Women's Small Group Journey · April 2027

Brazil,
With a Brazilian.

Eight days through Rio de Janeiro and Ilha Grande — curated by a native Carioca who was born and raised into its rhythm, its flavors, and its soul.

📅 April 14–21, 2027 👥 6–8 women 🌟 8 days · 7 nights 📍 Rio de Janeiro + Ilha Grande

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No payment required to express interest · Michele personally reviews every application

Why This Trip Is Different

You Could See Rio on Your Own.
This Is Something Else.

I'm Brazilian — Carioca, actually, which means born and raised right here in Rio. That's not a detail on a brochure. It's the whole reason this trip feels different. Every stop, every table, every quiet moment comes from a lifetime of actually living here — not research, not a guidebook, not a curated itinerary handed to me by a travel company.

🏠

Real Local Access

The botecos, the samba circles, the family-run kitchens — places that never made it into a guidebook because they were never meant for tourists.

👭

Intimate Small Group

Just 6–8 travelers. Small enough to feel personal, large enough to share the magic with women who love what you love.

🇧🇷

Your Host, Always Present

I travel with you the entire time — not as a tour guide who disappears after the landmark, but as your Brazilian friend who knows every corner of this city.

✦ This trip is a women-only experience. Eight days of real connection, shared discovery, and the particular joy of exploring one of the world's most vibrant cities in the company of like-minded women — with a native Carioca leading the way, handling every detail, and making sure you feel safe, seen, and completely at home.

Trip Details

Everything You Need to Know Before You Say Yes

✅ What's Included

✓Double occupancy in 4-star hotel in Rio (Windsor or similar)
✓B&B pousada accommodation on Ilha Grande
✓Michele as your personal host throughout the entire trip
✓Tickets to all listed trip activities
✓All city and inter-city transfers
✓7 breakfasts and 2 dinners (welcome + farewell)
✓Ferry transfers to and from Ilha Grande
✓Ilha Grande boat tour

❌ Not Included

✗International flights to/from Rio de Janeiro
✗Food and alcohol (except included meals)
✗Brazilian e-Visa (required for US citizens)
✗Travel insurance (highly recommended)
✗Airport transfers (except as noted in itinerary)
✗Tips & gratuity
✗Single room supplement (available on request)

Investment per person

$4,250

Double occupancy · 8 days · 7 nights · All inclusions above

🌟 Early Booking Special: Reserve before November 15, 2026 and pay just $3,899 — a saving of $351 per person.

Flexible payment options available at booking:
Reserve with 25% deposit ($975) · Pay in full · Or apply for a payment plan.
Your dream trip, your way.

The Full Journey

Eight Days in Rio de Janeiro & Ilha Grande

April 14–21, 2027 · Every detail considered · No moment wasted

Day

1

Welcome to Rio 🥂

Touch down, settle in, and let the city say hello. A few quiet hours to breathe in the ocean air before the group comes together for a welcome drink at 5pm — the first clink of glasses, the first round of names and stories. By 7pm you're at the table for a proper welcome dinner: a curated menu of starter, entrée, dessert, and a drink to match. The kind of meal that tells you exactly what kind of week this is going to be.

Day

2

Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf ⛰️

The postcards come to life. A private van takes you to Corcovado, where the train climbs through the Atlantic Rainforest and delivers you to the feet of Christ the Redeemer — with all of Rio spread out below. A leisurely Brazilian barbecue lunch follows, then the cable cars at Sugarloaf lift you high above Guanabara Bay for a view you'll be describing for years. The evening is yours — and if music has been calling, tonight might just be the night.

Day

3

Santa Teresa & Lapa 🎨

From panoramic views into cobblestones. You'll start at the Escadaria Selarón — Rio's wildly colorful tiled staircase in the heart of bohemian Lapa. From there, the historic Santa Teresa tram carries you up into the hills, past art studios and colonial mansions, all the way to lunch at Bar do Mineiro — a beloved neighborhood institution serving Brazilian comfort food in a room full of decades of good conversation. The evening is free to explore Rio's music scene at your own pace, but never alone.

Day

4

Downtown Rio & Cultural Heritage 🏛️

Inside Cidade do Samba, the working warehouses where Rio's samba schools build the floats and costumes for Carnival — you'll see the spectacle up close. Lunch is at Lília, a beloved contemporary bistro where the city's food scene shows off. Then the afternoon turns into a treasure hunt: the Feira do Lavradio antiques market, followed by a stroll down Rua do Senado — named one of the coolest streets in the world by Time Out. The evening is open for one more taste of Rio nightlife.

Day

5

The Girl from Ipanema Coastline 🌊

A day to slow down and let Rio's coastline do the work. A morning walk along the famous Copacabana sidewalk, then a scenic climb to Leme Fort for one of the best coastal views in the city. The afternoon is yours — toes in the sand, the open-air Ipanema market for gifts, or simply watching the world go by. As the sun dips, the group gathers at a rooftop lounge for sunset cocktails and a view that turns the whole sky gold and pink. Dinner tonight is yours to choose — Michele has an upscale spot in mind if you want it.

Day

6

Off to Ilha Grande — The Emerald Coast 🌿

Rio hands you off to paradise. After breakfast and checkout, your van follows the coastline south to Conceição de Jacareí (about 3 hours), where a short ferry crossing delivers you to Vila do Abraão — a car-free village where the pace of life changes the moment you step off the boat. Porters carry your luggage. All you do is settle in to your beachside pousada and breathe. The afternoon belongs to Júlia Beach — warm water, soft white sand, no agenda whatsoever.

Day

7

Ilha Grande — Island Time 🚤

The island shows off. A boat takes you around part of Ilha Grande's coastline, past hidden coves and beaches only reachable by water — the scenery that made this place a well-kept secret for so long. No schedule to chase, no itinerary to rush. Just open water, island air, and the luxury of time. As evening falls, Lua e Mar is the suggestion — a lovely spot for a plate of moqueca and one last island sunset before the trip turns toward home.

Day

8

Farewell — Full Hearts, Sunlit Skin ✈️

The last morning is unhurried by design. After breakfast and checkout, porters handle the bags while you take in the island a little longer. The ferry brings you back to the mainland, and your van carries the group north toward Rio — with one final treat along the way: a farewell lunch at Tô na Mata in Vargem Grande, a beautiful buffet with live music and space to relax before your flight. A smooth, comfortable transfer to the airport. Full hearts, sun-kissed skin, and a week of Brazil you'll be talking about for a long time.

✦ The exact sequence of some activities may shift slightly depending on the group's energy, the season, and the beautiful unpredictability of Rio. What stays constant: the quality, the care, and Michele — present the entire way.

"Michele is Rio born and raised and brings an authentic perspective to create a vacation that is full of culture, music and amazing food!"

— Kari D., San Diego, California

Michele and Kari together at Ilha Grande beach

"Before our trip, my biggest concern was the language barrier. Portuguese was completely new to us, and we knew that outside of hotels, navigating vendors, small restaurants, and taxis on our own would be genuinely challenging. Michele was there every step of the way — and I can honestly say there were countless moments where having her made all the difference between a frustrating situation and a perfect memory.

Any tourist with a smartphone can find Cristo Redentor and Sugarloaf Mountain. But Michele took us to Pedra do Sal for live music — the actual birthplace of samba. She brought us to Rua do Senado on a Saturday morning for one of the most vibrant street market experiences of my life, and made sure we had feijoada there the traditional way — because Michele knows that this national dish is a Saturday ritual, not just a menu item. That context is everything.

The moment I will never forget: she took us to Samba do Trabalhador at Renascença Club on a Monday night. We sat in a drum circle led by Marcelinho Moreira — lead singer of Canto do Batuqueiro and a friend of Michele's who she personally introduced us to. We were surrounded by local families, local merchants, local music. It was pure Rio. I am absolutely certain we would never have found that experience without her.

And then there was the boat. On our way to lunch at Ocyá — a stunning restaurant on Ilha Primeira in Barra da Tijuca that you can only reach by water — Michele quietly asked the boat driver to take a small detour through the mangrove. None of us expected it. We glided through this wild, green waterway right in the middle of the city, spotting wildlife, completely speechless. That's Michele. She doesn't just plan a trip. She creates moments you didn't even know to ask for."

— Kari D., San Diego, California, USA · Traveled February–March 2026 with her husband and friends

Ready? Reserve Your Spot

"My biggest question before the trip wasn't about safety or language — it was about depth. I didn't want to skim the surface of Rio. I wanted to actually experience it.

Michele's guide took us to Baródromo — a samba bar decorated with real Carnival costumes that have crossed the Sambadrome — where the music was infectious and the energy was electric. And then to Rua do Senado on a Saturday, where we found ourselves in the middle of one of the most authentic street samba circles in the city. I don't speak a word of Portuguese, but I made genuine friends at both places. That's what the right local knowledge does — it removes the invisible walls.

I also booked a private consultation call with Michele, which is where she discovered my passion for landscaping and pointed me toward Sítio Roberto Burle Marx — one of the most breathtaking landscape gardens in Brazil, and something I would never have connected to my own interests without that conversation. That's the difference between a guidebook and a real local friend who actually listens.

We spent 99% of our trip enjoying Rio. Not planning it, not figuring it out — just living it. We've already started talking about going back."

— Jonathan D., Miami, USA · Traveled April 2026 as a couple · Self-described foodie

Michele on a bike ride along Arpoador and Ipanema beach

Join Our Group Travel

Common Questions

Everything You Want to Know

Yes — US citizens are required to obtain a Brazilian visa for tourism. The easiest option is a Brazilian e-Visa, which you can apply for entirely online at brazil.vfsevisa.com. Once approved, you'll receive your e-Visa electronically. I'll send you all the details and timeline guidance after you reserve your spot so nothing gets missed.

The Windsor Hotel is a benchmark for the quality and comfort you can expect — a 4-star property in a great Rio location. Occasionally accommodations are adjusted due to seasonal availability or group size, but rest assured the standard will always match what's described. I personally vet every property before recommending it.

Brazil doesn't require any specific vaccines for Rio de Janeiro, but it's always best to check with your healthcare provider or a travel medicine clinic before your trip. The CDC website (cdc.gov/travel) has destination-specific guidance that's worth reviewing.

Absolutely — please let me know your dietary needs when you fill out the reservation form, and I'll do everything I can to accommodate them. Rio's food scene is naturally rich in fresh fish, vegetables, and diverse options. The earlier I know, the better I can prepare. Once we're in Rio, I'll personally make sure you eat well and safely throughout the trip.

Travel insurance is not mandatory but it is strongly recommended — especially for an international trip of this length. It protects you against unexpected cancellations, medical situations, and lost luggage. I'm happy to suggest some options once you've reserved your spot.

Spot Pending (group not yet confirmed): 100% refundable — cancel any time for a full refund.

Spot Confirmed, 91+ days before departure: All payments refunded minus a $200 cancellation fee per traveler.

Spot Confirmed, 90 days or fewer before departure: Non-refundable — by this point your experience is already in motion with local partners and vendors. This is why travel insurance is strongly recommended.

I'd love to hear from you! Email me at info@travelguidebrazil.com or send a WhatsApp message to (239) 487-4450. I typically respond within 24 hours, but usually much sooner.

Ready To Say YES To Rio?

Reserve Your Spot - No Payment Required Today

Fill in the form below and Michele will personally reach out within 24 hours to confirm your spot and walk you through next steps. This is a small, curated group — every traveler is personally welcomed.

More of Brazil is Coming

This is only the beginning — future trips will explore Rio in different seasons, and eventually, other corners of Brazil. If you'd like to hear first when a new group opens, join our waitlist and I'll keep you posted.

Brazil,With a Brazilian.

You Could See Rio on Your Own.This Is Something Else.