The areas covered by Michael Palin in the last of the series are some of favourites; the beaches of Florianopolis, the Pantanal and the mighty Iguazu falls.
Around Florianopolis the beaches are not your typical palm tree lined beaches, they are still spectacular with clean, wind swept golden sand offering numerous activities; horse riding on the beach, bird-watching in the Atlantic rainforest, learning to surf or perhaps watching the bizarre relationship between dolphins and the local fisherman, where for generations bottlenose dolphins have driven the fish towards the fisherman and you can literally see the fish jump into their nets!
HOTELS AROUND FLORIANOPOLIS
Ponta dos Ganchos
Undoubtedly this is one of the best hotels in Brazil, if not the very best. Staff, service food and rooms are all first class. Tucked away from everything else, this is a place to lose yourself in pure luxury.
Vida Sol y Mar
Tucked away from all other hotels, Vida sol y Mar is a little gem. Situated in front of a perfect beach the hotel combines whale watching trips with active beach excursions. The stone bungalows are brimming with character and can accommodate a family or a couple. The staff are brilliant here and anything can be arranged.
The Pantanal is best described as a small window of Africa in the heart of South America, without the big game! It is considered to be the world’s biggest wetland area, covering an area the size of Belgium and is situated between the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul (to the north of Iguazu) and extends into Bolivia and Paraguay, with the majority of the Pantanal lying inside Brazil.
HOTELS IN THE PANTANAL
Embiara Lodge
This is the newest lodge in the Pantanal and is certainly one of our favourites. With only 4 rooms available it makes any stay here feel very homely yet extremely professional at the same time. The rooms have been beautifully decorated and fit into the surroundings perfectly and its location is excellent for wildlife
Caiman Lodge
This is one of the best lodges within the vast Pantanal flood plain. Each lodge has its own characteristics but all are superbly decorated and well appointed. All excursions are personalised to your requirements and nothing is too much for their superbly trained staff and well informed guides
The Iguazu Falls are a collection of 280 waterfalls plunging into a 3 km long gorge situated on the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Without doubt they are the best falls in the world. They are so good because unlike other major waterfalls, there are a variety of activities surrounding them.
HOTELS IN IGUAZU
Das Cataratas
The Hotel Cataratas has recently been taken over by the Orient Express chain and is the finest hotel to stay in while visiting the Iguassu national park. The exclusive advantage of this hotel is that as it is situated so close to the falls, you can walk around the falls either before or after the public have visited, allowing you to experience this fantastic sight alone. A beautiful hotel, with a colonial feel and the quality one expects from an orient express hotel.
Loisuites Iguazu
The Loisuites Iguazu is a charming and elegant 5-star hotel. Located in the Iryapu jungle and surrounded by vegetation and wildlife, yes well located being just 15 minutes from the Argentine waterfalls, 20 minutes from the airport, and 5 minutes from Puerto Iguazu.
