From Rio de Janeiro’s forested mountains and beaches to Salvador’s historic streets and Afro-Brazilian cultural traditions, this journey gives students a chance to experience Brazil beyond its most familiar images. Guided visits connect geography, architecture, music, food, and sport to the people and histories that shaped them. Students will see how Rio’s landscape influences daily life, then travel to Bahia to explore Salvador’s role in Brazil’s colonial history and the living traditions of its communities.

Depart the United States on an overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro. Students can use the journey to prepare for their first days in Brazil and the places and traditions they will explore together.

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro and meet an English-speaking travel guide for a private transfer to the hotel. After time to settle in, gather for a group dinner and an introduction to the journey ahead.

Ride the train up Corcovado, passing through part of Tijuca National Park on the way to Christ the Redeemer. From the summit, students can see how forested mountains, beaches, and Guanabara Bay shape Rio’s distinctive landscape. These natural and urban features are recognized together as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape.Continue through the city, passing Maracanã Stadium, a landmark of Brazilian football. Stop at the Sambadrome, designed by Oscar Niemeyer for Rio’s Carnival parades, and see the modern Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian. At the Selarón Steps, take in the colorful mosaic made with tiles from Brazil and around the world. Together, these sites introduce students to Rio through sport, celebration, architecture, and public art.

Enjoy lunch at a Brazilian churrascaria and learn about churrasco, a barbecue tradition associated with the gaúchos of southern Brazil. Finish the day with a cable car ride to Sugarloaf Mountain for views over the city and bay.

Take a guided jeep tour through Tijuca National Park. Students will encounter forest vegetation, wildlife, waterfalls, and viewpoints while learning about the restoration of this Atlantic forest and its importance to Rio.

At lunch, try feijoada, a black bean and meat dish served with traditional accompaniments. In the afternoon, head to the beach for a volleyball lesson with local coaches. Playing on the sand gives students a chance to take part in Rio’s outdoor culture.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Salvador. Meet the local team on arrival, transfer to the hotel, and set out on a walking tour of Pelourinho, part of Salvador’s UNESCO-listed Historic Centre. Its streets and colonial buildings provide a setting for learning about Salvador’s history, including the legacy of slavery and the lasting contributions of Afro-Brazilian communities.

Enjoy a buffet lunch featuring Bahian cuisine, with influences from African, Indigenous, and Portuguese food traditions. Later, join local instructors for a capoeira workshop. Students will learn basic movements and discover how this Afro-Brazilian practice brings movement, music, and history together.

Begin at Barra Lighthouse, near the meeting of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of All Saints. Its position helps explain Salvador’s maritime and defensive history. Travel through Corredor da Vitória and Campo Grande, routes associated with the music-filled trios elétricos of Salvador’s Carnival.

Explore the Historic Centre on foot. At Terreiro de Jesus and Pelourinho, students will see how squares, churches, and civic buildings tell different parts of the city’s story. Highlighted sites include São Francisco Church, the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Museum, the Basilica Cathedral, Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos Church, and Casa do Olodum, which connects the visit to Salvador’s contemporary Afro-Brazilian music. The supplied itinerary calls for interior visits to two of the highlighted sites; those two have not yet been specified.

After lunch, continue through Salvador’s Lower City. View the Itapagipe Peninsula and, if time allows, make an optional stop at Sorveteria da Ribeira. Visit the Church of Senhor do Bonfim, known for its colorful ribbons and its connections to religious traditions in Bahia. See the historic defenses at Fort Mont Serrat, take in views of the bay from Ponta de Humaitá, and finish with time to browse Bahian crafts at Mercado Modelo, housed in a former customs building.

An optional percussion class, available for an additional cost, offers a chance to learn about instruments used in Brazilian music.

Cross the Bay of All Saints by ferry for a full-day excursion to Itaparica Island. During a visit to a quilombola community, students will learn from community members about their history and living cultural traditions, which may include music and crafts. The visit offers an opportunity to hear the community’s own account of its heritage.

Enjoy a regional Bahian lunch, either as a buffet or a meal prepared and served by community members, depending on the location. Return to Salvador for a farewell dinner and a chance to reflect on the journey together.

After breakfast, meet the guide for a private transfer to the Salvador airport. Depart Brazil and travel back to the United States, bringing home new perspectives on the landscapes, histories, and cultural traditions encountered in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia.