Trip Region: South America
Country(ies): Brazil
Partners Trek? No
Cost: $2400
Airfare Estimate: $1400
Structure:   •   Lodging:   •   Nightlife: 7   •   Activity: 7

Calling all foodies, explorers, and brilliant thinkers who want to be Brazilian drinkers! Your soon-to-be favorite gang of Rossers is headed to Brazil, and we want you to come with us! Should you accept, you’ll join a squad of fun-loving and goofy leaders who bonded over their trip last year, and are determined to lead the best MTrek yet!

We kick off in Sao Paulo, where we’ll quickly become the best of paulos… ok, maybe that’s enough puns for now. We’ll immerse ourselves in Brazilian culture through guided tours of the city, nightlife, and a competition to be the loudest fans at a Brazilian futbol game! Because we’re both nautical and nice, we’re heading to the beaches of Búzios, a coastal community outside of Rio, to relax under the Brazilian sun. Activities include beach-hopping on a private boat and a trip to one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world! Finally, we trade boats for caipirinha boat races in Rio de Janeiro! We’ll need some redemption after that first night out in Rio, so get that selfie-stick ready for one of the seven wonders of the world: Christ the Redeemer. The trip concludes with so many awesome activities it’s hard to list them all, but expect food tours, cooking classes, hikes, shows, and a Carnival dance experience with costumes and Samba!

Doesn’t that sound incredible? Rhetorical question, we know it does. Fair warning though: we’re balancing lots of activities so if you’re expecting a low-key week of R&R or a week-long rager until the sun rises, steer clear. But if you want a truly authentic and life-changing start to your business school experience, we’ll see you in Sao Paulo.

Day 1 — Saturday, Aug 15

Travel Day to São Paulo

Day 2 — Sunday, Aug 16

Welcome to São Paulo, a city famous for its food, cocktails, and nightlife! After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll start out the morning with a tour of the city, including a visit to Paulista avenue, one of the most important avenues in São Paulo, before making our way to Ibirapuera Park for our MTrek Welcome Picnic, and then finishing at the entrance into the MASP Museum. Along the way we’ll learn about the city and engage in its art and life during the day. From there, we’ll make our way to the stadium to watch a Brazilian football match. Afterwards, head over to the rising Pinherios or Vila Madalena neighborhoods for dinner and nightlife.

Day 3 — Monday, Aug 17

After (probably a light) breakfast and relaxing a bit we’ll make our way to the Municipal Market, commonly known as Mercadão (or “Big Market”) for a guided tour. This will be the food-lovers dream: hundreds of stalls selling all types of delicious local food, including Hocca Bar, the most popular, serving the Mercadão’s famous mortadella sandwich and pastel de bacalhau, a deep fried thin crust pie filled with salt cod. We’ll then head to the airport and take a short flight to Rio de Janeiro, and then transfer to Búzios. Welcome to Búzios, one of the most well known beach towns located on a peninsula of Costa do Sol, a 190-mile stretch of beaches north of Rio. It is famous for its seaside resorts, boutiques, fine restaurants, villas, bars, and posh pousadas located along cobblestone streets and picturesque waterfront. We’ll check into our hotel and run to dinner potentially at Rua das Pedras nearby.

Day 4 — Tuesday, Aug 18

After a rich breakfast at the hotel next to palm trees and the pool, we’ll be picked up and brought to a pier, where we’ll board our private glass-bottomed Catamaran. We’ll sail to Turtle Beach where we’ll swim, relax on the beach, and enjoy lunch. We’ll then sail to the other side of the peninsula to board the Buzios Trolley. We’ll head up to one of the highest points of Buzios to take in the scenery of 12 beaches and 2 observatories. After a full day of beach time and taking in the stunning views we’ll take a chill-out moment at the hotel before making our way to dinner.

Day 5 — Wednesday, Aug 19

We’re going beach hopping today. We’ll head to Arraial do Cabo to board a Schooner with other travelers to head to three separate beaches for swimming and relaxing. One of the beaches, the Prainhas, was elected one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, with its white sands and crystal clear waters. After lunch, we’ll take in the panoramic views of Cabo Frio before heading back to the hotel to relax, enjoy some group activities, dinner, and Buzios nightlife.

Day 6 — Thursday, Aug 20

After breakfast we’ll enjoy some time by the pool relaxing before taking a private bus to Rio. Welcome to Rio! Located between lush, forest covered mountains and gorgeous beaches, Rio de Janeiro is the second most populous city in Brazil and is designated as a World Heritage Site. Rio is rich with culture, music, celebration, food, and breathtaking views. After checking in at our hotel located 350 feet from the famous Ipanema Beach, we’ll take a moment to relax before making our way to a welcome dinner and then enjoying the incredible nightlife in Leblon nearby.

Day 7 — Friday, Aug 21

After breakfast we will embark on a half day guided tour of Corcovado, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and a hill in central Rio in the Tijuca Forest national park. At its peak, we’ll witness the incredible 125ft “Christ the Redeemer”. From here we’ll head to Sugarloaf Mountain where we’ll explore the walking trails. We’ll then take a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf for some of the most spectacular views in Rio. After a busy day of hiking, we’ll head back to the hotel for a breather before making our way to a cooking class to learn how to make traditional Brazilian dishes. Chef Simone Almeida will keep the class fun and dynamic with boozy drinks, before learning how to make a few Brazilian drinks, appetizers, and a main Brazilian dish. We’ll then head back to the hotel, and get ready to enjoy an infamous night out in Rio.

Day 8 — Saturday, Aug 22

Today we’ll start with a guided historical tour of Rio that stops at Pier Mauna and the Boulevard Olympic. After a full day of exploring the city, we’ll be enjoying some of Rio’s best food spots via a culinary food tour. We’ll have the chance to discover some of Rio’s best botequins, bars, and nightlife, and enjoy a wide variety of food and drinks, including juices, beers, caipirinhas (a famous Brazilian cocktail), and cachaça (Brazilian white rum).

Day 9 — Sunday, Aug 23

After breakfast, we’ll take another day to hike on Pedra Bonita, the paragliding headquarters of Rio. The views from this summit are astonishing, including the endless Atlantic Ocean and wide ranging mountains. After hiking we’ll have the afternoon to ourselves, where we can explore the beaches or relax after a long trip at the hotel. In the evening we’ll visit the samba school of Acadêmicos da Grande Rio where we’ll learn the history of the samba, carnival parades, and take a dance workshop. From there we’ll have our final farewell dinner.

Day 10 — Monday, Aug 24

After breakfast, we’ll all start heading out for the airport towards our next destination. You’ll be exhausted but so full of life and stories in preparation for new beginnings in Ann Arbor!