Rio, Iguazu and the Jaguars of the Pantanal - Private Tour

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

It is your responsibility to check your passport validity. To enter Brazil your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the day you plan to leave. Sources of information include; https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

A visa is not required to Brazil for up to 90 days tourist visit, however further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity

Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure.

If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.

IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

Expect a more dynamic itinerary with longer days of exploration. Walking may extend beyond four hours per day, including some uphill or uneven terrain and changes of altitude. Travel times between destinations may be longer and involve overnight trains, requiring better stamina and mobility. Ideal for those who enjoy a higher level of activity and want to experience as much as possible.

The currency in Brazil is the Brazilian Real, known as BRL. (R$) You can exchange currency at exchange stores and Cash Machines are available in all major cities. Local stores only accept the Brazilian Real, however Credit and Debit cards are widely accepted.

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive. There are foreign exchange offices and cash machines available in most places during your tour. Your tour guide can assist you in each country with currency exchange. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and some shops and restaurants; a charge is sometimes added for using them.

You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks as well as your lunch and dinner on each day when not included. Approximately £600-£700 per person should be sufficient for the tour.

Tipping

It is customary to tip both your driver and guide and is at your discretion. We would recommend approximately £5.00 ($6.00) per person per day in total. This will be collected at the end of your day and can be paid in both local currency and US dollars. Tipping at Restaurants/Hotels etc is discretionary, but on average is around 10%.

This is an escorted tour where we use Local Expert guides in each city. You will be guided by a local specialist in each of the cities you visit.

Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and South America. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.

Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

On your arrival in Foz do Iguassu, you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Blumar, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Blumar representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.

Brazil: Blumar Rua Siqueira Campos, 43 - cob 02 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, 22031-901 Telephone: 0055 21 2142 9300 E-mail: juliepires@blumar.com.br

Please find below the 24 hour emergency contact details: 0055 21 99109 7256