São Paulo to Rio and Iguazu: Our Family Adventure in Brazil

0:00 – São Paolo
0:54 – Rio Highlights
2:11 – Rio Boat Tour
3:32 – Beach & Soccer Day
4:38 – Rio Food Tour
6:30 – Iguazu Argentina
7:35 – Iguazu Brazil
8:55 – Parting Thoughts

Join us as we dive into a week of adventure in Brazil. Our trip takes us from busy São Paulo to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and culminates with the awe-inspiring beauty of Iguazu Falls.

Our trip began with an unexpected twist as our plane developed a fuel leak, heading back to DC in the middle of the night. Little did we know, fate had spared us from a tropical cyclone that swept through São Paulo on Friday, disrupting the city! Our arrival in São Paulo on Saturday marked the beginning of a whirlwind weekend of touring the city.

In Rio de Janeiro, our guide, Alan, led us through a few days of tours that hit all the highlights. From Ipanema Beach to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado, we dove straight into Rio. The Seleron Stairs, Portuguese public library, and Rio Cathedral were all great stops along the way.

Tuesday brought boat cruises around the bay and a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain, offering unparalleled views of Rio. After lunch on top with the local monkeys, we headed across town to tour Maracanã stadium.

Wednesday was a laid-back day, which we spent soaking up the sun on Copacabana beach. That evening, we headed back across town to Maracanã, where we watched Flamengo triumph over Palmeiras (and got to check phenom Endrick before he joins Real Madrid this winter).

Thursday dawned with a scenic bike ride and a delightful food tour in the Glória neighborhood, exploring traditional Brazilian flavors. The day ended with a little more beach time and a beautiful sunset over Ipanema.

Friday we hopped on a flight to Iguazu Falls, where lush trails, coatis, and toucans awaited. After spending the day on the Argentine side, we made it to our hotel just in time to watch the sunset over the falls.

We enjoyed a Saturday morning walk along the trails – before the trails opened up to the public. The day continued with a Macuco safari, where we road a Zodiac up the roaring river to the base of the falls.