Itinerary - Brazil 360°: Rio, Jericoacoara & Maranhão

Roundtrip flights are not included in the package, so you can choose from where and when you want to fly.

Our journey commences in the capital, and as soon as we step out onto the streets, we are enveloped by the lively and festive atmosphere. To kick off our adventure in the best way possible, we head to a traditional restaurant to indulge in some local delicacies. In this city, meat is a big deal, so why not try the picanha, a succulent and flavorful cut of beef?

On our second day in Brazil, we embark on a tour of Rio with the help of our local guide. We explore the most well-known neighborhoods before venturing to the Rio Cathedral, the vibrant Selaròn staircase (shall we add our names to the mural?), and the Sambodromo. We end the day at the famous Christ the Redeemer, an indisputable attraction of this vibrant city and one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Climbing to the top, we soak up the stunning views from above and, naturally, take our time to snap selfies and group photos!

Later in the afternoon, we make our way to another iconic spot in Rio: the Bondinho cable car that takes us to the top of Pão de Açúcar, the city's symbolic mountain. From this vantage point, we get to see Rio from a whole new perspective, with views of Copacabana (arguably one of the most famous beaches in the world) on one side and the city centre on the other. We stay here until sunset, when everything takes on a magical glow. Afterwards, we hit the streets to experience the carioca rhythm, immersing ourselves in the lively atmosphere of bars and clubs.

After a night of partying like true cariocas, we take this day to unwind. Ipanema is the perfect spot for us, with its stunning beach reflecting the diverse character of carioca society. We can stroll along wide tree-lined avenues and enjoy outdoor bars where the rhythm of samba never fades away. Alternatively, we can choose to visit Copacabana, the most famous beach in Rio and one of the most renowned in the world. If, however, the beach is not our cup of tea, we can opt for a tour of the Rocinha favela. With its 300,000 residents, it is the largest favela in the world, built haphazardly on a steep hill in the "Zona Sul" of Rio de Janeiro.

We may ask ourselves, what are the reasons for visiting a favela like Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro? Is it just human voyeurism? Is it better to stick to the beautiful tourist havens of beaches, samba clubs, and monuments? Our answer is that visiting Rocinha allows us to shed our prejudices and truly understand daily life in a favela, and how the favela itself is structured. It is the right thing to do because, thanks to the work of many associations, the visit becomes a gesture of solidarity.

Farewell Rio! We wake up in Rio this morning, but tonight we will be dozing off in São Luís, as we have a flight to catch! Our adventure along the Northern coast of Brazil starts from the Maranhão region, precisely from São Luís. We will be using various modes of transport to reach Fortaleza, and our drivers will take us through both familiar and unknown routes. Often, we will find ourselves crossing vast sand dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see! In São Luís, let's get ready to dive into the local culture and get our engines running for the journey ahead!

Let's start our journey in São Luís by taking a leisurely stroll through its historic centre. The charming pastel-coloured colonial houses and cobblestone streets create a truly unique and picturesque atmosphere. Later in the evening, we can hit some of the city's popular clubs and bars and celebrate like locals. The music scene in São Luís is dominated by reggae, earning the city the nickname "Brazilian Jamaica"

It's time to hit the road! We're setting off today, jumping into our jeeps and preparing to take in the breathtaking scenery passing by outside our windows. Every ten minutes or so, we'll be tempted to stop and soak it all in! After approximately four hours on the road, we'll reach Barreirinhas, a charming town that will serve as our home base for exploring the Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses.

After a quick lunch, we waste no time in witnessing the incredible beauty of Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses. The park boasts of rainwater lagoons surrounded by white sand dunes that resemble a sea of unfolded sheets, hence the name "lencois," which means sheets. After our long journey by car, it is the perfect opportunity to take a refreshing swim in the most famous and, by all accounts, the most beautiful lagoon, Lagoa Bonita. As the day draws to a close, we head back to Barreirinhas and decide on a restaurant that tickles our fancy for dinner, and of course, we follow the same approach for after-dinner activities.

Today's excursion begins with an exploration of the mouth of the Rio Preguiças and the small fishing villages along its banks. From the boat, we can admire the smaller dunes of Lençóis, which are still fascinating despite being slightly less high. After the boat ride, we return to Barreirinhas for lunch, and those who wish can take a helicopter ride over the Park to see the "sheets" in all their beauty. It's definitely worth it as the lagoons between the dunes create a unique and spectacular landscape that is best appreciated from the air.

After leaving Barreirinhas, we embark on a long journey towards Barra Grande, but the breathtaking landscapes along the way make it worthwhile. This charming fishing village, located on the north coast of Brazil and about an hour's drive east of Parnaiba in the state of Piauí, is a water sports paradise. Its stunning beach, perfect for kite surfing, remains unspoiled by mass tourism, earning it the nickname "the Jeri of yesteryear". The beach is lined with quiet palm trees and small kiosks serving caipirinhas, creating a peaceful and idyllic atmosphere. During the journey to Barra Grande, we will take a boat trip through the beautiful mangroves of the Parnaiba Delta to observe the "Swarm of Guaras", which are bright red birds typical of the area.

After arriving in Barra Grande, the relaxing atmosphere invites us to take it easy with the beaches, ocean, palm trees, and kiosks serving ice-cold beer. For those seeking a bit of excitement, Barra is the ideal place to try out kite surfing or other sports. Alternatively, we can explore the mangroves at a more leisurely pace in search of seahorses.

When it's time for lunch, we opt for a refreshing acai bowl, a well-known dish that has also become popular in Europe. The base is made from a mousse-like ice cream derived from the acai fruit, topped with our preferred toppings such as fruits, cereals, honey, cashews, coconut, and more. It's a real treat, especially in the heat.

Of course, we all gather at sunset, which is truly spectacular here, for a beer with friends and to decide how to spend the rest of the evening.

We embark on another day of travel as we hop back into our car. We travel a brief stretch of paved road from Barra Grande before once again venturing into the wild. Our journey takes us speeding through the sand dunes of Camocin until we finally arrive at Tatajuba, a charming village situated on a lagoon, where we stop for lunch.

We indulge in freshly grilled fish served with a refreshing cold beer, and after lunch, we can relax and take a nap while swinging on one of the many hammocks available on the shore.

We start our day with a breathtaking view of the sunset at Dune Por Do Sol in Jericoacoara, which is a popular spot for tourists. It's a fantastic place to watch the sun dip into the ocean, and if we're lucky, we might even catch a glimpse of the rare green flash that happens when the sun disappears below the horizon. We can enjoy this stunning view with a refreshing caipirinha in hand from one of the many beach stalls that serve them.

After the sunset, we can explore the lively downtown of Jeri with its bars and young surfers. Street food is a must-try for dinner, and then we can keep the party going with the various clubs on the beach, live music venues, and reggae bars that stay open late.

In the morning, we head back to civilisation with a transfer to the airport in Fortaleza, where we say goodbye to this incredible adventure in Brazil with lots of unforgettable memories!

Good morning Jeri! - Yes, because here, nobody pronounces Jericoacoara in full, and we follow this tradition, maybe saving ourselves some embarrassment on the pronunciation!

Leave your shoes and slippers at home because here we can walk barefoot: the streets are made of sand! Today, we have the day off, and we can spend it as we wish: options include a horse ride along the sea, relaxing on the beach, taking a kite surfing lesson - some of the most famous kite surfing schools in the world are located here! Or, as we highly recommend, going on an excursion to the lagoons of the Park (and maybe raiding the well-stocked Havaianas shop!).

Good morning, Jeri! Here, tradition dictates that we don't use the full name Jericoacoara, so let's embrace the local culture and join in. Leave your shoes behind because the streets here are made of sand, and we have the day to ourselves to choose our activities. Options include horseback riding by the sea, relaxing on the beach, or taking a kite surfing lesson from one of the famous schools in the area. Or, for those who love a good shopping trip, we can go to the well-stocked Havaianas store.

If shopping doesn't excite us, we can hop on a dune buggy and let our expert driver take us to Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Paraiso. In both lagoons, we can relax in traditional wire hammocks, soak up the sun, and cool off with a refreshing dip. We'll end the day with another stunning sunset at Pedra Furada, or "holed stone." The rock formations on the beach have holes, and when the sun sets over the ocean, it shines through the holes creating a magical moment that's perfect for capturing on camera.

Tonight, we'll choose a cozy little spot with the right ambiance to sample Jeri's specialties. Alternatively, there are Italian, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants to cater to all tastes. After a hearty dinner, we'll be energised and ready to experience the vibrant Brazilian nightlife once again."

We have one final day to revel in this little slice of paradise. Today is entirely ours to do all the things we haven't had the chance to do in the past few days. With so many lagoons to explore, we can spend hours swimming in the crystal-clear waters or simply basking in the sun, swaying in a hammock and sipping on a refreshing cocktail. If we haven't tried it yet, let's take advantage of the opportunity to take a kite surfing lesson, and for the perfect finale, we can watch the sunset while on horseback. It will surely be a moment that will be etched in our memories for a long time to come.

After bidding farewell to the breathtaking landscapes of Jericoacoara, we begin our journey to our final destination, Fortaleza. We make a stop along the way to enjoy a lunch of fresh fish and beer, or perhaps indulge in a delicious caipirinha.

As we arrive in the city, it's a stark contrast to the tranquil beauty of the beaches we've left behind. But fear not, for we have the perfect remedy in mind: a refreshing caipirinha to kick off the evening. Our final night together calls for a special dinner, where we can reminisce about the amazing experiences we've shared. And for those who still have energy left to burn, let's hit a samba bar to dance the night away!

Check-out and farewell. It is time to say goodbye until your next WeRoad adventure!