Brazil & the Rio Carnival with Explora Journeys

Fly from the UK to gently breeze into the vibrant Bridgetown, Barbados. You’ll be privately transferred to your luxury hotel accommodations for the evening to rest and relax after your flight.

Stay: Bridgetown accommodation

Spend your day exploring the laidback West Indian ambiance of the welcoming island of Barbados. Surf, snorkel, or spend the day trying to spot turtles in the warm turquoise waters. Explore the city’s fascinating history and architecture to your heart’s delight. Later today, you’ll be privately transferred from your hotel to EXPLORA I to embark on your cruise with Explora Journeys.

Stay: EXPLORA I

Enjoy the range of dining options and other amenities on the all-inclusive EXPLORA I.

Stay: EXPLORA I

Devil’s Island looks like a tropical paradise when you first arrive, with its swaying palms and sparkling waters, but it comes with an interesting and storied history. Napoleon III once imprisoned his enemies here, and the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the Papillon hold secrets bound in the webs of time. Take footpaths through the jungle to find ghostly churches built by prisoners, spotting peacocks, monkeys, and butterflies along the way. 

Stay: EXPLORA I

Enjoy more time onboard the luxurious EXPLORA I as you make your way down South America’s east coast toward the round shoulder of Brazil.

Stay: EXPLORA I

Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará State, is known as the City of Light— and for good reason, as you’ll soon discover. Sunny skies provide a near-constant canopy to 25 kilometres of white sand beaches, with features such as palm trees, lagoons, dunes, and stunning red cliffs providing the geological diversity. This once-sleepy fishing village is today a thriving port town brimming with creative spirit in fashion, art, and more. Enjoy a glass of the national cocktail, cachaca and groove to the endemic e-music, Farro, for a lively combination of sun, sand, and sea that serves as the perfect introduction to Brazil. 

Stay: EXPLORA I

Enjoy these days onboard Explora I as you make your way down to the pulsating excitement that is Salvador de Bahia during Carnival.

Stay: EXPLORA I

Arriving for your first taste of the Brazilian Carnival spirit, you’re sure to be swept up by Salvador de Bahia. There’s one word to describe the exploding colours, sparkling sun, and even Salvador’s people: sexy. This pretty peninsula was Brazil’s first capital. It was built by African slaves to create one of the New World’s most opulent cities, and you can visit the Colonial Pelourinho to learn about this aspect of the city’s history.

The showcase will be one of the world’s biggest Carnivals, which rages down cobblestone streets and past brightly coloured buildings at this time of year. Indulge in mouth-watering Brazilian food, Moqueca and caipirinha cocktails, and samba and capoeira as you explore this Afro-Brazilian cultural centre.

Stay: EXPLORA I

Recover from the explosion of senses that was Salvador’s Carnival onboard the ship today. Perhaps you will visit the thermal spa to maximise your relaxation, or even head to the ship’s boutique for a bit of retail therapy. 

Stay: EXPLORA I

Rio never fails to surprise; it’s no wonder it’s called the Cidade Maravilhosa (the Marvellous City). From the jaw-dropping views from the iconic Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain to the lush green canopies and waterfalls of Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro encompasses many different environments within its borders. Marvel at the favela neighbourhoods, famous for being stacked one on top of the other up the city’s hillsides. These contrast wonderfully with the Niemeyer-designed modernist structures, making Rio the architecture lover’s dream.

Of course, nothing beats Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. During this mind-blowing spectacle, it feels as though this entire fascinating city sways in time to the infectious samba rhythms, something you are unlikely to ever forget.

Stay: EXPLORA I

Enjoy a day of rest and relaxation onboard Explora I as you make your way away from the pulsing festivities of Carnival in Rio toward the much quieter Porto Belo.

Stay: EXPLORA I

Today is all about connecting with nature. Porto Belo is set on the curving coastline of the Emerald Coast with lush green mountains surrounding it, and everything about this place radiates the picturesque idea of a quaint fishing village. Warm and cool waters meet at Florianópolis, a place where you cannot help but feel in harmony with all nature has to offer as you stand in awe at the incredible diversity of marine life on show combined with the area’s unbelievable natural beauty.

Stay: EXPLORA I

Your time on EXPLORA I I comes to an end today as the ship docks in São Paulo in the morning. You’ll be privately transferred to your 5-star hotel for the evening upon disembarkation.

Spend the day exploring all São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, has to offer. Enjoy views of its skyline, reminiscent of New York’s Manhattan, and explore its signature wide avenues. In this vibrant city, you’ll find world-class restaurants galore, along with a spirited local arts scene. This is another place for admirers of architecture to flock, with structures ranging from neo-Gothic to modernist to colonial. The night-time scene is also lively, with clubs playing sertanejo and samba until the wee hours.

Stay: Sao Paulo

Transfer to the airport then fly overnight to the UK today, having enjoyed a real taste of South American culture during one of the most exciting times of year, with the sound of samba still fresh in your ears.