Brazilian History & Food Tour - Private Multi Day Tour

This tour will take you to the state of Minas Gerais, which has some of the best preserved colonial towns in Brazil and is also famous for its delicious cuisine and hospitable people. Discover the colourful historic towns and the works of Aleijadinho, where you will feel as though you’ve stepped back in time or into an old movie! Taste some of the finest recipes of Minas Gerais, like feijoada, pão de queijo, brigadeiro, and some of the best cakes in the country. Learn about the goldsmith, take a journey on a vintage steam train, visit one of the most beloved open air artspace, and connect with this fascinating part of Brazil.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Minas Gerais

Stop At: Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais
Today you will land in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Although Belo Horizonte is a jungle of skyscrapers, it has a pleasant vibe, everything here is spacious and you do not feel cramped. Time permitting take a city tour. Pampulha has some famous creations of Oscar Niemeyer, Praça da Liberdade is a beautiful palm tree-lined square with many interesting cultural centers. Our favourite spot is Pope Square, offering a panoramic view over the city – this is the best place to be at sunset. At dinner try some of the delicious recipes of this Brazilian gourmet paradise. Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel.

Day 2: Belo Horizonte to Ouro Preto

Stop At: Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais
Today you will be transferred to Ouro Preto. Nestled amongst lush green hills, Ouro Preto is a cultural gem and masterpiece of baroque architecture where you will step back in time. UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. Take a discovery tour to see Casa dos Contos, Inconfidencia Museum, Mineralogical Museum, Oratorio, churches and several beautiful local workshops where they still create gold jewelry. At the local restaurants, one can experience excellence of a regional food that was influenced by European and African cuisines. Treat yourself to fine dining. Overnight at Solar do Rosario.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Solar do Rosario.

Day 3: Mariana & Andorinhas

Stop At: Andorinhas Waterfall, Rua Rio Piracicaba, Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais 35400-000 Brazil
After breakfast visit one of the first capitals of Brazil by steam train or by car, Mariana. You will see the beautiful Sé Basílica, Minas Gerais Square, São Francisco de Assis and Nossa Senhora do Carmo churches. In the afternoon visit the nearby Andorinhas Park, 5 km from Ouro Preto. This is a protected area with very nice views, waterfalls and streams, surrounded by forest. Walk to see Mirante do Vermelhão, Pedra do Jacaré, Cachoeira do Veu da Noiva waterfall and maybe Cachoeira das Andorinhas which is a bit further on (a walk down the trail is needed). Upon return to Ouro Preto, spend the evening at leisure. Overnight at Solar do Rosario.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Solar do Rosario.

Day 4: Congonhas & Tiradentes

Stop At: Tiradentes, Tiradentes, State of Minas Gerais
After breakfast continue to Tiradentes, passing through Congonhas, a small baroque town where you can visit Basílica Bom Jesus de Matosinhos and Passos Chapel. Tiradentes is also very scenic and an ideal if you want to rest and eat well. It is simply comfortable and stylish. Visit the main historical spots of the city: Chafariz de São José, Museu de Arte Sacra, Padre Toledo’s house and the Church Matriz de Santo Antônio. The small shops craftworks are of the finest quality, Brazilian art being the result of a mixed colonial society. This aspect distinguished Brazilian baroque from the European one. Overnight at Solar da Ponte.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Solar da Ponte.

Day 5: São João del Rei

Stop At: Sao Joao del Rei, Sao Joao del Rei, State of Minas Gerais
After breakfast spend the morning in Tiradentes and then visit another marvelous colonial town at midday. Take a fantastic train ride on the Maria Fumaça Train, from Tiradentes up to São João del Rei (Friday-Sunday only). Departures from Tiradentes at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. A must-see place in São João Del Rei is São Francisco de Assis Church, which is the first baroque church in the country and the only one in town designed by Aleijadinho. In the evening return to Tiradentes and enjoy an evening tea and free time to walk around the neighbourhood and indulge in a spot of shopping. Overnight at Solar da Ponte.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Solar da Ponte.

Day 6: Inhotim

Stop At: Inhotim, Rua B 20, Brumadinho, State of Minas Gerais 35460-000 Brazil
Today continue your journey, discovering an amazing art space, one of a kind. It is acknowledged as one of the main art destinations in the world, currently being the largest open air museum of contemporary art. Institute Inhotim is a mixture of contemporary art and nature. There are more than 500 pieces of art spread throughout many pavilions and open-air areas. All of this is surrounded by lakes, gardens, mountains and valleys. The Institute is the only place in Latin America, where you can find a titan arum plant, the biggest flower of the world. After the visit continue your journey towards the park of Serra do Cipo. Overnight at Capim do Mato.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Capim do Mato.

Day 7: Serra do Cipo

Stop At: Serra do Cipo, Serra do Cipo, Santana do Riacho, State of Minas Gerais
After nourishing your art and history spirit, today take a break and reflect on it in the nature. Spend a full day in one of the most beautiful nature parks of Minas Gerais. With a wide variety of flora and fauna and gorgeous natural landscapes, Serra do Cipo is a fantastic destination for walking. Enjoy trekking and get to see beautiful caves, waterfalls, rivers, canyons and forest. The guide will tell you about the local plants and animals and you even might spot some of them while hiking. After a relaxing time at the hotel spa, prepare driving north to visit a few more picturesque towns the next day. Overnight at Capim do Mato.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight at Capim do Mato.

Day 8: Serro & Diamantina

Stop At: Diamantina, Diamantina, State of Minas Gerais
Today visit the historical towns of Serro and Diamantina. Theses cities are well known for the artisanal production of cheese, cachaça and sweets. The first people to settle here were adventurers, looking for gold and diamonds. This part of Minas Gerais has always been known for its precious stones, as the region always had potential for mining. But also gained fame for its personalities, like Chica da Silva, a slave woman who married a Portuguese, and Juscelino Kubitschek, former President of Brazil. Diamantina is a pretty UNESCO heritage site. Overnight at Pousada do Garimpo.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight at Pousada do Garimpo.

Day 9: Departure

Stop At: Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais
After breakfast you will be transferred back to Belo Horizonte to catch your flight home, or for onward travel. The departure time is flexible and you can plan your day accordingly. If you may want to explore more of Minas Gerais, we recommend some national parks such as Capitólio which is in the south of the state, and Caparaó in the east. These parks are more distant though and require more time, since there are a lot of beautiful nature sites to explore on a slow pace.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
•
No accommodation included on this day.

Informacion Adicional
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"Near public transportation"
"Infant seats available"
"Most travelers can participate"
"This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate"
"Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability"



Start Time: 12:00 AM
Duration: 9 Days
Start location: Traveler pickup is offered
We can pick you up anywhere in Minas Gerais or even in the state of Rio de Janeiro

Airports

• Tancredo Neves Intl Airport, Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais Brazil
• Pampulha Airport, Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais Brazil

Cancellations and refunds: All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

Included

• 9x Breakfast
• Accommodation included: 8 nights
• Entry/Admission - Inhotim
• Entry/Admission - Andorinhas Waterfall

Not Included

• Flights, Insurance, Tips, Personal Expenses

Facilities