Wheelchair Accessible Tour of Brazil

In Rio many investments in accessible infrastructure were made in preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and the city has become one of the most wheelchair-friendly on the continent. The sidewalks in Rio de Janeiro are generally wheelchair accessible and specialized taxis are lift-equipped.

There are wheelchair accessible beach venues in Rio with specially designed mats and volunteers to help get into the water. You will get a beach wheelchairs, but there are also inclusive-focused activities such as surfing, sit-down paddling, beach sitting volleybal and more.

Corcovado: Take the train that goes from Cosme Velho to the top of Morro do Christ the Redeemer Statue. It is fully accessible and the beautiful journey through the forest takes about half an hour. Another option is to use the accredited van that has a wheelchair lift from the ticket office. We will get you up on Corcovado early to avoid the crowds and have a good experience. An extensive renovation was carried out in the last years, which installed elevators, accessible toilets and escalators to reach the feet of the statue, making it very accessible. Trained staff assist changing from power wheelchair to a on-site provided manual chair to climb the escalators, and then transfer back to your power wheelchair. 

In Salvador there are electric cars in the old town, which allow the wheelchair travellers to see the 80% of the city’s highlights where there are no stairs.

At Iguazu Falls all pavements in the waterfalls area are built to make safe the movement of wheelchairs. Ramp access is available in all the buildings, walkways or places where the slope requires it. There are toilets in all sectors of the park. The width of its doors allows the entry of wheelchair users. The surface of the bathrooms allows the entry and rotation of wheelchairs, and they have supported on both sides of it. The sinks allow a person in a wheelchair to wash their hands comfortably. It has urinals at a lower height for people of small stature.

In the Amazon, the Amazon Eco Park is the only jungle lodge in the region catering for people in wheelchairs. By no means fully accessible, it does have moderate facilities for those with disabilities. The lodge has easy access paths and ramps throughout. 2 bungalows are considered wheelchair accessible with ramps and grab bars in the bathroom. We do not recommend visiting during the low-water season (September to mid-December) as the activities will be further away from the rivers. It is best to go in high-water season, with more activities being water-based, allowing moving by boat and a better chance of seeing more wildlife. Not all tours will be possible, especially difficult jungle trails, but you can visit the Monkey Forest, see the spectacular Meeting of the Waters, take a night canoe tour to observe nocturnal species such as alligators, try your hand at piranha fishing and visit an indigenous caboclo house.

• Accessibility guaranteed
• Price is per person, based on two people staying in two single rooms
• Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation with Breakfast (more hotels HERE)
• Lunch and dinner at wheelchair accessible restaurants
• All the excursions mentioned in the itinerary 
• All transfers on a private basis in wheelchair accessible vehicles
• Entrance & guiding fees 
• All mandatory local taxes

• Visa, where applicable
• International Flights (See Flights to Brazil)
• Domestic Flights 
• Personal Expenses
• Insurance
• Tips & Gratuities
• Meals not mentioned in the description

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to book the flights yourself, use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections. Return flights to Rio or Sao Paulo start from £800 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year. 

Send us a message on WhatsApp (+44 7 308 449 233) or email us at brazil@boutiquetravelexperts.com to check availability, discuss your preferences and get a quote.

This is a sample itinerary and prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor it to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. You can also combine this trip with other sights in Brazil, like the exciting Amazon rainforest, the fascinating Pantanal or the deep canyons of the south. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

Best time to Visit:

• Rio – year round, avoid November to February because of rain
• Iguazu – year round, avoid November to February because of rain
• Salvador – year round, avoid April to July because of rain
• Manaus – year round, but best June to October

To avoid unpleasant weather surprises, we recommend to check our Brazil Weather Guide to plan your trip in the right season. Click on the month you want to travel in and see the tours which are best for each month of the year.