The old way of the gold – Ouro Preto / Tiradentes / Caxambu / Paraty / Rio de Janeiro

1st day – Italy/Belo Horizonte/Ouro Preto

Arrival at the COFINS airport in Belo Horizonte, welcome and transfer to Ouro Preto.  Lodging at the Pousada Arcanjo.  Breifing with a presentation of the trips program.  Free day.

2nd day – Ouro Preto

Breakfast.  Tour of the city with the theme “A Vila Rica,” during which we will follow the history of the city, from the discovery of the first gold nugget to the first capital of Minas Gerais.  Lunch (included) in a typical mineiro restaurant.  Dinner and evening free.

Note:  It is possible to organize an event to see a symphonic music concert in the Baroque San Francisco Church, but considering that the cost is about 2,000 euros, we recommend this to larger groups.

3rd day – Lavras Novas

Breakfast. Expedição Bandeirantes tour, during which we go along the old path of the bandeirantes (scouts), admiring and immersing ourselves in the beautiful nature of the Atlantic forest and the savanna, passing by the idyllic Custódio Lagoon and taking a therapeutic and energizing swim in the pools of the Cascata dos Namorados (the lovers waterfall).  Arrive in Lavras Novas, a village that preserves the social and cultural characteristics of a quilombola community.  Lunch (included) prepared by a native cook in the workshop of a local artist, with a charming view of the mountain range.  A group of native musicians will play popular music during lunch.  Afterwards, the “Open Windows” tour through the village, interacting and cultural exchange with the local community, who will open their doors to visitors.  Lavras Novas is known for its handicrafts made of taquara (bambu).  Lodging at the Pousada Palavras Novas.  Free evening.

4th Day – Tiradentes

Breakfast.  Transfer to Tiradentes, passing along the beautiful Estrada Real.  During the trip we pass through Congonhas to visit and admire the Bom Jesus dos Matosinhos Church, the masterpiece of the sculptor Aleijadinho.  Proceeding to Tiradentes, we will have lunch (not included) in a typical restaurant called “Café com Prosa” (Coffee with Prose).  Arrival in Tiradentes and lodging at the Pousada Solar da Ponte or the Pousada da Terra.  At night, dinner (included) at the Emporio Santo Antonio restaurant.  Stay overnight.

5th day – Tiradentes

Breakfast.  Tour of the city with the theme “Tiradentes, an uncontaminated culture and city.”  A walk along the old rock/cobblestone streets appreciating one of the most preserved and charming cities of Minas Gerais, where many artists find inspiration for their work.  Lunch (not included) in a gourmet restaurant in the historic center.  Evening and night free.

Note:  In the evening, it is possible to organize an African dance performance made up of teenagers, accompanied by a musical group from Maracatu.  Also in this case, considering the cost is around 600 euros, it is recommended for groups.

6th day – Coronel Xavier Chaves

Leave for the Coqueiros Ranch, where you will be served a typical homemade mineiro breakfast (included), in the company of the owners of the ranch, so that you can understand and experience the famous hospitality of people from this region (called mineiros).  Next, we will ride horses in the company of one of the members of the family (those who do not wish to ride a horse may ride in the jeep).  We will pass through some old plantations until we get to the alembic “Century XVII”, the oldest cachaça distillery in Brazil – still active, and since that time, administered by the traditional Rezende family.  Tasting (included) of the cachaças of various ages accompanied by typical mineiro appetizers prepared in a wood-burning original stove.  Transfer to the Coronel Xavier Chaves municipality, and old urban cluster, lodging in the suggestive Pousada “O Sobrado” (The Townhouse), the residence of the Rezende family.  Everything remains unchanged:  the structure, the furniture, the clothes, the dishes and even the cuisine.  Dinner is served in the charming dining room (included) and is based on typical recipes from the XVII century.  The host, Mr. Rubens, will make everyone feel at home and tell interesting family stories, will also accompany the history of the region.

7th day – Caxambu

Breakfast.  Leave for Caxambú, the biggest spa in the world. Overnight in a ranch hotel.  Free day.  Dinner at the hotel.

8th day – Paraty

Breakfast.  Leave for Cunha, an old city between the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and stop where scouts and caravans that headed north stayed after having crossed the treacherous Serra do Mar (Mountain of the Sea).  Visit some local artisan workshops where famous ceramics are produced.  Afterwards we will switch forms of transportation and get in the jeep, go over the mountain range and admire the charming landscapes.  Arrival in Paraty and lunch (not included) in a typical restaurant.  Lodging at the Pousada do Sandy.  Evening and Night free.

9th day – Paraty

Breakfast.  Tour with the theme “The Gold Path,” during which we will go along about 2 km of original rock road, the first part of the old Estrada Real path.  Transfer to the small Paraty port and board a scuna for a marine tour “The path of the sea,” among the uncontaminated  islands of the charming Bay of Ilha Grande, with its deserted beaches and green crystalline waters.  Lunch of fresh fish (included) in an isolated restaurant.  Free night.

10th day – Paraty

Breakfast.  Tour with the theme “Amerindians and old mestiços.”  Transfer to the Paratymirim beach, where our tour aboard the fishermens boat begins, heading to the largest channel of mangroves in Brazil, the Saco de Mamanguá, until we reach the community of Caiçaras, an ethnicity that for centuries has lived off of fishing and handicrafts.  Visit the village, in the company of the natives, and have a typical caiçara fresh fish lunch (included).  Return to Paraty, free night.

11th day – Rio de Janeiro

Breakfast.  Transfer to Rio de Janeiro and lodging in a hotel.  Free day.

12th day – Rio de Janeiro

Breakfast.  Tour with the theme “Santa Teresa, the tropical Montmatre” (lunch included).  We will visit the first peripheral neighborhood in Rio – previously inhabited by Rio’s high society – with its houses in the French architectural style of the XIX century.  The neighborhood is known for its trams from that era, which are still functioning.  Currently Santa Teresa is not just a high-class neighborhood, but considered more bohemian as it is frequented by many artists, intellectuals, and foreigners.  The favelas (ghettos) are also present, among which we will visit Morrinho, where a group of teenagers created a truly original piece of popular art – a miniature favela made out of tiles, reproducing all of the aspects of daily life of this degraded urban center.  Due to the enourmous success of the piece of art, the Biennial of Venice invited the young artists to participate in the most recent phase of the event.  The tour ends with a visit to the symbol of the capital, one of the ninth wonders of the world:  The Corcovado (the Christ).  Dinner in a churrascaria (barbeque) (included) and a musical night in the bars of the historic Lapa neighborhood.

13th day – Rio de Janeiro

Breakfast.  Tour of the city with the theme “Rio de Janeiro, the Capital of Empire” (lunch not included).  We will visit the city, from the urban and socio-economic development, to the simple captaincy to the capital of the empire.  Next is the visit to one of the seven hills where the city emerged, Pão-de-Açúcar (the sugarloaf).  Evening and night free.

14th day – Rio de Janeiro/Italy

Breakfast.  Transfer to the airport in time to board your direct flight to Italy.