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Windsor Marapendi Hotel

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Upscale Barra da Tijuca, on the western edge of Rio de Janeiro, was given a huge facelift ready for the 2016 Olympics. With a glorious 18km sweep of golden sand – Rio’s largest beach – and multiple options for refreshments and dining, Barra offers a calmer, alternative base for sightseeing in Rio combined with time to unwind after a trip to the interior. The Windsor Marapendi is one of many high quality hotels built for the Olympics. Facilities and services are aligned with the high standards of the well-regarded Windsor chain, including a rooftop pool and panoramic terrace, restaurant and fitness room. For a change of scene it’s around 15km by taxi to Rio’s upscale Leblon neighbourhood (just west of Ipanema and Copacabana) which is packed with dining and entertainment options.

What our clients say

Highlight: The wildlife at Mutum - tapir, caimans, anteater, capybara, massive range of birdlife
DL, London Nov 2016
Too many highlights - standing at the base of Christ the Redeemer, canoeing in the Amazon rainforest and sitting at the Cococabana Palace beach club on Cococabana beach........A fantastic holiday…
AL, London Feb 2017
Most memorable experience: "There are too many! looking down from Christ the Redeemer at sun set in Rio, using the local buses to get about town, sitting at an outdoor…
ZB, London Jun 2014
Highlights?: Getting wet at Iguazu on the boat trip. Cooking in Stella's home on Flavours of Bahia tour.
JM, Glasgow Nov 2017
Expert help in tailoring a holiday that took in the nature of the country (the Amazon), the cities (Manaus, Rio and Salvador) and the idyllic beaches of Bahia - all…
DA, West Norwood Jun 2013
Iguacu Falls were spectacular Rio views as per postcards!!
JM, Callander Jan 2016

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Our Expert's Opinion

Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

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Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.
Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.
Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.
Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.