Colonial Brazil Tour: 10 Days in Rio de Janeiro, Ouro Preto & Salvador

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro and transfer to your hotel. Set between lush mountains and the Atlantic, Rio was Brazil's capital from 1763 to 1960 and remains a hub of art, fashion, and music. Its bays, beaches, and offshore islands show why locals call it the Marvelous City. In the evening, head to Lapa, the heart of Rio nightlife. This quiet district comes alive after dark with bars, clubs, and live music, from samba and northeastern forró to Bahian reggae. Your local guide takes you to Rio Scenarium, a one-of-a-kind venue that looks like an antique shop and features live samba and Brazilian jazz. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Dinner

Drive along the scenic Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon to the base of Corcovado. From there, a cog train climbs to the Christ the Redeemer statue, about 2,300 ft above sea level, where the panoramic views over Rio unfold. The tour continues past Rio's famous beaches. In the afternoon, join a walking tour of Old Rio, the colonial downtown where the city was born over 450 years ago. Among today's busy commercial streets, you'll find baroque churches beside modern buildings, pedestrian lanes, and charming cafés. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel into the mountains to Petrópolis, the Imperial City, where Emperor Pedro II spent summers during Brazil's monarchy. Visit the Imperial Museum, the Crystal Palace, and the Neo-Gothic Cathedral of São Pedro de Alcântara. Most sites are closed on Mondays. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Rio airport for your flight to Belo Horizonte, then continue directly to Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais. Founded in the early 1700s during the gold rush and declared a national monument in 1933, Ouro Preto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also Brazil's finest showcase of colonial baroque architecture, with ornate churches, fountains, towers, and tiled façades. Its inland location helped preserve it as a remarkably intact example of the era. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Explore Ouro Preto on foot with a guided walking tour through its cobblestone streets and baroque landmarks. Lunch is included. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to Belo Horizonte Airport for your flight to Salvador. Salvador is the capital of Bahia and was Brazil's capital until 1763, and it proudly keeps its African roots alive in its food, faith, and art. The city has two levels. The Lower City, at sea level, holds the historic port, the Mercado Modelo, and the best spots to see capoeira, the martial art created by enslaved Africans. The Upper City is reached by stairways, alleys, or the iconic Lacerda Elevator, and holds most of the museums and churches as well as the restored Pelourinho district, now a lively nightlife hub. After checking in, enjoy "Bahia by Night." Savor traditional Bahian cuisine in Pelourinho, then watch a vibrant folkloric show of music and dance at the Miguel Santana Theater celebrating Afro-Brazilian culture. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This half-day city tour starts in the modern neighborhood of Barra and winds toward Pelourinho, a UNESCO-listed district with one of the largest and best-preserved collections of colonial architecture in the Americas. Visit the Church of São Francisco, famous for its dazzling gold-leaf baroque interior, and stroll Pelourinho Square, the heart of the old town. The tour contrasts Salvador's modern and historic faces. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Head out of the city through Brazil's oldest farmland to an experimental cacao plantation. Enjoy lunch in Cachoeira, a charming colonial town on the Paraguaçu River. A walking tour takes you past woodcarvers' workshops and the lively local market, open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. You'll also visit the Sisterhood of Boa Morte, a religious society of Afro-Brazilian women with roots in the era of slavery. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Spend the day at your own pace, whether that's beaches, markets, museums, or more of Pelourinho. Overnight at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast