This tour starts in Rio de Janeiro during Rio Carnival when the city is absolutely effervescent and the Carnival atmosphere is electric! 

Today your guide will meet you at our 4 star hotel near Copacabana Beach and after you have checked in you will be invited to attend a group evening meal at a traditional Rodizio restaurant where meat lovers can sample many of the delicious Brazilian cuts on offer and vegetarians can indulge in a mouth-watering buffet. This is a great introduction to Rio and a good way to meet your fellow group members.

After dinner you will be invited out for drinks giving you the chance to try a few Brazilian favourites such as Caipirinha and Caipirosca made from local Cachaça (sugarcane) spirit.

After breakfast today we will take a private minibus tour of Rio’s highlights and our first stop will be at the statue of Christ the Redeemer, an iconic landmark standing at 30 metres high with unparalleled views over what is known locally as the Marvellous City.

Our tour will continue by visiting the Estadio do Maracana, the iconic 103,000 seat stadium used for many football World Cup matches and the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

At Sugarloaf Mountain we will take a cable car up to the top of this steep-sided granite outcrop for spectacular views over the city and Guanabara Bay.

We end the day in the Lapa neighbourhood where you will get to see the famous Escadaria Selaron, a colourful tiled stairway created by a Chilean artist as a tribute to the Brazilian people.

Nearby we find the Lapa Arches, a 19th century aqueduct and typical example of colonial architecture and engineering.

This evening is free for you to enjoy the city at your leisure.

Today we will board our private boat and take a cruise around Guanabara Bay which has over 130 islands dotted around the bay and beautiful views of Rio. 

This evening we will join a Bloco (block party) where you will get to be part of a real Brazilian street carnival. Rather than just being a spectator you will get to dance, eat and drink with the locals in their neighbourhood and experience a genuine party atmosphere like nowhere else on earth!

Today you have the morning and part of the afternoon free to enjoy Copacabana beach or just relax at the hotel swimming pool. If you have not yet got your Carnival outfit this is also a good time to go shopping.

In the afternoon you have the option to take a 1 hour Samba lesson to learn a few basic dance moves and get in tune with Brazil’s most popular rhythms that will stand you in good stead with the locals tonight.

This evening we get dressed up and head to the Sambadrome where you will get to witness the official world-famous Rio Carnival. From our place in the stands you will get to see multiple Samba Schools put on dazzling performances as they compete to be crowned as Rio’s best Samba School. This is a night of fun that usually continues into the early hours of the following morning!

After a night at the Sambadrome we know that most people want to relax today, so we have left this last day free for you to enjoy the sun, sea and swimming pool.

This evening you will be invited out for a farewell meal at a local restaurant to say goodbye to your fellow tour members and guide.

After a hearty final breakfast this tour ends today in Rio de Janeiro. Checkout from the hotel is at 11H00 so you can make your onward travel arrangements accordingly.

If you would like to extend your tour and join us prior to this Rio Carnival package we have an overland truck tour that travels through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay before reaching Rio de Janeiro so you can add on any of these places should you wish to.

If you would like to extend your tour and join us after this Rio Carnival package ends our overland truck continues through northern Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana Venezuela and Colombia so you can add on any of these places should you wish to.

We are happy to create a bespoke itinerary and price for you so please feel free to contact us to discuss all options.

HOW TO BOOK

To make a booking please fill in our online booking form and then pay the full Tour Payment by Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Revolut, Wise or Paypal.

Once we receive your online booking form and full Tour Payment we will confirm your booking by email and send you all relevant information necessary for your tour preparations.

TOUR PAYMENT

The payment of £1397 is the full tour payment per person based on 2 people sharing a room. You can request two single beds or 1 double bed. You can request who you would like to share a room with but if you don’t have a partner or friend with you we will do our best to put you with a suitable companion who has also booked individually.

The payment of £1883 is the full tour payment per person which includes a private room.

In order to reserve a place on this tour you must pay the full tour payment at the time of booking. All payments are payable in the UK in GBP (£ Sterling). 

The Tour Payment can be paid by Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Revolut, Wise or Paypal.

Credit and Debit Card Payments (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

You can use the following link to pay by credit or debit card:

https://checkout.revolut.com/pay/61577bc6-af4e-4cd0-8fc4-c44a77e128fa

Or feel free to call us on +44 7712 225 438 in order to make a credit or debit card payment over the phone.

Bank Details for Direct Transfers (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Bank: HSBC

Account name: Madventure Ltd.

Sort code: 400810

Account number: 91618415

IBAN : GB14HBUK40081091618415

Swift/Bank BIC: HBUKGB4B

Branch BIC: HBUKGB4116A

Bank address: HSBC Bank, 6 High Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 5AZ, United Kingdom

Revolut (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Revolut offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Revolut account? Create one now – www.revolut.com 

Wise (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Wise offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Wise account? Create one now – www.wise.com

Paypal (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Paypal account name: info@madventure.co.uk

Don’t have a Paypal account? Create one now – www.paypal.com

INCLUDED

Services of your Madventure tour leader
4 star hotel accommodation
Transportation in private minibus, taxis and boats
5 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 evening meals
Christ the Redeemer statue
Maracana Stadium
Sugarloaf Mountain
Escadaria Selaron
Lapa Arches
Guanabara Bay boat tour
Bloco party
Samba class
Sambadrome ticket

NOT INCLUDED

Flights
Airport transfers
Personal travel insurance
Personal spending money ($50 – $100 per day recommended)
Visas
4 lunches and 3 evening meals
Entrance fees to optional sites
Any optional activities and excursions
Tips (USD $50 for your guide is recommended)

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Madventure so please use the list below as an approximate guide only. Prices are shown in USD.

Helicopter flight over Rio $300 for 2 people

Botanical Gardens $15

We will be staying at a 4 star hotel on or near Copacabana Beach during this tour. Our usual hotel is the Grand Mercure but this could change depending on the group size and availability.

The payment of £1397 is the full tour payment per person based on 2 people sharing a room. You can request two single beds or 1 double bed. You can request who you would like to share a room with but if you don’t have a partner or friend with you we will do our best to put you with a suitable companion who has also booked individually.

The payment of £1883 is the full tour payment per person which includes a private room.

We will be travelling by private minibus, taxis and boats during this tour. The tour will also involve short walks to and from the main sites.

5 breakfasts will be provided during this tour at the hotel restaurant.

1 lunch will be provided during this tour, usually on the boat trip around Guanabara Bay.

2 evening meals are provided during this tour, usually the group Rodizio dinner on day 1 and a group farewell dinner on day 5.

You will have a crew of 1 Madventure tour leader on this group tour. Our well trained tour leaders are passionate about travel and will ensure your journey is both safe and enjoyable.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. 

Your tour leader will have a good general knowledge of Rio de Janeiro and will arrange local guides (if required) to give you the history of any important sites that we visit as sometimes historic sites require the specialist knowledge of a local guide.

On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Tipping your tour leader at the end of the tour is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. We recommend you tip your tour leader a minimum of $50 at the end of this tour, thank you.

1. Your contract is with Madventure Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 6809461) whose office is at 10 Ablett Close, Oxford, OX4 1XH, United Kingdom.

2. A deposit of £300 is payable at the time of booking. The deposit is non-refundable unless Madventure is unable to offer you a place or you cancel within 14 days of the initial booking date. Madventure guarantees not to increase the tour price once the deposit has been received.

3. A booking is made in the name of the client and is not transferable to another person. You are only permitted to transfer your deposit once to a future tour, after that a further £300 non-refundable deposit will be required to book another tour. Please note that you will be affected if you have transferred and there is a price increase as you will have to pay the current tour price at the time that the tour balance payment is due.

4. Eight months prior to departure a further payment must be received to cover 50% of the total tour price in order to secure your booking. This payment is non-refundable unless we can not provide the tour. The final 50% balance of your tour payment must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the tour start date at which time the tour will be confirmed to run. Once the tour is confirmed to run you will not receive any refunds of any monies paid. If the full payment is not received 4 months prior to departure Madventure may deem the booking cancelled and all monies paid will be forfeited. If you book within the 4 to 8 month period prior to departure a non-refundable 50% deposit of the total tour price should be paid upon booking. If you book within the 4 month period prior to departure the full non-refundable 100% tour payment must be paid upon booking.

5. Cancellation of a booking must be notified in writing and when received by Madventure any monies paid will be forfeited. You acknowledge that payment for the tour is an intrinsic part of the tour’s income and contributes towards the overall costs of equipment, vehicle running costs, staff administration, travel permits, etc. and Madventure will have incurred a large part of its costs before the actual departure date. You will not receive a refund of any amount after the tour has been confirmed to run (which will usually happen no later than 4 months prior to the tour departing). We therefore recommend you take out your travel insurance from the date you make your final tour balance payment, 4 months prior to departure, so you are insured if you have to withdraw off the tour. If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

6. It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your tour, but we do plan all tours many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your tour. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular tour is not reached, we may have to cancel it. However, we will not cancel your tour less than 4 months before your departure date (except for reasons of Force Majeure). If we are unable to provide the tour for any reason you can either have a full refund of all monies paid within 14 working days of the tour being cancelled or accept an offer of an alternative tour of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). In the event of the tour being cancelled prior to departure, all monies paid by you towards the tour cost only will be refunded. In the event of a cancellation Madventure is not responsible for reimbursing equipment, flights, visa costs, vaccinations, medication, etc. purchased by yourself so we therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance to ensure these types of expenses are covered under the terms of your insurance policy as you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

7. In the unlikely event of a Force Majeure situation that forces us to cancel the tour within 4 months of the planned departure date because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, you can either have a full refund of all monies paid within 14 working days of the tour being cancelled or accept an offer of an alternative tour of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). In the unlikely event of a Force Majeure situation that forces us to cancel or change the tour while it is underway because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control we will not refund you or pay you compensation, so we therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for the tour cancellation while underway is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company. Force Majeure situations can include, for example, war, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, epidemics, pandemics, health risks, closed or congested airports, ports or stations, poor local infrastructure, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation of transport by the transport supplier such as flights by airlines or main charterer, the alteration of transport or transport types, adverse weather conditions (actual or threatened), avalanche and technical failure with transport, Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice changing and advising against travel to the tour destination.

8. If you choose to leave the tour for any reason on your own accord once the tour is underway you will not receive any compensation from Madventure including any refunds of the tour payment and/or the local payment. We therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for your departure is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

9. We reserve the right at any time prior to the departure date, without prior consultation with yourself, to merge your tour with one or more other tours travelling at the same time. This will not constitute a major change and would usually just mean swapping vehicles.

10. The tour payment and local payment cover transport, accommodation, some related ferry and train tickets, meals and national park entry fees as specified on the website, repair of our expedition vehicle as well as repair and replacement of camping equipment including stools, cooking equipment & utensils.

11. The tour leader has sole responsibility for the local payment. Any local payment monies or stock remaining at the tour end are non-refundable.

12. You undertake to comply with the laws and regulations, whether in respect of health, immigration, currency exchange control, dress or any other matter of all the countries visited during the tour.

13. You undertake to obtain a valid passport and have enough blank pages in the passport for the tour and your specific passport and visa requirements. Immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. We do not accept any responsibility and shall not be liable if you cannot travel or cannot participate in any part of the tour because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements. You are responsible for obtaining and having available the necessary documents (including but not limited to full, current passport with enough blank pages to complete the trip and valid for at least 9 months from the last day of the tour and visas for all periods, countries and territories within the tour) enabling you to participate in the tour and shall comply with all local legislation and regulations of the countries in which the tour takes place (including immigration requirements, customs regulations and currency exchange). You shall indemnify us against any loss or expense that we may incur or suffer as a result of breach of this condition by you. We cannot guarantee visa prices and availability of visas. Ultimately visas are your own responsibility to obtain.

14. Madventure reserves the right to deviate from the advertised tour route if in their reasonable opinion such deviation is necessary for the safety or well-being of any or any one of the members of the tour or for the satisfactory progress of the tour. In the event of it becoming necessary to fly over a country or countries in order to satisfactorily and safely continue the tour, all costs of your flights will be borne by yourself.

15. Madventure accepts no responsibility for matters arising out of political disputes, border closures, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters, climate, armed robbery, terrorism, etc. Should it become necessary to abandon a tour because of such an event Madventure will be entitled to retain all monies paid. We therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

16. You accept that owing to the nature of countries visited, all tours involve an element of personal risk and are of a potentially hazardous and unpredictable nature. In many countries we visit, the basic infrastructure, such as roads, is very poor and therefore less safe than that familiar to people from many western countries. In particular, lack of road markings or warning signs, unmarked speed bumps, seasonal flooding of roads and bridges, local vehicles which are poorly maintained and driven and which are hazardous to other road users etc. are factors beyond the control of Madventure. You accept that in some areas we drive off-road and that this involves personal risk when the expedition vehicle can be negotiating rough terrain. Madventure owns and operates many of its own expedition vehicles and employs its own crew. Where stated, locally arranged transport and crew, including trains, ferries, buses or coaches are used. Where Madventure’s own vehicles and/or crew are not used for the above services, you agree that the obligation of Madventure to yourself is to select normally competent, independent subcontractors to provide the necessary services related to the tour and to exercise reasonable care in selecting such suppliers to provide these. You also accept that you undertake this tour at your own risk and your participation is your own decision and does not form any part of your contract with Madventure. Madventure does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.

17. You accept that local emergency facilities are usually of a very limited nature. Hospitals outside of large cities often have no accident and emergency facilities and emergency transport facilities can be non-existent.

18. If you have a problem during your trip please inform the tour leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally please follow this up by emailing or writing to our office giving all other relevant information and, where possible, evidence. We must receive any such complaint no later than 28 days from the date of completion of your tour in order to take appropriate action. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you.

19. We do not accept any liability or responsibility for any personal possessions (including but not limited to cameras, jewellery, valuables and money) which is carried on or in our vehicles, carried on public transport or transport supplied by independent subcontractors, left in accommodation provided by us or our suppliers during a trip or left in our care during a tour. Such items are carried and/or left at your own risk.

20. Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on our tour are not part of your tour arrangements provided by us. For any excursion or other tour that you book your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator. You accept that the prices quoted for optional activities are approximate as local prices can and do change. Any of the optional activities listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Madventure. You also accept that you undertake any activity at your own risk and your participation is your own decision and does not form any part of your contract with Madventure. Madventure does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.

21. Whilst a tour is in progress you will at all times be expected to act in accordance with all reasonable instructions from us and/or the tour leader. We may exclude you from the tour or any part thereof at any time (including during the tour itself) if we are of the opinion that you are likely to prejudice the good order, discipline or safety of the tour, including as a result of failing to comply with the tour leader’s instructions, breaking any law or regulation of any country where the tour takes place or failing to adhere to the tour code of conduct, provided that we exercise our discretion reasonably in this regard. In such an event you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result of our decision to exclude you from the tour, and Madventure shall cease to have any responsibility to/for you. No refund will be given for any unused services.

22. By completing the booking form you confirm that you appreciate the risks involved in the tour and that you do not suffer (or have ever suffered) from any pre-existing medical condition that may prevent you from actively participating in the tour other than those that have been declared to us. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are medically fit enough to undertake the tour and to ensure that you have received the necessary vaccinations and medications (and taken them as prescribed by your doctor) relevant to the destination country. Unless informed otherwise in writing we will assume that you are in good health and are not aware of any reason why you may be unsuitable to take part in the tour. We recommend that you consult your doctor before making a booking to ensure that you are medically fit and are fully aware regarding the immunizations and medical issues related to your destination countries. If you have any pre-existing medical condition, illness or disability, are undergoing medical treatment or, since entering into the contract, develop any medical condition, illness or disability or undergo any medical treatment; you will give us full particulars at the earliest opportunity and at the latest sixty (60) days before the departure date. If it is later discovered that a pre-existing condition was not declared within the specified time, and such condition would, if we had knowledge of it, have led to our refusal to accept or to cancel your booking, we reserve the right to withdraw you from the trip without any refund or recompense. In such an event, you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result. In the event of you being withdrawn from a tour, no refunds will be given and we will not be responsible for (and you agree to indemnify us against) any costs, claims, losses and expenses arising including costs of repatriation, eg. flights and legal expenses. By agreeing to these conditions, you provide your consent to us and our insurers obtaining your medical records should we consider it necessary. You will be responsible for any charges for the provision of the information. We reserve the right to inspect your vaccination book at any time and to withdraw you from the tour in the event that you have not received and/or taken all the requisite inoculations and/or medication. If the information provided by you is incorrect and we discover that the correct information affects your suitability to take part in the tour, we may terminate the contract and withdraw you from the tour without refund or recompense, including during the trip. You agree and acknowledge that certain activities undertaken whilst you are on the tour may be inherently hazardous and have risks associated with them. You agree to abide by all instructions given to you whilst you are on the tour and you acknowledge that we cannot be held responsible for any injuries that may arise as a result of you failing to comply with such instructions.

23. You must be covered by personal travel insurance to undertake any Madventure tour. We recommend you take out a travel insurance policy that covers you fully against the cost of tour cancellation by you or by Force Majeure, medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue and above all covers you against the cost of air evacuation should sickness or injury necessitate such a course of action. You should also note that passenger liability insurance covering vehicles, particularly in third world countries, may be inadequate. It is therefore important that your travel insurance cover makes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. Please note however that we have no control over the availability or standard of medical and repatriation services and facilities in the areas we visit and these do not form any part of our contract with you. Please remember that many of the areas we visit are not as developed as the UK and the availability and standard of such services may well be lower. Please read your travel insurance policy details carefully and take them with you when you travel. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs. We do not check individual insurance policies for suitability.

24. It is understood that on the Madventure tours where we use our own expedition vehicles the sections of the tour that travel through Europe, USA, Canada and Mexico are provided to you free of charge. You will not have to pay any additional fee to travel through Europe, USA, Canada and Mexico with us but it is understood that we do not operate for hire and reward in these areas. We do this purely as a legality in order to operate our specialised overland vehicle in these areas legally.

25. Privacy & Data Protection – we shall ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect your personal data (as defined in the European GDPR act 2018 and the UK Data Protection Act 2018) and we do not store our customers financial details. When you make a booking, you do however consent to all the information you provide being passed on to our suppliers, agents, subcontractors, employees or volunteers whether based inside or outside of Europe for the purposes of us providing you with the tour.

26. By agreeing to these terms and conditions you consent (unless otherwise stated on your application form) to our staff taking photographs and or video footage of you during the tour and that these images may be used by us for publicity and training purposes including, but not limited to, brochures, websites, marketing material and in the media.

27. We shall be entitled to novate or assign the contract or any part of it to any third party. You shall not be entitled to assign the contract or any part of it. This contract is made on the terms of these conditions, which are governed by English law, and subject to the provisions of condition you agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. If any of these conditions is found by any court or other competent authority to be wholly or partly unfair or unenforceable the validity of the rest of the booking conditions and the rest of the condition in question shall not be affected and shall remain valid and enforceable to the extent permitted by law. A reference in these conditions to a statute, convention or regulation shall be as a reference to that statute convention or regulation as amended, re-enacted or extended at the relevant time. The headings in these conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation. Where the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular meaning shall include the plural meaning and vice versa and words denoting the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders. Where the context so admits, words denoting persons shall include natural persons, companies, corporations, firms, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, joint trips, trusts, voluntary associations and other incorporated and/or unincorporated bodies or other entities (in each case, whether or not having separate legal personality) and all such words shall be construed interchangeably in that manner.

28. The information given on the website, on social media, in newsletters, in the brochure and other literature supplied is given in good faith but no warranty is given that it is correct.

29. No servant, agent or authorised representative of Madventure has authority to commit Madventure to any liability whatsoever and Madventure will not be bound by any statement or representation unless it is in writing and signed by one of the directors.

30. ABTA – We are members of ABTA, membership no. Y6801. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com

31. Financial Protection – In accordance with the UK Package Travel & Linked Travel Regulations 2018, Directive (EU) 2015/2302 or the local applicable law in the country of residence of the passenger(s) booking with Madventure Ltd are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies received by us, including repatriation costs and arrangements, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Madventure Ltd.

The respective laws according to the country of residence of the passenger(s) usually only requires us to provide cover for Package & Linked Travel Arrangements, there is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips or single elements, and none is provided unless the local law requires such. If you have questions on this then please contact Madventure Ltd.

Madventure Ltd has taken out an insurance provided by International Passenger Protection Ltd (IPP) with Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE (LMIE) trading as Liberty Specialty Markets, a member of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. LMIE’s registered office: 5-7 rue Leon Laval, L-3372, Leudelange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Registered Number B232280 (Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés). LMIE is a European public limited liability company and is supervised by the Commissariat aux Assurances and licensed by the Luxembourg Minister of Finance as an insurance and reinsurance company. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to Madventure Ltd.

In the event of our insolvency please make contact as soon as practically possible giving full details of what has happened quoting the name of your Travel Operator:

For UK & Worldwide excluding EU Passengers

IPP Claims at Sedgwick

Telephone: +44 (0) 345 266 1872

Email: Insolvency-claims@ipplondon.co.uk

or online at http://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

For EU Passengers

IPP Claims at Sedgwick

Telephone: +31 103120666

Email: ippclaims@nl.sedgwick.com

or online at https://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

PERSONAL BUDGET

We recommend a budget of $50 – $100 per person per day to live comfortably during this tour. This budget should cover day to day things such as the meals that are not included, snacks, soft drinks, the odd few beers, any optional activities, etc.

Citizens of the USA, Canada and Australia should budget approximately $80 for their Brazil visa.

Souvenirs are something that can be very cheap or very expensive so if you are going to be buying souvenirs you should budget for it.

Please also have a look at our Optional Excursions list as you may want to budget for a few of those activities too.

TRAVEL MONEY

We recommend you bring all of your money on your credit or debit card as nearly everywhere in Brazil accepts card payments.

ATM’s are widely available for you to draw local currency using your credit or debit card should you need cash.

Below is general information and recommendations regarding visas and passports. Visas are ultimately your own responsibility to obtain and visa requirements may vary according to your nationality and place of application, so use the information below as a guide only. Madventure is in no way responsible for obtaining your visas or passports.

Citizens of the USA, Canada and Australia will need to obtain a visa for Brazil prior to arrival. The Brazil visa application process is online and costs approximately $80.

Most other nationalities including citizens of the UK and EU can enter Brazil visa free.

If you are a citizen of another country and are unsure if you need any visas please check with your nearest Brazilian consulate.

Please ensure you have 1 blank page in your passport in order to accommodate the visa and/or immigration stamps, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the tour end date.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccination requirements are constantly changing so we recommend you seek the latest professional medical advice at least 8 weeks before departure to ensure you allow yourself enough time to obtain all necessary vaccinations. Nomad Travel’s website has up-to-date information on vaccinations, malaria and other general medical advice for Brazil and they also administer vaccinations at their travel clinics in various locations in the UK.

www.nomadtravel.co.uk

Alternatively speak with your local health professionals for current accurate information. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic and take a list of the countries you are visiting with the approximate dates when you will be there.

It is not necessary to be vaccinated against covid to join this tour but if you are vaccinated against covid please have a digital colour copy of your Covid 19 vaccination certificate with QR code (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop.

An up to date Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate should be brought with you if you plan to visit remote areas of Brazil before or after this tour, otherwise it is not necessary.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

You need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able in order to do the short walks to the sites we visit, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on this tour, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your tour leader knows how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

FIRST AID KIT

Your tour leader will carry a basic first aid kit for emergencies but it is recommended that you bring your own basic first aid kit for general use.

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.

You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first.

There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for people based in the UK seeking a comprehensive and reliable policy that includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, +44 20 7938 1734, http://www.campbellirvine.com/Madventure

Campbell Irvine are familiar with what we do so if you mention Madventure and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you.

For people based in North America a company named Allianz offers good cover, +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.com

If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and if possible make sure your policy includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation.

Suitcase/backpack/sports bag: Feel free to bring as much luggage as you like but as this tour is during summer you shouldn’t need to bring too much with you.

Day bag: A small day bag is recommended so that you can keep your basics with you while doing the day tours, boat trip, etc.

Kindle: Optional but great to keep all your travel guides and books in one place.

Ipad/Tablet: not a necessity but most places have WiFi available these days so having your own Ipad or Tablet will enable you to stay connected.

Smartphone:  It is highly recommended that you bring a smartphone with you as the majority of the tour communications are sent via WhatsApp. It is also very convenient for storing all your digital documents, emailing, taking and sharing photos, mapping and calling home. 

Camera: Completely up to you but most people bring one.

Toiletries: Available everywhere but start with some  toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo.

Sunblock: Minimum SPF 15 recommended.

Sunglasses: Polarised lenses offer great protection.

First aid kit: Only a basic one is recommended but should include plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage, pain relief tablets, scissors and safety pins.

Credit or debit card: nearly everywhere accepts payments by card in Brazil and ATM’s are widely available to draw local currency should you need it.

Passport: Please ensure you have 1 blank page in your passport in order to accommodate the visa and/or immigration stamps, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the tour end date.

Clothes & shoes: 

1 x flip flops

1 x walking shoes or trainers

2 x socks

5 x underwear

5 x t-shirts

1 x waterproof jacket or plastic poncho

2 x shorts

1 x trousers

1 x swimming trunks/bikini

1 x baseball cap

OVERVIEW

This Madventure group tour is for travellers seeking an adventurous yet comfortable vacation where your tour leader does all the planning to ensure you get to enjoy yourself as much as possible. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 20 travellers of all ages and nationalities. We use a private minibus, taxis and boats to get around and we stay in a 4 star hotel on or near Copacabana Beach to ensure your comfort at all times. This tour is meticulously planned to ensure you visit the highlights of Rio de Janeiro at a leisurely pace and enjoy the Carnival.

Our 5 night package includes visiting all the major attractions of Rio such as the statue of Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Maracana Stadium, Escadaria Selaron, Lapa Arches, Guanabara Bay boat trip, a Bloco party and of course the Sambadrome where you will get to see the Rio Carnival on full display!

Please note that numbers are limited on this package so book early to secure a place.

At Madventure we like to go through every aspect of the tour with you to ensure that you are as informed and prepared as possible. We believe in not only telling you about the highlights of the tour but also providing you with all the small details of what to expect as we know these are just as important. We want to explain the tour in as much detail as possible so that you are sure you are suited to one of our group tours. If after reading the information below you decide that this tour is not for you then, as long as it is within 14 days of your initial booking, you can cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

YOUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS

We have no age restrictions on our tours and if there is one thing we have come to realise, it’s the mental attitude that counts the most. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 20 people of all ages and nationalities so you can expect to share this experience with a wide variety of characters from all walks of life. 

WEATHER

Temperatures during carnival are warm with high humidity, so be prepared for the heat and you will enjoy this trip.

ALTITUDE

Brazil is at sea-level so altitude is not an issue.

HYGIENE

As wonderful as Brazil is, some places’ acceptable level of hygiene standards may be very different to ours, so be prepared to accept that things may not be as clean as they are back home.

You must maintain your own personal hygiene and ensure that you and your clothes are clean. If anyone smells bad or is noticeably unclean the tour leader will have a word with that person to ensure a decent level of personal hygiene is maintained by everyone on the tour.

SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

Your tour leader will arrange the sightseeing tours, boat tour, bloco party, Sambadrome tickets, etc. so there is no need for you to worry about booking any tickets. For some of the organised tours your tour leader may arrange a local guide (if required) to provide the history of the site. You are however free to go sightseeing on your own at your leisure if you prefer.

On this tour you are completely free to do as you choose and you can be as active or inactive as you like.

YOUR ATTITUDE

A friendly, easy-going attitude will help you enjoy this trip and ensure you are liked by your fellow travellers as well as the locals. The one thing that is extremely detrimental to any tour are people that constantly moan. It has nothing to do with age, gender or nationality, some people just like to find fault in everything and it’s always got to be someone’s fault. This type of constant negativity can be extremely detrimental within a group so it may sound a bit harsh but by weeding out any moaners early on we can have a chat with them to try and ensure your tour is as good as it can be. We don’t hide anything so people who travel with us usually know exactly what to expect on this tour which makes for an enjoyable group experience.

Please be aware that if any particular person is constantly causing the rest of the group (or the crew) grief due to their behaviour they will be warned and then asked to leave the tour if nothing improves and no refund will be given. This is obviously the most extreme case but we will not let one or two rude individuals spoil it for everybody else. This is a once in a lifetime experience so let’s all enjoy it!

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

During this tour things generally go to plan but if something unexpected like bad weather does occur we may choose to alter our itinerary slightly in order to maximise everyone’s enjoyment, so please understand that sometimes things happen that are simply out of our control and we may have to make alternative arrangements. Please be prepared to expect the unexpected and accept that things might go wrong from time to time. An easy-going approach will help the situation immensely. Moaning about every little thing that doesn’t go our way will not! When situations arise where we can’t please everybody we always aim to please the majority of the group, not the individual. 

TRAVEL TIMES & ITINERARIES

We have designed this tour so that we are not rushed and for you to have plenty of time to look around the sites that we visit.

We always strive to stick to our day to day itinerary but our itinerary can change if bad weather occurs or an area becomes off-limits for any reason, so in the unlikely event that we do experience any problems we will adjust our itinerary accordingly.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

Please be aware that drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are illegal in Brazil and they could enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession. NEVER carry illegal drugs on your person during this tour as you would not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group if you are caught in possession.

If you are caught in possession of illegal drugs on this tour you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given. Any such inconsideration can lead to the tour being cancelled and innocent people arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to.

Aggressive or abusive drunk behaviour will not be tolerated during this tour and if anyone is constantly abusing alcohol and causing trouble we will not hesitate to remove them from the tour and no refund will be given.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

You need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able in order to do the short walks to the sites we visit, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on this tour, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your tour leader knows how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

ACCOMMODATION

We will be staying at a 4 star hotel on or near Copacabana Beach during this tour. Our usual hotel is the Grand Mercure but this could change depending on the group size and availability.

The payment of £1397 is the full tour payment per person based on 2 people sharing a room. You can request two single beds or 1 double bed. You can request who you would like to share a room with but if you don’t have a partner or friend with you we will do our best to put you with a suitable companion who has also booked individually.

The payment of £1883 is the full tour payment per person which includes a private room.

TRANSPORT

We will be travelling by private minibus, taxis and boats during this tour. The tour will also involve short walks to and from the main sites.

FOOD

5 breakfasts will be provided during this tour at the hotel restaurant.

1 lunch will be provided during this tour, usually on the boat trip around Guanabara Bay.

2 evening meals are provided during this tour, usually the group Rodizio dinner on day 1 and a group farewell dinner on day 5.

CREW

You will have a crew of 1 Madventure tour leader on this group tour. Our well trained tour leaders are passionate about travel and will ensure your journey is both safe and enjoyable.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. 

Your tour leader will have a good general knowledge of Rio de Janeiro and will arrange local guides (if required) to give you the history of any important sites that we visit as sometimes historic sites require the specialist knowledge of a local guide.

On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Tipping your tour leader at the end of the tour is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. We recommend you tip your tour leader a minimum of $50 at the end of this tour, thank you.