Mountains and bays begin to appear between the neighbourhoods on the drive into the city. After the long-haul flight, the afternoon is free. A walk along the beachfront and dinner near the hotel are enough for a first encounter. Rio is intense enough without filling arrival day with sightseeing as well.

Corcovado is reached through Tijuca Forest, and from the area around Christ the Redeemer the geography of Rio becomes clear: Lagoa, the beaches, downtown, the bay and the green ridges that divide the city.

Later, continue to Urca and take the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain. Guanabara Bay feels closer from here and the coastline is seen from a different angle. The order is adjusted according to weather, queues and visibility, as cloud over the mountains can quickly change the conditions.

Mornings are often pleasant along Copacabana or Ipanema before the sun is high. Afterwards, stay at the beach, head to Urca, have lunch in Leblon or choose a shorter private excursion.

There is no need to spend the free day travelling from one sight to another. As the afternoon grows warmer, the beachfront fills with runners, cyclists, vendors and people on their way home from work, and the city’s everyday rhythm becomes easier to see.

Downtown preserves buildings from the imperial period and the early republic, while Santa Teresa climbs the hills above the city with older villas, studios and views opening between the houses. The route is adapted to the day of the week and what is open.

These neighbourhoods are best explored through a combination of walking and driving, without rushing between stops. The contrast with the beach districts is striking and makes the city’s history much easier to understand.

Lagoa is nearby, with its long shoreline and views towards the mountains. The afternoon is open. A museum, a few hours at the beach or a late lunch usually works better than adding another organised excursion. The final evening can be used for a good dinner or live music, depending on what feels most appealing after several days in the city.

From the hotel in Rio, transfer to the airport for the onward flight to Manaus.

Fly north to Manaus. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for one night before the lodge stay.

A private transfer takes you from the airport to your hotel in Manaus. There are no further fixed activities on arrival day. Manaus is also a reminder that the Amazon is not only rainforest and rivers. It is a large city with ports, markets and an intense everyday life.

The journey often combines both road and boat travel. Gradually, the built-up areas thin out, stretches of water become broader and small communities replace city neighbourhoods. After lunch at the lodge, the first excursion explores the surrounding area, often by small boat.

After dark, the soundscape changes completely. An evening excursion offers a chance to look for caimans, nocturnal birds and other wildlife that is seldom active in the middle of the day.

Herons, parrots and kingfishers are among the birds often seen, while monkeys, sloths and river dolphins require both luck and careful observation. Later in the morning, a guided walk enters the forest. The focus shifts to detail: the ways in which different tree species adapt, as well as animal tracks, insects and plants used locally. After lunch, another boat or canoe excursion explores a different area.

A respectful visit to a local community provides insight into how the river functions as a transport route, workplace and link between people living far from the road network. Later, conditions around the lodge determine whether activities continue by boat, on foot or with a quieter period of observation.

Chasing as long a species list as possible in a short time can detract from the experience. Some of the best moments come when the guide switches off the engine, lets the boat drift and waits.

The return journey towards Manaus is made by boat and road transfer. On this itinerary, the transfer is planned to continue directly to the airport whenever the flight schedule allows.

After returning from the lodge, continue to Manaus airport for the flight to Salvador. On arrival, transfer to the hotel.

The transfer from the airport crosses Salvador on the way to the hotel. The sea and Baía de Todos os Santos reappear between neighbourhoods, but it is only once you are in the city that its changes in elevation and scale become clear.

The guide then moves beyond the façades to the history that produced them: Atlantic trade, slavery and African traditions that survived and were reshaped in Brazil. Candomblé, music and food are treated as living parts of Bahia rather than folkloric decoration.

During the day, travel between the upper and lower parts of the city, with views across the vast bay that has made Salvador an important port for centuries.

If departure is later in the day, luggage can be stored at the hotel after check-out. Depending on the next stage of the journey, the transfer goes either to the airport or north along the coast towards Praia do Forte.

From Salvador, travel north along the coast to Praia do Forte. After reaching the hotel or pousada, the afternoon and evening are free.

The road from Salvador follows the Atlantic coast north towards Praia do Forte. The village is small, the beach is close and most restaurants are within walking distance. There is therefore no need for a particular plan after arrival.

Projeto Tamar’s visitor centre is centrally located and explains the long-term work to protect sea turtles along the Brazilian coast. The visit is informative without needing to occupy the whole day.

Afterwards, there is plenty of time for swimming, lunch and independent exploring. Praia do Forte works best when every hour is not planned. The short distances between sea, village and accommodation are a large part of its appeal.

At suitable points along the coast, low tide creates calmer conditions for swimming or snorkelling, while high tide creates a very different shoreline. The tide therefore determines when conditions are best for swimming and snorkelling.

Between swims there is plenty of time for a long lunch or a walk along the beach. Waves and visibility vary with season and weather, so the best places to enter the water are chosen locally.

Return to a favourite beach, stay by the hotel pool or book an excursion along the coast. Whale-watching trips operate during parts of the year, while other periods may be better suited to cycling, a boat trip or a visit to nearby natural areas. The final day can be adapted to the weather and your energy level and does not need to be decided far in advance.

Departure time is matched to the next stage of the journey or the flight from Salvador, so the day does not need to start earlier than necessary.

From Praia do Forte, continue to the airport for the journey back to Scandinavia. Exact flight times and connections are specified when the trip is booked.

Arrival in Scandinavia after the overnight flight.