Brazil - tour operators

[FMH]

Hello. We are planning to visit Brazil in August 2026. Does anyone have any recommendations for tour operators that can offer tailored private tours? Thanks

We have booked with Audley for Brazil 2026, but let them organise everything around places we wanted to see. We are not going to the amazon as we have been before but going to see the Pantanal, Salvador, Rio, Paraty, Iguazu. We will go to both sides and staying in the park so we get after hours access - this was the recommended hotel from Audley.

https://www.belmond.com/hotels/south-america/brazil/iguassu-falls/belmond-hotel-das-cataratas/?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11030258377&gbraid=0AAAAADsIiRxucNjqjNCItmsxiKIuGOIN_&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuKnGBhD5ARIsAD19RsbWN9bwF2T7GG2uGaeOYLKYfAMinDcTpqhojgH3G_bqBTvMXk0qeDAaArZ6EALw_wcB

I'm really looking forward to it. We had discussed with another operator but they had us covering almost all the country and it felt too much.

@FMH It was Pousada Farol Das Tartarugas - right on the beach and still has a good rating.

That looks really nice - good location! Thanks

We’ve used Journey Latin America for a few big trips to S America and they’ve been fantastic both times. Great advice with local knowledge to put the itinerary together and really good local guides and support. Both trips exceeded our expectations, I would recommend them.

This looks amazing!

Thanks @londonmum789 i am planning to get a quote from them too. Seems like everyone has had great experiences with their tour operators which is good to hear!

@FMH There are smaller places to stay in the area of the Falls if you want a more boutique experience.

We always have a great time with them, steppes, or Families Worldwide, but I think it’s hard to compare. Each has their own take on trips, service, drivers, vehicle. Audley and Steppes are definitely upper end, but having had trips that have gone wrong, or maniac drivers with other operators, I tend to stick with them. They also have access to stuff that we don’t. I like tried and tested if going once and travelling with our family.

@TizerorFizz yes that hotel was chosen specifically for after hours access, but we usually tend to ask for small boutique places, locally owned, and they often deliver.

Would any of you mind sharing roughly how much your trips with tour operators cost (I am aware that Brazil is an expensive destination)? Totally understand if you would rather not say! Thank you.

@FMH Our costs will be out of date! We used companion flights to and from Rio. We didn’t stay at top end places but flights inside Brazil put costs up. You would need to compare hotels and quality when looking at quotes too. Audley give a ball park figure for their trips so expect that. The Pantanal won’t be cheap.

Thanks @TizerorFizz - understood! Yes internal flights look very expensive!

It’s just what you have to do though. Plus you have transport to and from airports. You could cut down on guides in cities and DIY. The only other saving would be hotels but if you are only there once, you don’t want to feel let down by where you have stayed. You don’t need Belmond luxury really but you want charming, clean and helpful!

We are big spenders and it’s almost a 3 week trip, so you don’t need to spend this much but £8274 pp + flights to Brazil - that’s including everything except tip, some meals, but in the Pantanal it’s full board, but half and B&B in others.

When there are 4 of you, it bloody adds up! (Yes Belmond is a splurge, but we’ll never go back)

Thanks @Gallopingfanjo - gosh that is a lot! I am hoping we can do it for about £5k pp (excluding international flights) but maybe that is not realistic for 4 of us! I think Belmond would be a stretch sadly. I am considering the Sanma which is near the falls.

Similar to Galloping, was at least £8k per person, excluding international flights. That was Rio, Amazon, Pantanal. Due to the distances, we also had overnight hotel stays in Manaus (pre Amazon) and Cuiaba (pre Pantanal) and São Paulo (pre UK) which necessitated more airport/hotel transfers.
If you’re happy driving, many people hire a car in Cuiaba and drive the trans highway in/out of the Pantanal and arrange their own lodges. Much cheaper this way obviously. You can’t get lost, there’s only one road in and out (a very very long, dusty and dead-straight road).
Think of it as a bucket- list holiday if that makes the cost easier to bear! Well worth it, loved Brazil.

@FMH You will need to decide if you want the wildlife option. Yes, you could drive but it’s long and boring and you might not have enough time to see other things - how long have you got?

Audley use the Windsor California in Rio, we stayed at the Windsor Miramar. Same group of hotels. They use the Sanma - there are two sides to the falls. Both are worth seeing. They still use where we stayed in Salvador and we liked it! Praia etc we have talked about. They still use the same hotel that they recommended to us but back in the day we liked the laid back vibe of ours. The big expense will be the flights and wildlife lodges. I’ve seen Pantanal tours at £6000. So you need to set a budget and maybe be judicious about what means most to you. We did Minas Gerais too but no wildlife.

Thanks all. This will definitely be a bucket list holiday! We have 3 weeks. I think Pantanal will increase the costs so we will probably go to the Amazon instead which I think will still be amazing (though appreciate the lodges there are also quite pricey). Will obtain some quotes from the operators and see where we end up! I had hoped to book everything myself but due to all the internal flights and long road transfers I think booking through a tour operator will give me peace of mind. Not keen on driving ourselves either. Thanks everyone - really appreciate the time you have taken to respond.

@FMH try Stubborn Mule, I’ve always fancied their trips, they are designed with teens in mind and the woman who started it still travels with her teens.

Thanks @Gallopingfanjo - they look great!

@FMH We found driving easy in Minas Gerais. No issues at all except a slight flap over map reading - we took a “wrong.” turn but it was fantastic! Driving back to Rio airport was a nightmare! Utter speeding madness. I think you are wise avoiding driving but if you want Minas Gerais, it’s fine! Elsewhere - probably not great and not relaxing!

@Gallopingfanjo
We stayed there for 2 nights about 15 years ago. It was a great location. We arrived by plane from Rio about midday and were dropped off at the hotel. We walked up on the Brazilian side of the falls in the afternoon. The next day we had an excursion to the Argentina side. On the last day we had another walk up the Brazilian side before being picked up for our afternoon flight back to Rio. A great time. That was with Kuoni, but I don’t think they do touring holidays now.

Hi @TizerorFizz hope you are well. I am still planning our Brazil trip for August next year and was hoping that you might be able to give me some more info about Pousada Farol Das Tartarugas please? There is not much info on their website. Is there a restaurant onsite? And do they provide beach towels, loungers and parasols on the beach? Thank you!

For the Amazon, I am considering Juma Lodge or Anavilhanas Lodge - if anyone here has been to either of these I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

Hi. We went some time ago! We didn’t take beach towels. We definitely got an umbrella. No restaurant - unless it’s changed but easy walk into town. It’s quite a pared back place but great for winding down. The beach front rooms are lovely but few of them. There’s plenty to choose from along that stretch of beach. There was a breakfast room. Are there reviews that are up to date on the booking sites? The bigger resorts will have more.

Thank you! There are some reviews on TripAdvisor but not too detailed. I am looking also at Tivoli but that is a big resort type hotel and I think I would prefer something smaller.

Audley use Tivoli which I’m sure is lovely. These are photos from
booking.com. There are beach front and rooms around the pool.