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 Once you've been to Rio de Janeiro, you know what the pulsating city of vibrant nightlife, steamy beaches and dramatic Pao de Acucar Mountain is all about. But Rio is also a city of stunning architecture, marvelous food and a teeming metropolis. Discover Salvador, Brazil's capital of "Happiness" with its colonial old town, one of the oldest in the New World. Complete your journey in the Amazon with abundance of wildlife and local culture which is unlike any other. And in our Hermes small group, we'll move about with ease and take it all in at a relaxed pace.
 • Rio de Janeiro, Full day Corcovado & Sugar Loaf tour
• Rio de Janeiro half day city tour
• Plenty of free time to relax on the beaches
• Salvador, Full day tour of the city
• Itaparica Island Schooner tour
• Evening dinner and folklor show
• Amazon, numerous tours including Nature Hike, Canoe rides, local native experience
• 4 star accommodation on Rio's Ipanema Beach (the gay beach)
• Services of a Hermes Tours escort
• Services of an expert, local guide in all cities
• $100 per person savings if you reserve 5 months before departure!
Day 1 - November 16, 2012, Friday
Upon arrival at the airport you will be met and transferred to our hotel, the Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza Hotel, located on Ipanema beach. The morning is free to rest and relax and get acquainted with your surroundings. This evening Hermes Tours will host a welcome dinner so that you get better acquainted with our new traveling companions.
Overnight: Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza Hotel , Rio de Janeiro.
Meal: D
Day 2 - November 17, 2012, Saturday
We'll make our way to Corcovado via the Cosme Velho Train Cog Station at the bottom of the Corcovado Mountain. Once at the mountain, we'll take the ride up to the top, through the dense Tijuca rain forest to the 38m tall Christ the Redeemer Statue. From the top, you will enjoy the spectacular views of Rio and the surrounding countryside as your guide shows you the wonderful sights of Rio.
This afternoon we will visit Sugar Loaf Mountain. From the Aterro do Flamengo, we will be taken to the neighborhood of Urca. Here, we will find one of the largest symbols of the city: Sugar Loaf Mountain.  We'll travel all the way to the top in two cable car rides. The first cable car takes us to Urca Hill, at a vantage point of 215 meters for beautiful views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niteroi Bridge and Corcovado Mountain. A second cable car takes us the rest of the way to the top. At 395 meters, we'll enjoy splendid views of Copacabana beach, the Santa Cruz fortress and several beaches of Niteroi. We will relax and enjoy the beautiful sunset from this splendid vantage point.
Tonight you may wish to join your guide and head out to explore Rio's pulsating nightlife.
Overnight: Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza Hotel , Rio de Janeiro.
Meal: B
Day 3 - November 18, 2012, Sunday
Your morning is free to sleep in, relax on the beach, or perhaps engage in a little retail therapy!  This afternoon, we will visit the Contemporary Art Museum, built to attract visitors for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
We'll also visit the neighborhood of Lapa. The neighborhood is home to the Arcos da Lapa, an impressive aqueduct constructed in the mid-18th century by Portuguese colonists. Next, we'll board a historic tram to the Lapa Steps. The 215 steps are the tiled masterpiece of Chilean painter Selaron. After moving to Brazil in 1983, he began working on the steps as a tribute to his adopted country and claims he will never stop working on them until the day he dies. He can often be spotted working outside his home, halfway up the steps, and is always happy to stop and say hello to passers-by.
Overnight: Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza Hotel , Rio de Janeiro
Meal: B
Day 4 - November 19, 2012, Monday
Today, we transfer to the airport today and head to the historic city of Salvador da Bahia, where Brazil was discovered by Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500. After checking into our hotel we'll have an afternoon tour of the neighborhood of Pelourinho, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We'll have the opportunity to photograph one of the most historical cultural centers of Brazil including the San Francisco Church and Terreiro de Jesus. Salvador was the first capital of Brazil and remained so for over 200 years. The city has the most important African influence anywhere in the world, outside the African continent. Our main destination will be the Pelourinho District, the most important historical center of colonial architecture in Latin America.  We will visit the last slave market in Brazil; the First African Church in the new world, built in 1704; art galleries, souvenirs shops and various other important historical landmarks. This tour gives a good prospective of the African influence in the building of Brazil.
This evening, we'll meet for a group dinner, followed by a Capoeira show, a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music.
Overnight: Sol Victoria Marina Hotel, Salvador.
Meal: B, D
Day 5 - November 20, 2012, Tuesday
Today, we'll visit the low city in Salvador, Bonfim Church and stop off at the Mercado Modelo to see the local handicrafts. We then journey along Centenery Avenue where we will stop for a photo opportunity of the beautiful Statues of the Orishas. These distinctive statues, representing the deities of the Candomble religion, stand triumphantly in the middle of a peaceful lake.
Our next stop will be at The Good End Church, known by the locals as "Oxala's Church". This 18th century church is the center for the connection between African religions and Catholicism. After our tour, your afternoon is free to spend relaxing on the beach, shopping, or taking in the sites.
This evening, you may want to join your guide for a night out.
Overnight: Sol Victoria Marina Hotel, Salvador
Meal: B
Day 6 - November 21, 2012, Wednesday
After breakfast, we'll board our schooner boat and spend all day sight-seeing Frades and Itaparica Islands, and sail around the Baia de Todos os Santos (All Saints Bay), one of the most panoramic and beautiful views of Salvador. We'll stop at Priest Island, a stunning tropical paradise where we can swim, snorkel, sun bathe, stroll along the sandy beaches, or purchase shells, coral, or other handicrafts made by local merchants. After Priest Island, we reboard and set sail for Itaparica Island. Here, we'll enjoy a delicious lunch of salads, beans, fish, meats, deserts and coffee. Following lunch, we can take a short tour featuring a stop at the original "Fountain of Youth", or simply relax on the beach.
Overnight: Sol Victoria Marina Hotel, Salvador
Meal: B, L
Day 7 - November 22, 2012, Thursday
Today we board our flight to the Manaus in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. We transfer to the pier and board our boat destined for our lodge. On the way we will stop and see the Meeting of the Rivers. Navigate and see for yourself the meeting of two of the most powerful rivers of the Amazon - the Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes. On a tour boats you'll see the Meeting of the Waters, where the black waters of the Negro River meet the brown waters of the Solimoes River, flowing side by side without mixing for 9 km.
Upon our arrival at the hotel you will have time to relax. After our dinner we enjoy evening tour by canoe for Caiman spotting.
Overnight: Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge, Manaus
Meal: B, D
Day 8 - November 23, 2012, Friday
After breakfast we embark on a Nature-Hike around the amazon forest. We return to the lodge for our included lunch. After a short rest, join us as we visit the home of local Amazonian residents (Caboclos) with an opportunity for fishing. Dinner tonight is included at our lodge.
Overnight: Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge, Manaus
Meal: B, L, D
 Day 9 - November 24, 2012, Saturday
After breakfast we visit the Monkey Jungle where we are sure to see lots of these fun and interactive creatures.
Check-out today is at 11:30 am and transfer to Manaus Airport. End of the tour.
Meal: B
If you would like to extend your stay in Brazil or visit other parts of South America, please let us know and we can assist you.
Rio de Janeiro:
Located on Ipanema beach. Ipanema Plaza hotel is the premier hotel for the GLBT traveler. The hotel is the closest hotel to the gay beach. This boutique style hotel has a rooftop swimming pool and fitness centre with some of the best views.
Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza Hotel is located in the heart of Rio de Janeiro's south zone. The hotel is 50 meters from Ipanema Beach, a 5-minute drive from Copacabana, and 25 kilometers from the Galeao Airport. For those who come to Rio for entertainment and leisure, Ipanema offers an array of shops and many cultural activities while boasting many of the best restaurants in town.
 Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza Hotel offers 24-hour room service, a 24-hour business center, rooftop swimming pool with panoramic view, fitness center, dry and steam saunas, restaurant with modern cuisine, 3 convention halls, and private car parking with valet.
All 140 guestrooms at the Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza Hotel are decorated and furnished in clean style, with cool tiled floors, silent central air-conditioning, cable TV, 2 telephone lines, electronic safe (accommodates laptop), and a deep soaking bathtub.
Salvador:
Sol Victoria Marina is in Salvador's neighborhood of Canela, an area that includes the Universidade Federal da Bahia, 1 km (just over a half-mi) away. Two museums are within a 5-minute walk: Museu de Arte da Bahia showcases artists from the region, while Museu Carlos Costa Pinto displays jewelry and art from the sugar aristocracy of colonial and imperial Bahia.
Porto da Barra Beach, the most popular beach in a city lined with them, is 2.5 km (1.5 mi) away. Pelourinho, Salvador's oldest neighborhood and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 3 km (just under 2 mi) north. Parking is complimentary onsite.  You'll start your day with complimentary buffet breakfast, served in your guestroom or by the pool. You can sample international or Thai cuisine at the 2 onsite restaurants or just grab a coffee at the café. Dine on your own schedule with room service--it's available 24 hours a day. The Sol Victoria Marina Hotel also has a nightclub.
This waterfront Salvador hotel has 3 outdoor pools and anchorage for boats and personal watercraft. At the shaded pier, you can relax in a lounge chair and take in unobstructed views of All Saints' Bay. Need to get a little work done? Stop by the business center, or connect to the wireless Internet access, available throughout the hotel for a surcharge. Your guestroom includes a minibar, a TV, and an in-room safe. You'll find a hair dryer and a rainfall showerhead in the bathroom. Turndown service is performed each day.
Manaus:
 Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge is a privately owned tourism complex and scientific and educational enterprise, operating since 1991. The lodging infrastructure was inaugurated in 1995. Ecopark Jungle Lodge is located on the Taruma River, approximately one hour from the Manaus airport.
The lodge has 64 comfortable apts, divided among 20 wooden bungalows and one concrete bungalow, (total 21 bungalows). Each wooden bungalow has 3 apts, with separate entrances, varandas, and bathrooms. All apts have air conditioning, electric showers, and screened windows.
 Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge offers a natural pool, a private beach and a chill-out zone with hammocks. The excursions available include a boat trip to the confluence of the Amazon and Negro Rivers, swimming with dolphins and visiting an indigenous community.
Guests enjoy a daily buffet breakfast, consisting of fresh fruits and juices, breads and homemade cakes. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner options, with regional and international dishes.
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Please note that the above cost includes all accommodation in 3/4 star, gay friendly hotels, with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges. All activities as outlined in the itinerary; all meals as per itinerary; the services of a Hermes Tours Escort throughout the trip (with minimum participation of 10); all ground transportation as per itinerary; Entrance fees to all sites on itinerary. 
International airfare to/from Rio/Manaus; transfers to/from airport; domestic airfare Rio-Salvador-Manaus (about $350); visas to Brazil; personal travel and cancellation insurance; meals and activities not specifically included in the itinerary; services of a personal nature like alcohol; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes as well as customary tips to guides. 
