Silversea Luxury Cruises A RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Rio Grande is situated in the south of the State and it is, basically, a port and a commercial city, characterized by the Portuguese colonization buildings and by the privileged localization. This tour visits the Historical Museum, including São Pedro Cathedral, the oldest in the State and also the Alfândega Building, followed by the main attraction, the Oceanographic Museum, where approximately about 100 thousand different species of shells and mollusks are exhibted.

In the extension of the visit to the museum, one gets, in a small boat, to the Eco-Museum of the Pólvora Island, with ramps and places for fauna and flora watching. Back to the port, panoramic view of the Molhes da Barra, hydraulic man-made rock structure, 4.500 meters into the sea.

After a short distance between the Port and the City by Bus (15 minute drive), meet your expert local guide to walk around the main Historical sights of Rio Grande: Alfândega Building, Francesco Xavier Square, Public Market and the Fish Market. This tour will also take you to the Public Library, Military Headquarter, City Hall, Sacred Art Museum and São Pedro Cathedral, the oldest in the State. The last portion of the tour will take you through Square Tamandaré to view historic monuments ending with a visit to the Oceanographic Museum and the Rehabilitation Center for the Marine Life, where you can see penguins and sea lions.

After a day full of walking around the city, return to the ship.

Depart the port in Rio Grande for a 1.5 hour drive to Pelotas. This scenic drive will take you through plantations, across the bridge over the São Gonçalo river to the historic old city of Pelotas, the second largest city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Located on the canal which connects the Lagoa dos Patos with the Lagoa Mirim, Pelotas was founded in 1812 as a port for dried meat production. At the turn of the century, the tides of fortune shifted when the port of Rio Grande was able to accommodate larger ships.

This tour will take you to the Catheral and teatro Guarany and give you the chance to walk around the old part of the city passing the Cabeluda church with a visit to the market halls. Stop for lunch at Charqueda for a local lunch including grilled meats, rice with dried meat and black beans. After lunch, visit the farm and take a short boat trip to for local bird watching.

Return drive to Rio Grande pier.

Rio Grande is situated in the south of the State, a port and a commercial city, characterized by the Portuguese colonization buildings and by the privileged localization. This tour visits the Historical Museum, including São Pedro Cathedral, the oldest in the State and also the Alfândega Building, followed by the main attraction, the Oceanographic Museum, where are exposed about 100 thousand different species of shells and mollusks.

In the extension of the visit to the museum, one gets, in a small boat, to the EcoMuseum of the Pólvora Island, with ramps and places for fauna and flora watching. Departure to the Molhes da Barra (wavebreakers or jetties). Dated from 1911, was building for to maintain the channel safe and free of sand coming from the ocean and are considered one of the most famous nautical enginery masterpiece of the world.

Stones are the habitat of different animals such as Sea lions, Otters and Sea birds. For 4 kilometers the participant can enjoy the amazing Sail Wagon trip on the top of the wavebreak (the wagon is a sail railroad vehicle moved by the wind) observing the natural beauty of the sky and the sea and observing also the Cassino beach, the longest beach in the world with approximately 250 km (155 mi) of uninterrupted Atlantic

coastline. Return to the pier.

Departing from the pier, you will drive south toward Taim Ecological Station, the largest biological reserve in Brazil. A lakeside and seaside wonderland full of tropical birds, mammals and reptiles, some of them exceptionally exotic. Taim is situated on a thin strip of land tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Mirim, making it an ideal setting for water birds. While walking the reserve's trails, Figueiras, Nicola Lagoon or along the road, you may spot Rio Grande's official symbol, the black-necked swan, and the glittering-bellied emerald, one of many hummingbirds found here.

If you see a hard-baked mud nest in the treetops, it probably belongs to a rufous hornero, a type of ovenbird that is the national bird of both Argentina and Uruguay. There are also plenty of migratory birds in Taim that fly in from the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Broad-snouted caimans are often spotted basking in the sun. Turtles swim around the water hyacinths in the lake, and capybaras love the swampy riverbanks. The largest rodent in the world, the capybara looks like a shaggy-haired barrel with legs.

Following the wildlife outing at Taim Ecological Station, you will proceed to the nearby village of Capilha, external visit of the local church and snack lanch at the beach at the Lake Mirim.

Departing from the pier, you will drive south for 1.5 hours towards Taim Ecological Station, the largest biological reserve in Brazil. A lakeside and seaside wonderland full of tropical birds, mammals and reptiles.

While walking the reserve's trails, Figueiras, Nicola Lagoon or along the road, you may spot Rio Grande's official symbol, the black-necked swan, and the glittering-bellied emerald, one of many hummingbirds found here. If you see a hard-baked mud nest in the treetops, it probably belongs to a rufous hornero, a type of ovenbird that is the national bird of both Argentina and Uruguay. There are also plenty of migratory birds in Taim that fly in from the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Chances are, you will also see an abundance of other wild animals. Broad-snouted caimans are often spotted basking in the sun. Turtles swim around the water hyacinths in the lake, and capybaras love the swampy riverbanks. The largest rodent in the world, the capybara looks like a shaggy-haired barrel with legs.

Following the wildlife outing at Taim Ecological Station, you will proceed to the nearby village of Capilha, external visit of the local church. Stop for lunch at the beach at the Lake Mirim and a snack at the Mirim Lagoon.

After lunch, drive for 1 hour to the Molhes da Barra. In 1911 these wavebreakers were built to maintain the channel safe, considered one of the most famous nautical enginery masterpiece of the world and home to as Sea Lions, Otters and Sea Birds. For 4 kilometers the participant can enjoy the amazing Sail Wagon trip on the top of the wavebreakers (the wagon is a sail railroad vehicle moved by the wind) observing the natural beauty of the sky and the sea and observing also the Cassino beach, the longest beach in the world with approximately 250 km (155 mi) of uninterrupted Atlantic coastline.

Return to the pier with a 30 minute drive.