Russ Isom and Scott Isom are a father/son team who love to hike, backpack, and enjoy athletics of almost every kind. They've trekked the Pacific Crest Trail from the California-Oregon border to Canada, and climbed several of the Pacific Northwest's Cascade Range peaks. These two know how to have a good time, and have spent their careers including others in the fun. They both look forward to sharing the Adventure with some of the best travelers on the planet!
Walking Brazil 2012- 2 Part Tour
Adventure Rating
How much Adventure do you want? This itinerary includes a few features to help gauge the following factors.
Tour Pace: On a scale of 1 (slowest pace) to 5 (fastest pace), we’ve rated the following factors: number of 1-night hotels; driving miles per day; fullness of schedule; mid-tour airline flights; and average amount of walking per day.
Walk Challenge: This number represents an average walk difficulty rating for the tour using a scale of 1 (easiest) to 5 (hardest) [same criteria used by American Volkssport Association].
We are excited to offer an opportunity to explore one of the most underrated travel destinations on the planet on one of our newest adventures—Walking Brazil. The word “Brazil” brings to the mind of most North Americans widely conflicting images of rainforests, massive rivers, crowded cities, raucous festivals, and popular beaches. This perception is a small fraction of the reality, and our journey through this amazing country will help unravel the fascinating conundrum that is Brazil.
The Adventure is available in two parts, available individually or combinable into one 16-day series of wonder upon wonder. Both parts are 10 days long. Both parts are susceptible to lazy luggage syndrome with three sets of three-night stays. Part 1 begins in the Amazon, continues to the Pantanal and finishes in Rio. Part 2 begins in Rio, continues to Paraty, and finishes in Iguaçu Falls. The two parts overlap in Rio de Janeiro—all travelers will experience Rio together. Those of you who opt to participate in the entire Adventure will therefore receive a credit for the overlap in the program (see below).
COMBO PACKAGE Join us for both parts of Walking Brazil to receive a savings of $406! Single travelers receive an additional savings of $254 off the single supplement.
How to Register
To save yourself a spot on this Adventure, contact us to register with a $500 payment as soon as possible! Reservations will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis! Click here for more registration details.
A Note on the Walks
Walks are rated on a scale of 1-5. A walk rated 1 is fairly level and easy and a walk rated 5 is hilly and considered a challenging hike - see below for more details. (1 kilometer = .62 miles)
Walking Brazil - Amazon, Pantanal, & Rio!
Day 1 – Jun 14: Arrive Manaus, Brazil (D) Manaus Amazon Walk – 5 km, rated 2
Upon arrival in Manaus, we spend a couple of hours exploring this city where over 2 million people maintain a metropolis in the heart of the world’s largest rainforest. Our route explores local markets and the intriguing hustle and bustle of the waterfront, where boats of all descriptions are loaded and unloaded as they transverse this mighty waterway. From Manaus, we travel by bus and boat to our Amazon rainforest lodge. From this hideaway on the banks of the Rio Taruma (tributary of the Amazon) we launch our exploration of the Amazon Basin over the next two days. Join us after dinner for a canoe trip in the inky Amazon night to search for caiman alligators (the babies) with our local guides!
Day 2 – Jun 15: Activities in the Amazon (BLD) Amazon Jungle Survival Walk – 10 km, rated 2+
The day begins with a jungle walk through the rainforest. Though abundant foliage makes spotting wildlife a challenge, the sensation of treading through the Amazon jungle is one you won’t forget. This afternoon we visit two types of locals. The nearby Monkey Jungle Reserve is home to primates confiscated from illegal sales and exports, while the main event of the afternoon is a visit with a nearby native tribe. Fishing for the infamous piranha is likely to be available as an option (price not included) sometime during our stay.
Day 3 – Jun 16: Activities in the Amazon (BLD)
A good portion of today is spent cruising the Amazon on the lodge’s 2-deck riverboat. From the Rio Taruma, we sail downstream past picturesque waterfront panoramas of Manaus to the Rio Negro. The Meeting of the Waters is an unmistakable junction of the dark, relatively clear waters of the Rio Negro flowing side-by-side with the tan-colored, silt-filled Rio Solimoes. After lunch, we cruise to a “Caboclos” village (people of mixed native Brazilian and European immigrant ancestry) to learn about their life in this watery world of the Amazon.
Day 4 – Jun 17: Amazon – Pantanal (B)
We’re up with the birds this morning, headed back to Manaus to catch an early morning flight to Cuiaba, staging point for our afternoon entry into the world’s largest wetland – the Pantanal! From Cuiaba, our route takes us along the Transpantaneira Highway into a magical wetland plain inhabited by a pleasing variety of animals and a positively delightful explosion of birdlife. Our home for the next three nights is Araras Lodge, nestled amongst ponds, rivers, and patches of bush land – a perfect base to discover the Pantanal!
Day 5 – Jun 18: Activities in the Pantanal (BLD) Pantanal Wetlands Walk – 10 km, rated 1+
Today’s walk takes us through patches of native bush in search of monkeys, deer, anteaters, jaguar, caiman alligators, and any number of the 600-plus species of colorful birds and 1,000 species of butterflies that inhabit this blessed land. Tropical heat in the middle of the day discourages activity, so lunch at the lodge is followed by siesta until mid-afternoon, when more activities await us.
Day 6 – Jun 19: Activities in the Pantanal (BLD) Pantanal Dawn Delights Walk – 10 km, rated 1+
Rising before the birds is difficult in the Pantanal. Our goal, however, is to beat the sun over the horizon! Along the trail we encounter a kaleidoscope of colors – sunrise oranges, reds, and yellows; jungle greens; river and sky blues; and the enchanting and ever-present activity of birds painting a rainbow of color before our eyes. After breakfast at a remote wetlands lodge, try your hand at canoeing on one of the waterways or horseback riding (price not included) through further reaches of the Pantanal. Following siesta, we’ll enjoy more walking and activities – possibly piranha fishing or climbing atop the viewing platform near our lodge in the company of a large clan of howler monkeys.
Day 7 – Jun 20: Pantanal – Rio De Janeiro (BD)
An early breakfast precedes a return drive along the Transpantaneira Highway, saying “farewell” along the way to more of our colorful feathered friends. Upon arrival in Cuiaba, we board our flight for Rio de Janeiro. En route to our hotel in this amazing city by the sea, we stop at a “churrascaria” restaurant – a popular style of steakhouse in Brazil with a fun and interactive way of serving their guests!
Day 8 – Jun 21: Activities in Rio (B) Rio’s Famous Beaches Walk – 10 km, rated 1
Today’s walk offers a stroll along the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana with nonstop panoramas of the beauty and beach culture of the Rio de Janeiro waterfront. We hope to walk with members of our Brazilian host club – Anda Brazil. The afternoon activity is a gondola ride, gliding up to Sugarloaf Mountain while enjoying spectacular 360-degree views along this splendid coastline!
Day 9 – Jun 22: Activities in Rio (B) Urca Beach Walk – 10 km, rated 1
The train ride up Corcovado to Christ the Redeemer statue rivals even the views from Sugarloaf Mountain. After drinking in vistas over Rio, Sugarloaf, the beaches, and the prolific Atlantic Rainforest, we ride down into the Santa Theresa Neighborhood for lunch and a taste of one of Rio’s oldest neighborhoods. The afternoon activity is a walk along the base of Sugarloaf Mountain along Urca and Vermelha beaches – more South Atlantic panoramas await us!
Day 10 – Jun 23: Depart Rio (B)
Today we leave this beautiful country, returning home with new understandings of the blessings and challenges of this amazing land of Brazil!
Walking Brazil - Rio, Paraty, & Iguaçu Falls!
Day 1 – Jun 20: Arrive Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (D)
Upon arrival in Rio, we check into our hotel near the beaches. Later this evening, we rendezvous with Part 1 travelers already in Brazil for dinner at a “churrascaria” restaurant – a popular style of steakhouse in Brazil with a fun and interactive way of serving their guests!
Day 2 – Jun 21: Activities in Rio (B) Rio’s Famous Beaches Walk – 10 km, rated 1
Today’s walk offers a stroll along the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana with nonstop panoramas of the beauty and beach culture of the Rio de Janeiro waterfront. We hope to walk with members of our Brazilian host club – Anda Brazil. The afternoon activity is a gondola ride, gliding up to Sugarloaf Mountain while enjoying spectacular 360-degree views along this splendid coastline!
Day 3 – Jun 22: Activities in Rio (B) Urca Beach Walk – 10 km, rated 1
The train ride up Corcovado to Christ the Redeemer statue rivals even the views from Sugarloaf Mountain. After drinking in vistas over Rio, Sugarloaf, the beaches, and the prolific Atlantic Rainforest, we ride down into the Santa Theresa Neighborhood for lunch and a taste of one of Rio’s oldest neighborhoods. The afternoon activity is a walk along the base of Sugarloaf Mountain along Urca and Vermelha beaches – more South Atlantic panoramas await us!
Day 4 – Jun 23: Rio – Paraty (BD) Historic Paraty Walk – 10 km, rated 2
We leave beautiful Rio today, driving southeast along the lovely coastline toward Paraty. Streets created from rounded boulders, and warehouses from the glory days of Portuguese exploitation are just a few reminders of the heritage of Paraty on today’s laid back walk in this laid back beach village.
Day 5 – Jun 24: Activities from Paraty (BL) Royal Road Walk – 10 km, rated 2+/3
Open-sided jeeps take us into the mountains today in search of the ghosts of the Royal Road. Our walk explores stretches of this historic stone road used 300-400 years ago to transport gold and other commodities from Brazil’s interior to Paraty, where they were then shipped to Portugal. Following lunch in a charming jungle restaurant, Part 2 of the walk continues along country roads offering wonderful vantage points over farmland and through local villages, finishing at a remote jungle waterfall!
Day 6 – Jun 25: Activities from Paraty (BL)
Another fine day in Paraty starts with a stroll through the historic district to the dock. Here we board a schooner bound for an afternoon of South Atlantic delights in Paraty Bay. Our picturesque craft stops several times to offer opportunities to swim, go ashore to stroll picture-perfect tropical beaches, or simply soak in the sun aboard ship. Robinson Crusoe never had it so good!
Day 7 – Jun 26: Paraty – Foz do Iguaçu (BD)
We leave Paraty this morning on a scenic drive to Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city. Here, we catch a flight to Foz do Iguaçu, on the Brazilian border with Argentina and Paraguay. After checking into our hotel, we dine together in a restaurant near our hotel in anticipation of tomorrow’s memorable activities.
Day 8 – Jun 27: Activities from Foz do Iguaçu (B) Iguazú Falls Walk – 10 km, rated 2+
The full day is devoted to a multi-faceted experience of Iguazú Falls on the Argentina side. The falls, and the Iguazú River that creates them, form the border between the two countries. After clearing border procedures, we start our walk in nearby Iguazú National Park. Along the way, we hitch a ride on a narrow gauge, natural gas-powered train and tread a boardwalk over the Iguazú River to the Garganta do Diabo (Devil’s Throat) where over 50% of the water falls. Following lunch, an optional jetboat ride takes you into the spray of some of the 280 cataracts that roar over the 3-kilometer-wide precipice – Estimated price: $100. Thrill seekers and walkers then rendezvous to finish the walk on boardwalks constructed over several of these seemingly endless waterfalls.
Day 9 – Jun 28: Activities from Foz do Iguaçu (BL)
Today’s first stop is Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park. Since the great majority of the water falls on the Argentina side, the best panoramic views of the amazing falls we walked among yesterday are from Brazil. The sheer breadth of falling water visible from the Brazil side is breathtaking! We’ve seen Niagara and Victoria Falls, often on the shortlist with Iguaçu for world’s most spectacular waterfalls. In our opinion, it’s no contest. As Eleanor Roosevelt is quoted as saying upon visiting the falls, “Poor Niagara!” Lunch today is a fun picnic at an organic farm where the meal is prepared and served by our host.
Day 10 – Jun 29: Depart Foz do Iguaçu (B)
We say “farewell” to Iguaçu this morning and return to ordinary life! Connecting with this land of great resources and great potential has been enriching. We look forward to watching from afar as Brazil continues to emerge and grow to fulfill its destiny.
To reserve your spot on this adventure, please mail the Registration Form along with a $500 per person deposit, or call in with your credit card. Make checks payable to Walking Adventures International. VISA, MasterCard, and Discover also accepted.
The General Tour Conditions contain important information you should read before you register.
Mail payments to:
Walking Adventures International
PO Box 871000
Vancouver WA 98687-1000
USA
Travel Insurance
Walking Adventures has negotiated with an insurance carrier to provide travel insurance in the form of a Preferred Benefits™ policy. We are pleased to make this package available and believe that it will provide travelers with an important element of security at a reasonable price.
Why We Walk
Why We Walk
Walking and travel are a natural combination! For over 20 years, our Walking Adventures International team has been offering walking programs around the world, and we’ve found that walking and motorcoach travel is the best way to tour. Our coach takes you efficiently from point to point with little wasted time, but walking lets you get off the bus, stretch your legs, and explore the "must see" highlights and off-the-beaten-track wonders. For more on Why We Walk, click here.
Walk Rating System
1. An easy walk on pavement or well-maintained trail with no significant hills.
2. A moderately easy walk, may be on pavement or on trails. No significant difficulty with hills.
3. A moderate walk in any setting with some difficult terrain, one or two substantial hills and/or steps.
4. A more difficult walk. Most likely in a natural setting with poorly maintained paths and steeper or hilly inclines.
5. A very difficult walk. All in rough fields or woods. Many steep hills or high altitude trails, or very rough uneven terrain, steep or unstable inclines.
Volkssport
Some travelers like to keep track of their walks with a system known as volkssport. Click here if you’d like to know more about volkssport.
General Questions And follow this link for more details on topics like: WAI’s approach to airfare, the number of people accepted on a tour, and finding a roommate!
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Tour Pace: On a scale of 1 (slowest pace) to 5 (fastest pace), we’ve rated the following factors: number of 1-night hotels; driving miles per day; fullness of schedule; mid-tour airline flights; and average amount of walking per day.
Walk Challenge: This number represents an average walk difficulty rating for the tour using a scale of 1 (easiest) to 5 (hardest) [same criteria used by American Volkssport Association]. 
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