It is 1888 and Princess Therese of Bavarian, undertakes an expedition to Brazil, to collect plants, animals and insects for her studies. She travels undercover, accompanied by an officer and a Lady-in-waiting. They are heading to Rio de Janeiro, where there are expected to arrive within two days, for a meeting with the Emperor Dom Pedro the second. But when the scheduled train does not arrive, they hire a local guide, José Augusto to bring them through the jungle back to their ship, when they face a heavy tropical rain and an unexpected sickness, which leads to sudden change of plans.