WORLD HISTORIC ROUTE – DISCOVERING BRAZIL’S FASCINATING PAST: A TRIP BACK IN TIME

Day 1: Origin – Belo Horizonte- Ouro Preto

Airport arrival at Belo Horizonte and transfer to Ouro Preto, the crown jewel of the historical cities of Minas Gerais. Thanks to the fever for gold and diamonds there are numerous cities of colonial architecture built in this terrain of mountains and valleys. Upon arrival, we will move to our pousada,located in the historic center of the city.

Then we will go walking on a guided tour. Uphill, downhill, the city´s colonial houses live with the excitement of the students at the Federal University and the community who comes to town for frequent events that take place in the region. We will see part of the immense wealth discovered in the area that was used to decorate important churches like Matriz do Pilar, 1733, a maximum example ofBrazilian baroque. We`ll appreciate the Church of São Francisco, 1810, with panels, frames, andpainting on the ceiling of the Mestre Athaíde. Next, we’ll visit a traditional urban mine. After the visit wereturn to the pousada.

Night at the Hotel Pousada Casa Grande | Standard Room.

Included: only Driver (Portuguese speaking) , private service , arrival transfer , guide included , walking tour , room and breakfast

Day 2: Ouro Preto

 After breakfats, we start the tour with a walk in the beautiful Ouro Preto. Some good starting points todiscover the historic attractions and understand the region’s importance to the nation’s memory are the Museu da Inconfidência and Casa dos Contos. We will see part of the immense wealth discovered in the area that was used to decorate important churches. We`ll appreciate the Church of São Franciscoand then leave Ouro Preto bound for Mariana. We’ll visit Catedral Basílica da Sé, a house of 1770, now the Museu Arquidiocesano de Arte Sacra. Following, we visit the famous Mina da Passagem, where aboard a cart we’ll get to know the main galleries of the site. We return to Ouro Preto.

Night at the Hotel Pousada Casa Grande | Standard Room.

Included: activity with guide, driver + guide, private service, walking tour, entrance               fees, room, and breakfast

Day 3: Ouro Preto- Tiradentes

 In the morning, after breakfast and check out we will leave Ouro Preto and on the way we stop in Congonhas, to see the Santuário de Bom Jesus de Matosinho, where we find one of Aleijadinho`smasterpieces, the set of sculptures named Doze Profetas.

We continue to São João del Rei, where we will see monuments such as the Church of São Francisco with works and projects of Aleijadinho and landscaping of Burle Marx. Next on, we leave forTiradentes, considered the most charming city of Minas Gerais and gastronomic capital of this state. It has a rich collection of the first half of the eighteenth century, in addition to housing one of the bestrestaurants in Brazil where we will have lunch (not included).

Night at the Pousada Villa Alferes | Standard Room.

Included: activity with guide, driver + guide, private service, entrance fees, room, and                breakfast

Day 4: Tiradentes- Aiurouca

In the morning, we will take a city tour through the city of Tiradentes, with guided tours to the main attractions as Santo Antônio’s Church, the Chafariz, and to the historic center. We will walk by the old, cobbled alleyways, where we will find churches, chapels, museums, and handicraft workshops.

Driving along the Estrada Real to Vale do Matutu, we will stop at Carrancas, known as the city of waterfalls. In addition to its ¨cachoeiras¨, we will visit there the Fazenda Traiatuba, to learn about itsimportance in colonial times. In the afternoon, we will arrive at Vale do Matutu, passing through the city of Aiuruoca, initiating then our entry into the Serra da Mantiqueira, at the Serra do Papagaio StatePark.

Night at the Pousada Tia Iraci | Standard Room. Dinner is included.

Included: activity with guide, private service, driver + guide , arrival transfer , room and breakfast , dinner (no drinks)

 Day 5: Aiurouca

After breakfast, we will have time to take a hike up to the peakCabeça do Leão. Just before noon, we will go towards the city of Mauá, horizontally cutting part of the Serra da Mantiqueira, reaching the town of Santo Antônio do Rio Grande. There, we will visit a traditional farm that produces regional cheese, and we will taste a sample of their products. We then reach Mauá by the Vale do Acantiladoand then by the Vale das Flores, with its natural attractions. At night we will make a walk by Vila de Maringá, where we`ll be recommended to dine a typical dish made on local fish.

Night at the Pousada da Mantiqueira | Standard Room.

Included: activity with guide, driver + guide, private service, arrival transfer , walking tour , entrance fees , room and breakfast

Day 6: Aiuruoca – Paraty

 We leave to Paraty and, on our way, we visit a traditional chocolate factory. We will pass by the cityof Cunha, and then we cut part of the Atlantic Forest by the Serra do Mar and through the oldCunha-Paraty Road, where we can enjoy the beautiful view of great part of Paraty Bay. We make astop to visit a Fazenda that produces ¨Cachaça¨ (sugarcane liquor).

Later, our expert local guide will take you back in time to the Portuguese discovery of Brazil and trace the development of Paraty through the sugar, gold, and coffee economic booms. The history of Paraty is, after all, the history of Brazil. Beautiful colonial architecture, street design ahead of its time, exiledPortuguese royalty and the dark past of the slave trade – these are just some of the ingredientsthat make up Paraty’s rich and colorful history from the past to the present day.

Night at the Pousada Villas de Paraty | Standard Room

Included: activity with guide, driver Guide , private service , arrival transfer , entrance fees , guide included , walking tour , room andbreakfast

Day 7: Paraty

On this day, our attention will be focused on the history of the gold cycle through the Caminho doOuro (Golden Trail) that lies between Paraty and Minas Gerais. The private car drives to the border between Paraty and Minas Gerais for 30 minutes until the city of Penha, arriving before the visiting groups. Here, walking, we will rebuild at every step a fascinating history, discovering at the sametime the magic nature that surrounds us. Step back in time on the Golden Trail, the paved road built by African slaves in the 18th Century to bring gold and precious stones out of the Brazilian interior andonto ships bound for Portugal. After walking on the trail through the rainforest we stop at waterfalls for swimming and finish up at a cachaça distillery where the rum is still made the traditional way.After the visit, we return to the hotel by bus or private vehicle.

Night at the Pousada Villas de Paraty | Standard Room

Included: activity with guide, private service , this activity/transfer involves public transportation , walking tour , room and breakfast

Day 8: Paraty

In the morning we’ll make the most traditional tour of the region. The most beautiful beaches and islands will be discovered on the very best small, converted fishing boats with onboard bar and toilet facilities. And for this reason, it has become one of the most popular. We will have the best ride aboardexcellent boats with lots of charm, comfort, and safety. Traditional routes, with stops at beaches and islands in the Bay of Paraty, great for snorkeling and sunbathing, with 40-minute stops (approximatelyat every site) including bathing, optional lunch.

Night at the Pousada Villas de Paraty | Standard Room

Included: activity with guide, boat ticket, transport, room and breakfast

 Day 9: Paraty- Rio de Janeiro

 After breakfast and check out, we will transfer by land to Rio de Janeiro. The Carioca City has a magical quality and offers the traveler a wide variety of touristic sights and a daily program with great number of leisure activities. The hotel located on the famous beach of Copacabana.

Night at the Windsor Palace Hotel | Standard Room.

Included: only Driver (Portuguese speaking), private service, arrival transfer, room, and breakfast

Day 10: Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, we will take a tour we contemplate the lifestyle of the

cariocas. We start with a walk to the nearest station where we will take the subway and travel for 15minutes. Walking, we’ll visit the historic and commercial center of Rio, highlighting the Metropolitan Cathedral of São Sebastião and the Saara neighborhood. We will have the opportunity to see the customs, commerce, and joy of the Carioca people. We will stop to try a delicious natural juice madewith tropical fruits and at the end we will have lunch (included) at Confeitaria Colombo, which is one of the oldest and most historic restaurants in Brazil. We return to the subway station and go to the nearest stop to the hotel from where we will walk.

Lunch at Restaurante & Confeitaria Colombo.

Night at the Windsor Palace Hotel | Standard Room.

Included: activity with guide, private service, this activity/transfer involves public transportation, walking tour , fruit Juice, lunch included (nodrinks included unless specified , entrance fees, room and breakfast

Day 11: Rio de Janeiro

Check out and transfer to the airport of Rio de Janeiro for departure to our next destination.

Guide in your language.