Brazil's Colonial Treasures

Trip Highlights

Embark on both a visually and intellectually enticing journey to a country that not only satisfies the senses with its natural beauty, but also stimulates the intellect with its rich culture and history. Walk in the footsteps of the Gold Rush miners, bandeirantes, who flocked from Portugal to the state of Minas Gerais, making it the most populous gold mining center in Latin America. Begin in the picturesque colonial town of Ouro Preto, a former mining town known for its impressive Baroque Portuguese colonial architecture and charming homes. Beaming with history, this city is marked by unforgettable events, such as the Gold Rush, slavery and the birth of Brazil's greatest artist, Alejandinho. Explore hidden towns along the way, before reaching Tiradentes, regarded as one of the most beautiful towns in Brazil and the perfect place to explore Brazilian cuisine for excellent cachaça and comfort food. Head to the countryside retreat of Comuna do Ibitipoca, a truly authentic and all-inclusive luxury farmhouse, offering an immersive experience in nature, culture and local community. Change the pace and head to the glitzy city of Rio de Janeiro, making stops at must-see breathtaking landmarks and tasting the city’s true flavors through a hands-on cooking class. Return back to nature as you finalize the journey on the coast of Paraty, a seaside colonial village backed by steep jungled mountains.

Hotels and lodges described in the itinerary are recommended by Craft Travel but there are numerous options in each destination and we will customize your itinerary based upon your preferences. With your feedback, we will similarly customize suggested activities, time spent in each location and trip extensions to additional destinations of interest nearby.

Detailed Itinerary

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be privately transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight at Hotel Fasano (no meals)

In the morning, you will begin your 2-hour private transfer to the colonial town of Ouro Preto. Along the way, we will stop at the Inhotim Museum, a Contemporary Art and Botanical Center as well as one of the best outdoor museums in the world.

Declared a World Heritage Site in 1980, Ouro Preto is a postcard image of cobbled streets, elegant colonial mansions and baroque churches. Founded in 1711, Ouro Preto became the center of gold, diamond and other semi-precious stones for trading during the colonial-era. We will explore this incredible city by foot with your private guide, and assure a visit to Sao Francisco de Assis Church, Matriz do Pilar Church, the Opera House and the museums that best suit your interests (note: Museums and churches are closed on Mondays).

Optional Tour: With changes in the itinerary, Ouro Preto can be visited on Day 3 and today we can visit the nearby town of Mariana, formerly the capital of Minas, and along with Ouro Preto, another important city for gold extraction during the colonial period. After a walk through this picturesque town, we will visit the Passage Mine, one of the biggest mine in the world open for visitations. The descent to the underground gallery is done through a trolley, where will will learn about the process of golden extraction.

Overnight at Hotel Pousada do Arcanjo (Breakfast)

After breakfast, we will visit another historical town of Minas, Congonhas, home to important works of Baroque art and architecture from the Golden Age, including the famous Basilica do Senhor Bom Jesus Matosinhos, with life size sculptures of the twelve Prophets. We will continue the colonial center of Sao Joao del Rei, founded in 1703 and home to 18th century churches, such as Sao Francisco de Assis with carvings by the sculptor Alejandinho. We will have lunch at a local restaurant for a taste of the country’s comfort food. The most famous cheese in Minas Gerais is the queijo minas, a soft cheese that is sometimes eaten for breakfast or as an appetizer. Minas also makes the best farofa de andu, a fried cassava flour served with rice and beans. These delicacies should not be missed!

We will make our way to the town of Tiradentes, the most charming town in all of Minas Gerais! Located at the foot of Serra de Sao Jose, this town is filled with trails that hikers can take through impressive rock formations. Explore this charming city by foot, filled with antique stores and colorful homes, shadowed by the lush mountains nearby. We will tour the Padre Toledo’s museum and the beautiful 1710 Santo Antonio’s church, picturesque for its bright palette of yellow and baroque architecture.

Spend the rest of your evening at leisure and soak up the natural beauty of this region, by either hiking or horseback riding.

Overnight at Solar da Ponte Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch)

Tiradentes is also the culinary goldmine of Brazil, great for foodies wanting to explore local restaurants of this region. This tour is a delightful discovery of the region's flavors. We will spend the day experiencing the routine of some of the local producers of cheese, homemade sweets, handmade pasta, fruit jellies, and cachaça, while also making stops at local restaurants and cafes for sampling traditional delicacies.

Optional Tour on the Cheeses of Minas Gerais:

This tour offers an immersion into the history and culture of artisanal cheese production. The region of Campo das Vertentes is the historical cradle of the famous artisanal raw milk cheese. Recipe brought by the Portuguese that became a symbol of Minas’ gastronomy. We will take you on a journey through the history of this icon of local culinary, the famous Minas cheese. Get to know the people and stories of families that help keep this tradition alive.

Overnight at Solar da Ponte Hotel (Breakfast)

We will make our way to the Cerrado, or farm-like savanna region, for an escape to the countryside at Comuna do Ibitipoca, a farmhouse dating back to 1715, which embodies the essence of Minas Gerais. This charming lodge is ideal for those who want to relax, disconnect from the digital world, enjoy delicious homemade food and see an authentic side of Brazil known to remarkably few tourists. Located in the state’s Zona da Mata region in the village of Conceição do Ibitipoca, Comuna do Ibitipoca is surrounded by the Ibitipoca State Park, one of the most astonishing places in Minas Gerais. With its trails, waterfalls, caves, lakes, rivers and mountain peaks of up to 1,800 meters, the nature reserve mesmerises even those not used to hiking and outdoor activities. Secluded from the big cities and relatively unknown to tourists, the lodge harmoniously blends luxury and simplicity which makes it stand out from others.

Enjoy the smell of freshly brewed coffee, bread just out of the oven, the feeling of being at home, which defines mineiros and their traditions. There are only 8 guest rooms in Engenho Lodge, the main lodge, and a separate three bedroom villa. Magic emanates from this place and draws guests back, year after year, for longer and longer stays. Four additional remote cottages are spread across the reserve, allowing guests to complete lodge to lodge circuits and fully immerse themselves in the beauty and remoteness of the region. 

Guests can explore this magical landscape by day; on foot, atop mangalara horses, via a modern fleet of electric assisted mountain bikes, stand up paddle boards and jeeps.  Surprises await at every turn in this paradise, which include a sculpture garden of 30 foot tall steel figures by Californian artist Karen Cusolito, remote vista points where freshly squeezed juices and snacks are left mysteriously by the staff in advance of your arrival, at the base of thundering waterfalls exotic swimming holes ringed by crystalline quartz beaches, where again, fluffy white towels are left for you. On the conservation side - there is a fully staffed rehabilitation center for the northern Muriqui monkey, the most critically endangered primate species on earth which is being rescued from extinction. On the cultural side, you will come across small mountain communities and farms populated by jovial and welcoming locals who are growing organic produce, distilling cachaca, and creating incredible handicrafts. 

A maximum of 600 visitors a day are permitted to enter the Ibitipoca State Park. Guests at Comuna do Ibitipoca get guaranteed, priority entry, as the lodge’s land is a private reserve adjacent to the park. All meals are included during your stay, as well as a daily tea time.

Overnight at Comuna do Ibitipoca (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

With heavy hearts, we will say goodbye to Ibitipoca as we head our way to Rio de Janeiro, for a four hour drive. Along the way, we will stop at the mountainside retreat of Petropolis, located in the Serra dos Orgaos National Park. We will visit the Imperial Museum, which served as the summer residence of the imperial family in the 19th century, as well as the Crystal Palace and Sao Pedro de Alcantara Gothic Cathedral.

Overnight at Hotel Santa Teresa Rio MGallery by Sofitel (Breakfast)

Enjoy a full day of exploring Rio with your private guide, from visiting famous iconic monuments, such as Christ the Redeemer, to exploring nooks and Rio’s best kept secrets. We will board a train up the beautiful mountain side to reach the feet of Christ the Redeemer, located 2,300 feet above sea level. Enjoy the impressive panoramic views of this “Marvelous City”. We will also explore Santa Teresa, a traditional neighborhood that is home to several 20th century mansions, galleries and high-end restaurants and cafes. This is a wonderful area of cobbled stoned streets and a haven for local artists and intellectuals. You will also tour the port of Rio, which was key for exporting the gold from Minas Gerais to Portugal. The port is also filled with open-air artwork, from the original settlements of monuments and statues from the 18th century to the recently renovated area of Porto Maravilha. Learn about the history of Rio in this tour as you walk through narrow alleys filled with mural arts to larger murals covering old warehouses. End this tour as you take a cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain for a visit to one of Rio’s most iconic sites.

In the evening, save your appetite as you will learn about the heritage of Brazilian cuisine through a private cooking class! Tracing back the cooking methods used by the native, Africans and Europeans, this melting pot of nationalities is what defines Brazilian cuisine. You will be warmly welcomed into the chef’s home for the cooking class, preparing Brazilian dishes using fresh produce, herbs and spices that are so typical of Brazil. Finish your meal with your own homemade caipirinha, Brazil’s national drink that gets everyone dancing samba at the end of the night!

Overnight at Hotel Santa Teresa Rio MGallery by Sofitel (Breakfast & Dinner)

Begin your departure along the Emerald Coast towards the coastal historical town of Paraty, located approximately 4 hours south west of Rio de Janeiro. Once operating as an important port for exporting gold to Portugal, this coastal town is now a retreat for enjoying the colorful historical city, beaches, waterfalls and impressively lush trails, while staying at one of the luxury pousadas. Stalled in time, one will admire the colorful homes and churches dating back to 17th and 18th century. With your guide, explore the old town by foot as your guide takes you back in time.

Overnight at Casa Turquesa - Maison D’Hotel (Breakfast)

In Paraty, there is a place for everyone. From it’s historical sites to the abundance of nature flourishing, there are different ways to explore these final days in Brazil. At Craft Travel, we recommend one of the options below that best meets your expectations:

• Ecotour of Trinidade: We will visit the charming little fishing village of Trindade and its four pristine beaches and natural spring pool - Caixa d'Aço. Tour includes a 40 minute hike through the mountain forests and across a few streams. Enjoy a fresh dip in the crystal clear waters of Caixa d'Aço.

• Sailing around Paraty: Paraty has over 65 islands and hundreds of beautiful beaches with crystal clear water, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. On this tour we will board a schooner and sail to some of the most beautiful beaches and islands in the bay, all surrounded by dense rainforest. After an initial journey of about 40 minutes we’ll make three separate stops of about an hour each, giving us plenty of time for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkelling. Although the exact locations tend to vary with each tour, the islands generally included in the tour are Comprida, Algodão, Cotia and Praia Vermelha, as well as the beaches of Lulas and Saco da Velha.

• Cachaça Distillery & Waterfalls: This tour takes us into the beautiful National Forest of Serra da Bocaina, visiting the waterfalls of Pedra Branca and Toboga. For those daring enough to try, it’s possible to slide all the way down the waterfall as it is formed by 30 meters of smooth rock. Next, we will visit a Cachaça Distillery to learn about the production of Brazil’s most famous spirit, before heading for lunch at a picturesque restaurant on the Perequê River. Enjoy the natural pools of this area before heading back to your Pousada.

• Scuba Diving: Must be dive certified. Diving spots include Ilha Desert, Ilha Pequena de Meros, Ilha do Coco and Arrecife de Meros.

Overnight at Casa Turquesa - Maison D’Hotel (Breakfast)

Depending on your flight scheduled, you will be transferred to either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo’s International Airport for your departing flight home.

(Breakfast)

• 12 nights accommodation (based on double/twin occupancy)

• Daily breakfast

• Additional meals as specified in the itinerary

• All meals, snacks and soft drinks at Comuna da Ibitipoca

• All lodge-based activities at Comuna da Ibitipoca

• Scheduled guided excursions as specified in the itinerary

• All ground transfers between airports and accommodations

• *Not included: gratuities, visas (if applicable), international and internal flights, meals and drinks not described above, items of a personal nature