Rio, one of the worlds’ most famous cities, and with good reason. No visit to Rio is complete without a trip to the world famous statue of Jesus Christ on the Corcovado mountain, which can be viewed from almost anywhere in the city.

Standing 100 feet high on the mountain, the statue commands the best view in town. We advise getting there early in order to beat not only the crowds but also the haze, which covers the city about mid-morning.

Keep an afternoon free to spend at the golden beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, sunbathing and watching the locals in their element. Visit the many market stalls along the waterfront areas at both beaches. From the beach, head up to Sugarloaf mountain to enjoy a fantastic sunset and a few drinks. Another recommendation is to take a Favela Tour to some of the poorer districts of Rio. It is a very unique and interesting insight into how the local people live.

PLEASE CONSULT TRAVEL AMAZING SOUTH AMERICA IF YOU WISH TO BOOK ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Airport transfers Rio de Janeiro airport - Florida Hotel (or vice versa)
• 1/2 day Sugarloaf Mountain trip
• 1/2 day Corcovado and Christ Statue trip
• 1/2 day Favela tour
• 3 day Buzios tropical beach extension  

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment and repatriation. It is also very important that your insurance policy is relevant to our style of travel.

No client will be allowed on tours without suitable insurance. If you have already arranged insurance elsewhere, please be aware that many of the optional activities such as bungy jumping or water rafting may not be covered on your policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance.

At the start of your tour you will be asked to present your original policy document and complete an insurance information form. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original.

Please note: you will not be permitted to join a Tour without travel insurance.

It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your South America trip. Country entry regulations change daily. Please consult your relevant embassy for all details such as opening hours or costs.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS BEFORE JOINING A TOUR.

Please note that clients travelling on SA6 Buenos Aires to Rio tours should be aware that Brazilian visas (if required) were taking 3-4 working days to issue in 2005. We strongly advise that you arrive into Buenos Aires at least 4 working days before your trip starts in order to ensure that you have sufficient time to obtain your Brazilian visa.

We for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

We suggest passengers budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Take your money is US dollars only. This the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America.

Traveller’s cheques should be AMERICAN EXPRESS. American Express is the most widely accepted. Cash is far easier to exchange than Travellers Cheques, but also more risky as once lost, is irreplaceable.

However, we do recommend that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20). In many countries, you may exchange US Dollars traveller’s cheques for US cash, or retrieve US dollars cash from ATMs (with a credit card), usually for a small commission but please do not rely solely on this option.

Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

How much should I take?

·         The best rule for packing is to limit your self to a weight limit of 15 KGs.  A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles. Please note that we do not recommend that passengers bring suitcases.

·         A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

·         We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

All types of camera film are readily available in Latin America; however, it is often cheaper to purchase it in your country of origin or through duty free.

As a guideline, most people use approximately one to two rolls of 36 per week. Fast film (200-400 ASA) may be useful at times and black & white film is nice to use for portraits of local people. A zoom lens is also useful.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Most Latin American countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated. It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.