Brazil, Air/8 Nights, From $1,705

The Real Deal Round-trip airfare on a major carrier, eight nights' accommodations (three in Rio de Janeiro, two in Iguazú Falls, and three in Salvador), breakfast daily, hotel taxes, and flights within Brazil, from $1,705 per person—plus about $190 in taxes.

When Departs daily through March.

Aerial view of Christ the Redeemer Statue, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Glowimages/Getty) [enlarge photo]

Gateways New York City; add $79 from L.A., $83 from Miami, $197 from San Francisco, $202 from Houston, $426 from San Diego; additional cities available.

The Fine Print Does not include airport taxes and fees of about $190. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $399. U.S. citizens will need a valid passport and visa for travel. Visas cost $130; see advice at the website for the Brazilian Embassy. (Latin Destinations can't help you obtain a visa, but companies like Passport Visa Express do offer such services.) See all our visa advice here. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book By No deadline; based on availability.

Contact Latin Destinations, 866/645-2846, latindestinations.com.

Why It's a Deal The trip price includes all flights, international and domestic. We recently did a multicity search on Kayak for the itinerary (NYC to Rio de Janeiro, then to Iguazú Falls, then Salvador, and back to New York City) and found a $1,230 fare (United/TAM) in mid-January. For $665 more, including all taxes, Latin Destinations is taking care of all the accommodations for you, and you'll have the benefit of one-stop shopping.

Trip Details The Wonderful Brazil trip starts with a flight to Rio de Janeiro on a major carrier (such as TAM, Delta, or United).

Transfers aren't included, but your base for the three-night stay in Rio, the Savoy Othon Travel hotel, offers free shuttle service. The 145-room hotel is two blocks from Copacabana beach and offers standard amenities.

While in Rio, be sure to check out the famous Christ the Redeemer statue (add a half-day tour through the tour operator for $55 per person). Rio de Janeiro is one of the leading tourism centers of South America, noted for its wide streets, beautiful public buildings, and parks and gardens. The landscape is breathtaking—there are places where the mountains literally meet the bay, especially near Pão de Açúcar.

After your three-night stay in Rio, you'll board a two-hour flight to Iguazú Falls (typically on TAM). Your base here for two nights is the Recanto Park Hotel. Hotel transfers are not included; you can catch a cab or a private car from $7. The 200-room hotel is located near the Brazil/Paraguay/Argentina border, close to this area's main attraction: the waterfalls. There are about 275 waterfalls lining Iguazú River—a magnificent sight. You can get near the waterfalls in Iguaçu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next, you'll board another two-hour flight to Salvador (also on TAM). Hotel transfers to your base, Sol Bahia Atlantico, aren't included, and a taxi will cost about $20. The 191-room hotel has basic amenities and is on a peninsula in All Saints Bay. The city of Salvador was founded by the Portuguese and later passed into Dutch hands; the city's architecture exhibits European influences as well as a strong African heritage from the slaves who were imported to work on the sugar plantations. There are many historic sites from the 16th and 17th centuries—the Catedral Basílica is especially interesting.

After your stay here, you'll board a flight back to the States. Latin Destinations can customize your trip with add-on tours if you'd like a more guided experience. Need more time? Add nights from $49 per person.

January is the rainy season in Brazil, although temperatures will hover in the 60s Fahrenheit. Pack a lightweight raincoat.

For more information, see the official tourism site of Brazil or the U.S. State Department's travel fact sheet for the country.

More on Brazil:

• How to Buy a Bikini in Rio

• Rio: Santa Teresa's Sweet B&Bs

• Dream Trips: Amazon Rain Forest