The soul of Samba

On the first day, guests enjoy refreshments aboard their motorcoaches while touring the city’s famous Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches as well as Flamengo Park, Botafogo Harbour and principal downtown landmarks. The tour concludes in one of the city’s oldest districts, Lapa, where they celebrate the soul of the city: Samba! A children’s band and chorus welcome the guests as they arrive to the world famous samba club, Rio Scenarium. The ideal way to start the programme and enable participants to bond within a relaxed and entertaining format. Guests enjoy a three-course lunch of contemporary Brazilian cuisine while a samba quartet entertains them. Following lunch, choreographers emerge and invite guests to join them on the dance floor while percussionists invite others to take their place in the drum line.

Atop Sugar Loaf Mountain

The awe-inspiring vista from atop Sugar Loaf Mountain awaits the guests, within an environment that celebrates the natural beauty of Rio de Janeiro, and the music and imagery that it inspires. Guests are transported via cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, and caipirinhas are served. The hip sophistication of bossa nova fills the air, performed by a live quartet positioned between the cocktail reception and dining areas. Cinematic imagery projected onto perimeter screens “The Girl from Ipanema” to life. And live performances occur intermittently throughout dinner, including the acrobatic moves of capoeira and ornately costumed Carnival dancers.

Lights, camera, action

Within a succession of progressive environments that showcases Brazil’s contemporary visual arts as well as the world of network television, guests experience the ultimate VIP access! Art Centro is the focus as the tour begins, as guests are given a private escorted tour of current exhibitions at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil. Next stop is the cutting-edge gallery space, “A Gentil Carioca”, an experimental space run by three artists including the Brazilian art star Ernesto Neto. And following this encounter with the visual arts, they go behind the scenes at Brazil’s foremost television production facility, TV Globo, where lunch consists of their own reality-TV segment. Refreshments are served on board the motorcoach transfer to Globo Studios, as on-board screens provide intro to TV Globo celebrity chefs. Behind the scenes tour of Globo Studios followed by interactive cooking class and lunch.

Carioca chic

Hip destination to the world’s elite is the thematic for Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro. The itinerary begins at the world-famous Fasano Hotel and its watering hole of choice for such luminaries as Madonna, Beyonce, DiCaprio and Giselle. Cocktails are served in the renowned Fasano Hotel’s London-themed bar, Baretto-Londra. Following cocktails, they move uphill to the cobbled, winding streets of leafy Santa Teresa and the Hotel Santa Teresa for dinner, a former coffee plantation turned luxury retreat. Hors d’oeuvres and champagne splits are served during motorcoach transfer to Santa Teresa. An elegant dinner will be served at luxury enclave, Hotel Santa Teresa, with a panoramic view of the city. DJ will spin Carioca lounge vibe for guests throughout dinner.

Sport of kings

A short transfer takes the group to one of Rio’s most exclusive clubs and arguably one of the foremost racetracks in the world, The Rio Jockey Club. With Corcovado Mountain as backdrop, guests are greeted with champagne! Afterwards, enjoy a private lunch inside the Photochart restaurant situated inside the Jockey Club grounds with optimal viewing of parade of horses moving toward the starting gate.

Gala dinner

Set within the exquisite beauty of the recently restored Municipal Theater, guests can celebrate the rich cultural traditions of the past and the innovative creative voices of the present. Traditional percussion and winds pay tribute to Brazil’s African cultural influences throughout cocktail. Guests enjoy a sampling of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Dancers costumed in Bahian regional costume emerge and transition guests toward the theatre’s main stage for dinner. A nationally recognized samba orchestra performs during dinner, comprised of all-female musicians and vocalists. And throughout dinner, both traditional and contemporary dance performances entertain guests.

Sun & sizzle

No trip to Rio is complete without truly experiencing the world famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. The tour begins in charming Leblon and continues to Copacabana Beach where guests enjoy a beach volleyball match between celebrated local sports figures. Guests shall also stop at the Ipanema Hippie Market where they may find an eclectic selection of artwork and indigenous crafts. TLC’s suggestion: customized beach bags with towel, sunscreen and water.

Cruising the Guanabara Bay

Following the volleyball match, continue to Gloria Marina where guests embark a schooner for a spectacular cruise of Guanabara Bay. Sites include Rio’s skyline, Sugar Loaf, Corcovado Mountain and the neighboring city Niteroi across the Bay. This fantastic Guanabara Bay cruise includes on-board lunch and open bar with sweeping vista of the world-famous harbour.

And the magic bits…

TLC will give guests a customized pair of Havaianas upon arrival to hotel on the first night Guests will take home a CD compilation of the music they experience during the event