Brazil custom tour advice wanted
Mar 23, 2017, 3:33 am
Brazil custom tour advice wanted
My ideal trip seems to throw the random companies I have emailed off as it's a mixture of high-end luxury with adventure travel. I'm getting suggestions for day trips to go zip lining
I'm spending a week in Rio (Belmond) for a conference and then want to a trip into the Amazon. Being very fit and enjoying adventure sports I'd love to go to a jungle lodge and venture out from there and do some serious hikes (possibly even an overnight camping trip), followed by a visit to the Iguassu Falls.
I would appreciate any recommendations
Mar 23, 2017, 9:17 am
Who are the companies you've Emailed so far about this? I don't see a problem with combining luxury and adventure travel at all, quite common actually... designing an itinerary like this would be a lot of fun IMO
Mar 23, 2017, 9:43 am
From a logistics standpoint, it probably makes more sense to do Iguasu before/after Rio, as the falls and the Amazon are pretty far from each other
Amazon:
http://www.anavilhanaslodge.com/wordpress/en/
Falls:
https://www.belmond.com/hotel-das-ca...iguassu-falls/
Mar 23, 2017, 9:59 am
I think the OP is taking the most logical first step in this case, and am glad that this board is now open luxury travel rather than just "hotel rooms in major chains" as it was in the past, where this type of question would have been sent to a destination forum earlier. (not wise since luxury travel does not equal luxury hotel chain rooms.)
There's a new Awasi being built in Iguassu falls and the Pantanal might be a really interesting place to visit. We ourselves are going to Sacha lodge in Ecuador next month, which is a jungle/amazon lodge and certainly a luxury option considering where it's at in my opinion, and it sounds similar to what you might enjoy.
Last edited by DSI; Mar 23, 2017 at 10:06 am
Mar 23, 2017, 11:51 am
Mar 23, 2017, 12:03 pm
Mar 23, 2017, 12:07 pm
Mar 25, 2017, 1:53 am
That Anavilhanas Lodge looks great (I'm spending some time in Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador in May and hope it will be a bit similar). It would be nice to have a really comfortable base and hopefully they can organise some serious activities.
I'll do some more digging. Which part of traveling is better, the anticipation, the actual travel or the reminiscing? :-)
Mar 25, 2017, 12:49 pm
https://www.vayaadventures.com/cruises/amazon/
May 18, 2018, 8:58 am
Belmond Hotel das Cataratas
Rodovia Br 469 Km 32 Iguassu National Park Foz Do Iguacu, BR 85855-750
Advent at Hotel Das Cataratas Belmond , Iguassu Falls (24 Photos)
Belmond Hotel das Cataratas
Check In
After some confusion with our names , there were 6 of us in 4 rooms , matters improved .
View of Iguazu Falls at various times , around Belmond Hotel entrance
Room
Our rooms / suite were quite a stroll away & on different floors without elevators / lifts .
Thankfully , the hotel is sprawling rather than built up .
Our suite had a view of the gardens and we could hear the roar of the Iguassu Falls .
Liked the spacious colonial style room which reminded me of childhood days .
Good to have a separate shower ; lovely to have a soak in this tub with the heat .
Service
Service was patchy .
The spa team was somewhat better compared to other areas .
Dining
We dined in all the dining areas offered . Food was alright but one would have expected better meats at the grill .
The lounge areas by the bar were always quiet when I went by . Refuge from the heat outdoors .
If you see photos which maybe placed in wrong section , they are the ones with empty chairs in rooms with paintings . I am still unable to ‘ scroll ‘ with this system .
Location
We were extremely pleased with the strategic location for why we were visiting in the first place !
Sunset
Aerial views of Belmond Hotel das Cataratas and Iguassu Falls from my helicopter arranged by the hotel
Sunrise : falls & mist from rom the hotel tower, interesting climb up at dawn
Lounges near the bar
The Spa
After making through the heat & humidity after the helicopter ride , a spa session was in order . It was a welcome relief to be treated with whatever I chose .
Others ‘ adventure
While I was having a relaxing time , the others had gone on , an unbeknownst to them , wild trek to the Falls . As you can see from the photos , the falls were raging as it had rained all week before we arrived .
We were told because of the heavy rains , it was 5 times over normal !
My guide also told me that the road was actually closed and they had to wait before they could even get to the starting point for the 6 ? hours trek .
Rather foolhardy I thought on hindsight as I could see from the air that another boardwalk , the old one , had been washed away .
But their efforts were not in vain as standing so close to the Falls was on their bucket list , at least for some of them .
Other adventures
As this is parked in this thread , I might add that the concierge or rather the “ tour “ desk here can help you with activities / excursions in the vicinity & to the areas around or beyond .
We also took a river jet boat ride , not for the faint hearted . Get ready to be drenched . Ordered the video of us on this wild ride but with the language issues , we did not get the correct DVD .
May 18, 2018, 10:08 am