​This excursion is recommended for anyone who has a full day to spare in São Paulo, a city of baffling size. Although the ranking of the world’s largest cities is fiercely disputed and forever changing, official estimates place São Paulo’s metropolitan population at a staggering 18 million  which makes it the fifth largest of all. The city was founded in 1554 by a group of Jesuit Priests who settled high up on the Piratinanga Plateau. By the 17th century, the growing slave trade had seen the settlement grow into a base for the Bandeirantes (slave traders). Over the years, the declaration of Brazilian independence and the expansion of coffee cultivation led to an influx of millions of Europeans and the establishment of many industries, transforming São Paulo into a vast city.

Today, São Paulo is just about as diverse as its size: from the historical city centre and Chinatown to Bela Vista (the Italian quarter), Bairro da Liberdade (the oriental quarter) and the new financial district, São Paulo is a conglomeration of contrasting suburbs and neighborhoods, a miniature world in its own right.

The excursion visits local landmarks such as MASP Art Museum, the Sé and Republic Squares, and the Governor’s Palace, thereby providing a glimpse into São Paulo’s numerous architectural and cultural treasures. There’s also a visit to the Butantan Institute, a world-famous centre where snakes are kept and their venom is extracted to produce antidote, plus Ibirapuara Park, where there’s a brief stop to admire the famous Bandeirantes Monument. The final stop is at the summit of Morumbi Hill, site of the Jockey Club, from where there is a fine panorama of the city.