Brazil: Sail Away in Tocorimé, near Rio de Janeiro

The Tocorimé, a 120-foot (37-meter) traditional colonial vessel, hand-built by local craftsmen along Brazil's Tapajós River is one of a kind. Sixteen travelers cruise up the coast of Brazil on a colonial-style tall ship and learn to sail her in the process. GAP's (outfitter) first ever excursion aboard the Tocorimé launched in January 2007 from Paraty, a historic merchant town on the southeast coast famous for seafood, and potent cachaça liquor. From there, the ship ventures out into the surrounding tropical bay, which has more than 65 islands and dozens of isolated beaches to explore, and heads north up the coast toward the bright lights of Rio de Janeiro.

On the ground, you'll stop at remote Mamanguá Ecological Reserve, a fjord on the Brazilian coastline with a magnificent five-mile (eight-kilometer) sea entrance and a protected mangrove forest; Ilha Grande, a 17-square-mile (44-square-mile) state park that is home to Brazilian thrushes, endangered bugio monkeys, and scarlet ibis (once thought to be locally extinct). Off-ship excursions include rain-forest hikes, waterfall hunting, snorkeling, and kayaking. Along the way, you'll clamber up the masts and learn to navigate the blue-green waters—enough of a taste of the sailing life to make you want to jump ship from your day job.

Vitals -


Length: Seven days

Price: $895

Departs: January through April

For more Details – http://www.gapadventures.com/