil. It’s a labyrinth of narrow streets, colorful colonial buildings, churches, museums, squares and art galleries. Highlights include Terreiro de Jesus square, the Museu da Misericórdia, Jorge Amado’s House and Olodum House.
In the evening, we’ll experience Salvador after dark with a “Bahia at Night” tour. This includes a traditional dinner featuring some of the most celebrated dishes of Bahian cuisine, followed by a live show of folkloric music and dance traditions of the region.
Overnight at Fera Palace Hotel or similar in Salvador.
Day 13 – Salvador
Saturday, June 12, 2027
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our last full day in Salvador focuses on the African-origin traditions that are woven into the fabric of life here.
We’ll begin with a percussion workshop led by a master percussionist, learning the atabaque rhythms that are central to Candomblé ceremonies. These are centuries-old rhythms that still resonate today.
Next, we’ll meet a capoeira master for an introduction to this remarkable art form that is part dance, part acrobatics and part music. This martial art was brought to Brazil by enslaved Africans and is now one of the most recognized expressions of Brazilian culture in the world.
Lunch and the rest of the afternoon is on your own to eat, relax or pick up a few last-minute souvenirs.
Tonight, we’ll gather for our farewell dinner at a wonderful local restaurant.
Overnight at Fera Palace Hotel or similar in Salvador.
Day 14 – Salvador – Onward or Home
Sunday, June 13, 2027
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast is at your leisure this morning, depending on your departure time. You may choose to stay on in Salvador (lovely town!), fly home from here or return to Rio for more travels or your onward flight home.
** Itinerary subject to change without notice.
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* SORRY, this tour is now sold out. Please contact us if you’d like to be on the waiting list or would like to join one of our future trips to Brazil!
Costs
Land costs: $6,850
Single supplement: $1,435
Flights: $850 (approximate)
Booking and Payment Details
Price includes: Accommodation, 27 meals, land transportation, airport transfers, local driver/guide, entry into all activities listed in itinerary and tips for driver/guide.
Price does not include: Flights to and from Brazil, some meals, tips for hotel services and meals on your own, visa (if required), travel insurance (highly recommended) and purchases of a personal nature such as souvenirs and beverages.
This trip is limited to 15 women and requires an $800 deposit to secure your spot.
Minimum bookings required: 8 (minimum reached!)
Final payment is due no later than April 1, 2027.
Here’s our mailing address:
WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116
Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering.
The fine print
Brazil 2027 Women-only Tour Registration Form (PDF)
Brazil 2027 Women-only Tour Itinerary (PDF)
We partner with Travel Insured International so that you have ability to purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance. We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance (no matter who your provider is) to protect your travel investment from any future issues.
For questions, please contact Beth at:
beth (at) wandertours (dot) com
206-317-1860
.
Trip Leader: Beth Whitman
Beth is beyond excited to be escorting this inaugural women-only group to Brazil.
This was a dream list destination for Beth and, after many years of imagining the trip, she finally made it to Brazil AND now can’t wait to share it with others.
Beth is the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick guides including The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo and For Women Traveling to India. She is the publisher and founder of Wanderlust and Lipstick and WanderTours and the host of the She’s Bold podcast, which can be found through your favorite podcast provider.