Family Holiday to Brazil: Rio, Iguacu and the Beaches of Buzios

After arriving early this morning, you will be privately transferred to your accommodation for the next four nights - an ideally located hotel with its 'feet' almost in the water. From the restaurant, the view of Rio Bay is spectacular. The spacious rooms are bright and tastefully decorated. The property has belonged to the same family for 40 years and the owners make every effort to meet their guests' wishes.

Three days here allows you time to sample the life of Rio and relax on the beaches of Ipanema. Your itinerary includes a visit to arty Santa Teresa, accompanied by one of its inhabitants who will guide you through its cobblestone alleyways, where time seems to have stopped in the mid-20th century. Also included in the itinerary is a half-day bike ride through the city with a private guide (bikes are picked up at and returned directly to the hotel - for your convenience) as well as a football session on the beaches of Ipanema, with a Brazilian instructor (and improvised teammates), and private guide.

While exploring the city, visit the Museu de Arte Moderna, built in 1960 by Alfonso Eduardo Reidy, for its perfect architecture, chill on Ipanema beach or observe trends in contemporary art at the Anita Schwartz Gallery. For even more culture, explore the Maracana Stadium and the huge concrete cone of Sao Sebastiao Cathedral, indulge in churrasco (grilled meat) and feijoada (bean stew) or shop in the bohemian district of Lapa: Portuguese houses in washed colours have been reinvented as second-hand clothes shops, vintage shops and antique galleries full of lovely mid-century Brazilian furniture. Once your legs are weary, sip on Amazonian fruit juice in the cool of a courtyard in Leblon, after an afternoon of shopping.

You will be privately transferred to the airport for a return flight to Rio, before being privately transferred to the beautiful seaside resort of Buzios, 124 miles to the east in the state of Rio. For the next four nights you will be staying in a beautiful white house with blue shutters and glazed painted tile facades in the historic centre of Buzios, a stone's throw from the church of Sant'Ana and the beach. It looks a bit like Greece or Portugal but in the Tropics: Brazil, with a Mediterranean twist. In the spacious rooms, expect vintage furniture and the most comfortable bedding, while in the garden there are two pools and lush vegetation.