Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures
Samba & Sunshine: Rio De Janeiro Awaits
Rio De Janeiro April 2025
PAYMENT TERMS & CANCELLATION
TERMS & CONDITIONS
I agree to adhere to the following payment schedule. If the registration date for the trip falls after any of the payment deadlines, I will be charged for the deposit plus any outstanding payments at the time of registration.
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Deposit due at registration |
$500 |
|
Dec. 31st, 2024 |
$1000 |
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Jan 31st, 2025 |
$1000 |
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Feb 28th, 2025 |
Remaining Balance |
I understand I am required to pay a non-refundable deposit (“Deposit”) before Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner will review and confirm my booking request. The Deposit amount is specific to each trip, and is provided on the trip booking page. If for whatever reason Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner in its sole discretion decides not to approve my booking, my Deposit will be refunded in full.
I understand that all fees paid to Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner are NON-REFUNDABLE after booking is confirmed.
I understand that Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including an insufficient number of participants or logistical problems (e.g. acts of God, war, strikes, etc.), which may impede trip operations. Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner reserves the right to substitute hotels and group leaders and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary or advisable. The refund of all payments as described in the paragraph below shall release Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner from any further liability. A trip cancellation due to insufficient numbers would normally occur at least a month prior to departure, unless acts of God, war, strikes or other events impede our departure causing large numbers of participants to opt to cancel participation on the journey in the last days before departure.
Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner must make substantial payments to suppliers (including providers of land travel) far in advance of the scheduled date on which we embark. If a trip is canceled due to forces beyond our control (acts of God, war, labor strikes, earthquake, flooding, etc.), Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner will promptly
refund the portion of the trip cost not advanced to suppliers. Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner will use its best efforts to recover advance payments as promptly as possible, and will refund to you the amount recovered, if any. However, Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner does not guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made, and our use of best efforts to recover these payments will not include the institution of any legal proceeding in foreign lands. This policy applies to a trip cancellation by client choice following any necessary increase in trip costs.
I understand that discounted fares typically involve restrictions and that changing any aspect of my travel arrangements may result in the payment of additional money.
I have been advised to use a credit card, as this may offer me the opportunity to dispute any charge individually paid for services to a third-party service provider and/or vendor should a third-party service provider cease operating or cancel the purchased service.
I understand that if I fail to make a payment by the payment due date, Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner shall be entitled in their discretion to treat the missed payment as a breach of contract, cancel my reservation, and impose the cancellation fees specified in this agreement. They also retain the right to assign my spot to the next eligible traveler on the waitlist without any refund to me.
I understand that airline tickets, air tours and/or other products I am purchasing are subject to supplemental price increases that may be imposed after the date of purchase. Post-purchase price increases may be applied due to additional costs imposed by a third-party service provider or government.
I acknowledge that I may be charged additional sums by Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner to offset increased fees, fuel surcharges, taxes, and fluctuations in foreign exchange markets or any combination thereof. In this case, Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner will inform you of the necessary additional sums and you will have the opportunity to consent to the post-puchase price increase or cancel your trip registration for a full refund.
I understand that Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner reserves the right to make changes to and correct errors in quoted prices at any time before my trip is confirmed. Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner will however, inform me of any error of which they are aware and of the then applicable price at the time of booking.
NOTE: All discounts and any reduced pricing and/or promotional benefits are applied at Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner’s sole discretion. From time-to-time, Alive, Fit & Free Travel Adventures LLC and/or Vickie Aigner may offer special discounts or early bird pricing on select trips. If I have previously cancelled a booking for a trip, I understand that I may not be entitled to re-book on the same or any similar trip with any promotion or discount applied.
What’s Included:
Six nights at boutique design hotel Yoo2 in Rio de Janeiro
3 nights at a boutique bed and breakfast in Paraty
9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 2 happy hours, and 3 dinners
Entrance tickets to all tour locations and excursions as indicated on the itinerary
Transportation to and from the airport
Transportation to all included locations on the trip
Transportation from Rio de Janeiro to Paraty and back
Boat trip in Paraty
Jeep excursion in Paraty
A special welcome gift
24/7 access to your leaders during the trip
Private Whatsapp group to answer any pre-trip questions
List of to-do items in Youli so that you can best prepare for the trip
Group Zoom Meet & Greet and Q&A before the trip
What’s Not Included:
Airfare - no airfare is included in this trip. Your roundtrip flight from your home location to Rio de Janeiro and back is your own responsibility.
All tips for the drivers, guides, maids, and bell boys are not-included.
Meals not included in the itinerary.
Alcoholic beverages, non-included drinks, souvenir shopping and laundry services are not included.
Room service or charged items consumed at the hotel are not included.
Also not included are: items of a personal nature such as gifts, toll calls, excess baggage, medical costs, the costs of hospitalization and evacuation from remote areas, travel insurance and additional expenses arising from the delay or extension of a trip due to weather, political disputes, sickness, failure of transportation, or other causes beyond our control.
Gratuity for any additional services is not included.
Any optional activities, transportation, and tours not included in our package.
Samba & Sunshine: Rio De Janeiro Awaits
April 25 - May 4, 2025
Fri, April 25, 2025
Day 1 - Arrive in Rio + Welcome Dinner
Once you arrive in Rio, we will greet you at our home base in the city, boutique design hotel Yoo2 Rio. If you are up to it, explore the area a bit, head to the beach or take a nice lounge at the pool.
We will gather as a group for happy hour on the hotel rooftop at 5pm, followed by our Welcome Dinner at a local rooftop restaurant with views to Christ the Redeemer.
Included:
Happy Hour (one alcoholic drink included)
Dinner (one non-alcoholic drink included)
Sat, April 26, 2025
Day 2 - Explore the historic Rio city center
Today we will explore the historic city center of Rio with our local tour guide.
First we will visit the Royal Portuguese Library, which was built in 1887 and voted one of the most beautiful libraries in the world by Time Magazine. It boasts a stained-glass dome and floor-to-ceiling shelves that span three stories high.
Next, we will visit the iconic Confeiteria Colombo, a 125-year old cafe serving decadent Portuguese style sweets and espresso which serves as a living piece of history. Here we will have a sweet treat before moving on to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, which was inspired by Mayan architecture and features 210 foot stained glass windows from floor to ceiling.
For lunch, we will experience the truly Brazilian combination of feijoada with live samba music. Feijoada is a traditional black bean stew served with rice and all the toppings - a must-eat while in Brazil. After lunch, we will enjoy a live samba show and try out our samba skills.
After lunch, we will stroll the Lavradio Market and peruse vintage and locally-made goods, before ending the afternoon at the Museum of Artesanato where some of Brazil's most talented artisans display their crafts - and where you can find authentic artisan made goods from all over Brazil.
Prepare your walking shoes! This day will be packed full - but worth it.
In the evening, an optional group dinner will be available close to the hotel - or you can opt to grab something small at the hotel and relax.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch (one non-alcoholic drink included)
Sun, Apr 27, 2025
Day 3 - Open Air Markets & Beach
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we will explore one of the oldest markets in the city, Feira da Gloria, where you can find everything from fresh produce, meats, fish, and chickens to clothing and hand-crafted items. We will then walk to the top of the famous steps, Escaderia Selaron, where gorgeous tiles from around the world are displayed. While we are in Gloria, we will stop at a renowned Peruvian restaurant for lunch.
We will then head to my favorite market in Ipanema - The Hippie Market, with some of the finest craftsmen around. Handmade leather sandals and purses, beautiful designer clothing, jewelry for every taste, and artwork for you to bring home as a souvenir.
The rest of the afternoon can be spent relaxing on Ipanema beach with a caipirinha in hand.
Wrapping up our day, we will sample an assortment of Brazilian tapas and drinks at Belmonte in Ipanema, then head back to our hotel.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch (one non-alcoholic drink included)
Dinner (one non-alcoholic drink included)
Mon, Apr 28, 2025
Day 4 - Sugar Loaf Mountain & Botanical Gardens
There is an option to experience some early morning beach sports - paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, or beach tennis.
After breakfast, we will head out to take the trams up Sugar Loaf Mountain and take in the spectacular panoramic view of Rio and its surrounding areas.
We will lunch at a Brazilian Steakhouse - Fogo de Chão, followed by a leisurely walk through the Botanical Gardens and historic Parque Lage. We will wrap up our day as we take in the sunset at Rio's spectacular Lagoon, a local secret that few tourists visit.
An optional group dinner will be available for those that would like to join, or you can relax at the hotel.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch (one non-alcoholic drink included)
All entrance tickets
Tue, Apr 29, 2025
Day 5 - Christ the Redeemer Tour and Santa Teresa
After breakfast and an optional walk on the beach, we will meet our tour guide at Christ the Redeemer, one of the 7 wonders of the world, and take the train to the top of the mountain. We will learn the history behind the 98 ft high statue and take in the spectacular view.
Our guide will then escort us to Santa Theresa, a historic, hilltop neighborhood with a charming, village-like vibe. Steep, winding streets are lined with elegant old mansions, quirky cocktail bars, and restaurants with bay views. After lunch, we will walk the streets and explore the quaint shops and studios. As well as artists’ studios, Santa Teresa features various museums. We will end the afternoon with cocktails overlooking the city, before heading back to our hotel.
An optional group dinner will be arranged for those who would like to join, followed by an optional evening in a nearby park dancing to traditional forro music.
Included:
Breakfast
All entrance tickets
Wed, Apr 30, 2025
Day 6 - Exploring Hidden Beaches
It's beach day, as we head off to Praias Selvagems, where we will walk on an easy hiking trail to access some hidden Wild Beaches where we can enjoy the raw beauty of Rio and take iconic selfies!
We will lunch in Grumari on a Traditional Brazilian dish, Moqueca, a fish stew made with firm white fish, onions, garlic, bell peppers, tomatoes, cilantro, and coconut milk.
We will stop at Prainha, another famous beach, on the way home before heading back into town.
We will meet up on the hotel rooftop for an optional happy hour and dinner in the evening, or you can choose to relax at the hotel.
Optional: if you choose to do another optional activity on this day, that is possible. Optional activities include hang gliding, parasailing, repelling, or helicopter tours.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch (one non-alcoholic drink included) - included for those joining the planned itinerary
Thu, May 1, 2025
Day 7 - Rio to Paraty + Walking Tour in Paraty
After breakfast, we board our van to Paraty, a colonial beach town with cobble-stone streets located 5 hours from the city of Rio de Janeiro.
We stop to have lunch and arrive in the afternoon to check into our hotel. The afternoon is free, followed by a walking tour around the historic Paraty city center at 5pm.
After the walking tour, we will have optional drinks and dinner in the historic city center.
Included:
Breakfast
Transfer Rio - Paraty
Fri, May 2, 2025
Day 8 - Boat Tour, Beach Hopping, & Shopping in Historic Paraty
After breakfast, we explore the paradisical islands, beaches, and lagoons of Paraty on a boat tour in a traditional wooden boat. Lunch will be included at a restaurant on one of the islands, before heading back to the city.
The afternoon can be spent visiting the many museums, shops, and historic houses in the cobblestone streets of Paraty's city center.
An optional group dinner in the historic Paraty city center will be planned, or you can choose to relax at the hotel.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch (one non-alcoholic drink included)
Boat tour
Sat, May 3, 2025
Day 9 - Jeep tour to waterfalls and artisanal cachaçaria
After breakfast, we will venture into the lush forests of Serra da Bocaina National Park for hours of waterfall hunting in a Jeep. After enjoying the waterfalls and the jungle flora and fauna, head to D’Ouro Alembic and see how the traditional Brazilian cachaça, a sugar cane liquor, is made.
We will stop for lunch in a traditional Brazilian restaurant during the tour.
In the evening, you are free to explore Paraty old town. A group happy hour and farewell dinner will be included in the Paraty old town center.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch (one non-alcoholic drink included)
Happy hour (one alcoholic drink included)
Dinner (one non-alcoholic drink included)
Jeep and cachaca tour
Sun, May 4, 2025
Day 10 - Paraty to Rio + fly home
After breakfast, we will board our van to head back to Rio de Janeiro, where we will be dropped off at the airport to board our flights home.
We will have lunch on the road and be back in Rio by 3pm, so it is best to book an evening flight heading back home (there are many to choose from).
Included:
Breakfast
Transfer Paraty - Rio