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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

Highlights: Sambadrome and Iguacu
RB, Reigate Feb 2016
Wow, so many it's hard to choose the most memorable aspect. Sunrise on the lake in the Pantanal was just wonderful. The exhilaration of standing at the devil's throat on…
TH, Arsenal Jun 2013
Every day was special and we have many happy memories but probably the highlights were the views from the top of Sugar Loaf, getting up close to waterfalls, swimming in…
LL, Tonbridge Aug 2019
Most memorable was the approach toward the Falls on impossibly built metal walkways you could not have imagined the spectacle laid out before you. Our guide who sat on the…
AC, Saffron walden Mar 2018
Highlight?: Diversity of wildlife in Brazil. The Iguacu Falls. Swimming in the Rio Negro. Seeing a Sloth. The whole journey was a trip of a lifetime.
JW, Isle of Islay Oct 2016
The Iguazu falls were amazing. Brazilia was also a real experience and is undersold - it is a really singular place to visit - the parliament and other buildings are…
AB, Reading Feb 2016

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Our Expert's Opinion

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.

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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.
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After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!
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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.