Day 4:  Rio de Janeiro. From Itatiaia, we’ll travel the beautiful rural, lightly traveled roads through the Serra do Mar Mountains on our way to Rio. We’ll stop for lunch in Bananal, an interesting colonial coffee plantation that has been transformed into a superb, charming hotel and restaurant. In Rio, you'll check into a luxury beachfront hotel and have plenty of time to relax and prepare for a delicious Brazilian dinner.

Day 5:  Free Day in Rio.  This may be a free day, but it doesn't mean you won't have plenty to do.  We'll begin with a trip to Sugar Loaf Mountain.  This Adventure includes a cable car ride to the top of the mountain, and a helicopter flight of Rio, including getting up close to Corcovado, the famous statue of Christ that's perched high atop a mountain.  The helicopter ride is one of the highlights of the trip, and provides breathtaking views of the city.  After the ride to the top of Sugar Load, you'll have plenty of time to walk the beach and do some shopping.

Day 6:  Paraty.  After the first 60 kilometers or so that it takes to leave the Rio area, most of the ride to Paraty will have you smelling the fresh salt air of the Atlantic Ocean while gazing at the lush, green mountainsides and jungle environment of the Serra do Mar Mountains.  It's a lovely ride, interrupted occasionally by the passage through small seaside towns and beach resorts.  On the way to Paraty, you'll have plenty of time to stop for another scrumptious lunch at one of the many nice restaurants along the way.  Perhaps you'd like to try some feijoada - the national dish of Brazil - a meat stew served with rice and a bowl of beans.

Day 7:  Free Day in Paraty.  We decided to make Paraty a two-day stop after so many of our riders complained about having to leave the town after spending only one night.  As excited as our riders have been about Campos, Bananal and Rio, many have voted this charming little colonial town their favorite stop on the Rendezvous in Rio Adventure.  The streets of the town are paved with stones that are several hundred years old and were used as ballast in the ships coming to Paraty from Europe.

During your free day in Paraty, you may be interested in a hike into the hills to one of the nearby waterfalls, a ride into the mountains, or a boat cruise from one of the many charter boats located at the nearby dock.

Day 8:  Ilhabela. Leaving Paraty, you'll point your motorcycle down the Atlantic coast to São Sebastião and the lovely little island of Ilhabela ("beautiful Isle" in Portuguese).  The day's ride will take you through the province of Ubatuba, home to more than 70 beaches and 15 islands.  The beaches are some of the most stunning in all of Brazil, and some of our Adventurers have been known to stop for a swim as they make their way to Ilhabela.

From São Sebastião you'll take a short ferry ride to the island, the largest along the Brazilian coast, where you'll spend your last night before returning to Alphaville.  The island, volcanic in origin, is home to 360 waterfalls and more than 50 beaches.  You'll enjoy a lavish seafood dinner at one of the island's many fine restaurants.

Day 9:  Alphaville. From Ilhabela we'll continue riding numerous twisty mountain roads on the way back to Alphaville for our closing celebratory dinner at a local churrascaria - a Brazilian restaurant that will bring you all the barbecued meat you can eat, as well as a variety of other great foods, and vegetarians can get their fill at a great salad bar.

Day 10:  Departure.