16 day Brazil itinerary - comments please
 

I've been struggling to finalize an itinerary to take advantage of either a GOL or TAM airpass - following is available right now (tick tock, I know!)

January 18th, 2012 - Arrival Sao Paolo - transfer to Rio (is 90 minutes enough time for the connection from an international arrival?) 5 nights in Rio at an apartment in Arpoador

http://www.flipkey.com/rio-de-janeir...ntals/p229184/

Rio to Natal - transfer to Pipa - 4 nights in a beach front villa

http://www.flipkey.com/pipa-vacation-rentals/p314334/

Natal to Salvador - 2 nights (no hotel yet)

Salvador to Manaus - Tropical Manaus for one night then Uakari Lodge for 4 nights

http://www.uakarilodge.com.br/Default_en.aspx

Manaus to Sao Paolo - then onto BsAs for a month in an apartment.

Note - we will visit Iguazu Falls in March on our return to Sao Paolo to fly home to Canada - also might spend time in Sao Paolo at that time.

I spent a lot of time trying to get to Fernando de Noronha but the flights are really expensive as is accommodation so I substituted Pipa. (also have been considering a beach/villa north of Natal instead but it's pretty undeveloped - Maracajau - although we could scuba dive there - comments?)

Any comments would be appreciated. I've done so many itinerary iterations my head is spinning.

Hi Elisabeth has been several years but for Brazil for me buy has always been best to do my flights on the econos in country or with brazilforless.com they have saved me over what I could book on my own...

despegar.com good deals also sometimes for me

Route looks good might add Florianopolis nexussurf.com

around Iguazu 42 PERFECT beaches an awesome vibe...

Natal brazilbeaches.org good diving a little better...

Happy Planning!

I'd spend more than two days in Salvador, Bahia! It's my second favorite Brasilian city and has a lot going for it. It's the most "African" of cities in Brasil and is noted for its history and culture. The museums and churches are fantastic, and a few islands outside are wonderful, too!

In terms of the transfer to Rio, if possible I would have more than 90 minutes. It's a peak holiday period and being bumped from a flight is not uncommon.

Tropical Manaus is a very strange hotel, great breakfasts though.

I though Uakari Lodge was fantastic, basic in terms of the floating loadges, but amazing food and great guides. The mosquitoes are not as bad as people suggest, I wore shorts most of the time. The trails are very muddy, light runners are fine if you don't mind getting them dirty. They also have wellington boots you can borrow, but they are very hot and hard to walk in.

I think two nights in Salvador is about right, there are some interesting churches, museums and architecture, but they are easily covered in two full days. It's my least favourite Brazilian city, but Eddwarm is right the Afro-Brazilian part of the city, particularly the music, is really interesting. We got an amazing deal on Convento do Carmo which is a beautiful hotel.

Thanks for the commments! I ended up having to reverse the order of the itinerary which got rid of that 90 minute transfer time fortunately.

Eddwarm - the way our itinerary now works we have 3 full days in Salvador.

Susan7 - We arrive at Tropical Manaus in the late afternoon and leave in the early morning - I'm considering it just a placeholder - would you suggest I look at other hotels in Manaus?

I quite liked Tropical Manaus, but it's like something out of a Humphrey Bogart film. It's huge with a zoo in the grounds, plus archery and goodness knows what else. It's where most of the airline crew stay, and close to the airport, consequently they are well set up for very early starts. If you are going on that very early flight to Tefé, then it's probably ideal.

It's some way from the city, so you'd need to take a cab if you want to go to see things like the Opera House.

Agree with Susan -- the Tropical is really the best place to stay. It's not strange in a scary or creepy way, just cavernous and a bit gloomy. The breakfasts are great, though, as she says, and the staff is perfectly friendly.

Do go into town if you can to watch all the action at the port -- just an amazing thing to see the boats being loaded and unloaded with people and all kinds of goods for the Amazon, the superhighway of the district. If you're taking the very early flight to Tefe, you may not have time, though.

We get into Manuas late morning so I think we will go see the port and I'd love to see the fish market too.....