Brazil’s Eastern Highlights 11 Days
11 Days: Belo Horizonte, Serra doCaraça, OuroPreto, Tiradentes, Alagoa& Rio de Janeiro
Tour overview:
This 11-day tour highlights the best of Eastern Brazil. Start in Belo Horizonte, the first city in Brazil to be built upon an urban plan. It is very progressive, with modern architecture, the largest open-air museum in the world, the Inhotim and known for traditional cuisine. Then visit the historical cities and UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Minas Gerais: Ouro Preto, Mariana, and Tiradentes. Enjoy the Minas Gerais cuisine, colonial art, history, and traditions. End in the Wonderful City of Rio de Janeiro. Take in the sights of this amazing city including a cog wheel train to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue located on Corcovado mountain and marvel at the panoramic views of the city.
Day 1 - Arrive Belo Horizonte
You are welcomed upon arrival and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight at Mercure Lourdes / Holiday Inn Belo Horizonte Savassi or similar.
Day 2 - Belo Horizonte – Serra do Caraça
Half day City tour followed by atransfer to Caraça (95 miles)
Belo Horizonte was the first capital of the country to be built upon an urban plan. It is the sixth most populous city in Brazil, very progressive, with modern architecture.The tour starts at the Pampulha Complex,an UNESCO World Heritage site with the projects of architect Oscar Niemeyer. The visit includes the Ball House, the Art Museum and the Sao Francisco church. The tour continues to the famous Mineirao soccer stadium and the Church of Pampulha. Continue on to Serra do Caraça.We visit the unique Caraça Natural Reserve with the 18th century Sanctuary and School. Besides the historical attractions, Caraça is a place surrounded by natural wonders. Rivers, mountains and waterfalls and the Atlantic Forest withits rich flora and birds. Dinner is served in the ballroom for visitors and on the stoned steps that lead to the seminary, the unforgettable feeding of the maned wolf will take place. Everyone waits in silence wondering if tonight the wild animal will accept the invitation of the priest as he calls for it. The “lobo guará” ‘lives in the wilderness of the forest that surrounds the seminary.
Overnight at Pousada do Caraça./ Pousada do Caraça or Similar (BD)
Day 3 - Full Day Caraça
We have a full day to explore: trails to various places, waterfalls, natural pools with special focus on the endangered masked titi monkey, often located early in the morning by its laughing call. The birds of the area that we hope to find include the swallow-tailed cotinga and the hyacinth visorbearer. (BLD)
Day 4 - Caraça – Mariana –OuroPreto
Transfer from Caraça to OuroPreto (63 miles). We will cross an enormous mining area on the way to OuroPreto, the iron quadrangle, the region responsible for the richest iron ore production in the state. On the way, visit Mariana (the first town founded in Minas Gerais 300 years ago) and the largest open-to-visit goldmine in the world. A trolley drives us to the underground galleries, which are 315 meters long and descend to 120 meters in depth.
Overnight Pousada Classica or similar. (B)
Day 5 - Full Day OuroPreto
The historical center of the richest city of the 18th century has been very well preserved. Gold, Aleijadinho and Tiradentes , 3 terms that relate to OuroPreto will be easily understood as they unfold the colonial relations between business, art and politics . OuroPreto was the first Brazilian city to become a World Heritage Site in 1980, appointed by Unesco. Lunch an opportunity to taste the many different dishes of the rich and flavorful regional cuisine. We have free time to visit the soapstone market, some of the many local shops and also visit a stone cutter workshop. Overnight Pousada Classica or similar. (BL)
Day 6 - OuroPreto – Congonhas – São João Del Rei – Tiradentes
Depart from OuroPreto to Congonhas–44 miles. Congonhas contains important works from the Golden Age of Brazil. The main points of interest are Aleijadinho’s sculptural masterpieces of the twelve Prophets, carved in soapstone and his sculptural representation of the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross), done in polychromatic woodwork. The set of life-sized sculptures is Brazil’s greatest artistic treasure. Then proceed to São Joãodel Rei driving around 63 miles. The settlement was founded in 1703, when gold was discovered in the area. Being at the junction of the various roads that cut across the interior on the Capitania, São Joãowas the political center and comercial axis with significant urban and religious architecture.
Overnight Pousada Villa Allegra or similar. (B)
Day 7 - Tiradentes – Alagoa
Tiradentes was the first settlement in the Rio das Mortes region when gold was found in 1702. Tiradentes, who was born here, became a national hero while participating in the InconfidênciaMineira (1789), a republican liberation movement in Minas Gerais that was repressed by the Portuguese. Visit the Church of Santo Antonio (1710), Museum of Padre Toledo & Fountain of São José das Botas (1749) and then transfer to Alagoa (138 miles). Alagoa, a UNESCO ‘Biosphere Reserve’, is recognized for the Parmesan cheese produced by the population of the Rural Zone, being the region that covers the municipality considered ‘Terra do Queijoarmesão’.
Overnight at PousadaTrilha do Ouro. (BD)
Day 8 - Alagoa
Being in Alagoa is almost a journey through time. The small city, with a population of about 2,700, preserves the characteristics of the traditional municipalities in the interior of Minas Gerais. The main source of income for residents is agriculture,hence it is possible to hear the sounds of nature even while staying in the city center. Curated visit to the Olive Plantation at Cauré Farm. Historical presentation of the city of Alagoa – Cheese history and awards. Enjoy a typical Minas Gerais lunch and later visit the cheese shop at Fazenda and guided tasting tour of Cheese and Olive Oil at the QUEIJO D’ALAGOA. Dinner included.
Overnight at PousadaTrilha do Ouro. (BLD)
Day 9 - Alagoa – Rio de Janeiro
Private transfer from Alagoa to Rio de Janeiro. Check-in at your selected hotel.Dinner at Churrascaria Palace or similar.
Overnight Arena Leme or similar. (BD)
Day 10 - Rio de Janeiro
Full day Corcovado & Sugar Loaf tour with lunch at Confeitaria
Visit Christ the Redeemer statuelocated on Corcovado mountain, 710 meters above sea level. Start at Cosme Velho neighborhood, to take the cogwheel train up to the statue, through the Tijuca Forest. Once there, enjoy a panoramic and extraordinary view of Rio including the Sugar Loaf, the Guanabara Bay, the beaches of the Southern Zone and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Continue with a city tour through downtown, the most historical part of Rio. Participants will enjoy panoramic views of the Sambodrome and the traditional Cinelândia square with the historical buildings Municipal Theater, National Library and National Museum of Fine Arts. A visit is made at the Metropolitan Cathedral, in pyramid form, with internal diameter of 96 meters and height of 80 meters, followed bylunch at Confeitaria Colombo. Then we will take the Aterro do Flamengoavenue to the neighborhood of Urca, where Sugar Loaf is located. The visit is made in two steps by cable car. The first one takes passengers to Urca Hill which is 215 meters high, with a beautiful view of the Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niteróibridge and Corcovado hill. From this stage, a second cable car will go up to the top of the mountain, 395 meters high and a splendid view of Copacabana beach, the Santa Cruz fortress and some beaches of Niterói. Enjoy a farewell dinner at Assador Restaurant.
Lunch at Fogo de Chão Botafogo
Overnight at Arena Leme or similar./ (BLD)
Day 11 - Rio de Janeiro / Depart
Private transfer from hotel to the airport to take the flight bound for home. (B)
End of SITA services.