Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Brazil - Minas Gerais - Buzios - Rio de Janeiro
100% customisable for you
Flight to Belo Horizonte via Sao Paulo. Morning arrival in the capital of Minas Gerais. Assistance with picking up your rental car and setting off for Inhotim (40 miles away).
On the way - Sabara, a city dating from the gold rush. See the cobblestone street along the river, low houses with pink, blue, saffron walls, tiled roofs, gardens of bougainvilleas, and myriad churches with ochre or azure facades, all containing treasures such as bas-reliefs, votive offerings, earthenware and gold.
You'll spend the night in the small town of Brumadinho, in a welcoming hotel located in the immediate vicinity of the Inhotim Cultural Centre.
Included in the itinerary - Inhotim, both the botanical garden and museum of contemporary art, which hosts large artistic projects. A true conservatory of rare tropical species, it brings together the largest collection of palm trees on the planet and, scattered in lush vegetation, the works of generations of artists.
Then it's off to Ouro Preto (65 miles or about 2 hours) through the hills of Minas Gerais, along the way passing through the cities of Itabirito, Cachoeira do Campo or Mariana, founded in the 17th century, which have many preserved Baroque buildings. On arrival in Ouro Preto, accommodation for two nights in a beautiful 18th century house, furnished with antique furniture.
Here, all that glitters is gold - the heritage of the 18th, when the city was the mining centre of the Portuguese Crown. Walk through its squares and steep streets, admiring its colourful houses.
Things to see and experience - The thirteen Baroque churches, witnesses of the city's splendid past - the Mineralogy Museum: a dizzying collection of precious stones, diamonds and coloured stones, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, aquamarine and topaz - the Casa da Moeda (mint) - the municipal theatre, established in 1770 and the oldest functioning theatre in Latin America: four floors, 350 seats, gilding everywhere. Don't leave Ouro Preto without sampling the cuisine, and particularly the typical 'feijao tropeiro', pork shank, chopped cabbage, eggs, onions, grilled cassava flour, and brown beans.
Then off to Tiradentes via the Estrada Real, the Royal Route which, in the 18th century, made it possible to transport gold from Minas Gerais to the port at Paraty and to Rio de Janeiro, to the court of the Portuguese King.
On the way - The small colonial town of Congonhas do Campos and its UNESCO listed Basilica do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos - Sao Joao del Rei, with its numerous Baroque churches and colonial homes.
Spend two nights in an old 18th-century building in the historic centre of the city.
An air of rebellion still clings to this city, once trampled by slaves and then by the abolitionist leader who bequeathed it his name. A lovely colonial city - probably the most romantic in the region - all white, nestled in a circle of hills. Churches and mansions bear witness to a magnificent past, where you can admire their facades and finely carved altars.
Must-see - The 'Chafariz' Saint Joseph, the Matriz de Santo Antonio, for its remarkable architecture, and the view of the city from its esplanade, the museum of Padre Toledo.
Today, you're hitting the road in your rental car again, swapping Tiradentes for Rio (around a four hour drive away). You'll spend three nights in the bohemian district of Santa Teresa. Complete with an exuberant garden, you're staying in a house where the 19th century has left its mark. The decor is cool and colourful, and has been well served by Brazilian craftsmanship. From the window, Guanabara Bay shines in the sun. With this view, breakfast on the terrace is an opportunity that you simply can't ignore. Just below, a lovely swimming pool, perfect for relaxing in the evening.
Already included in the itinerary - The half-day tour with MAC's private guide, the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Nitero, a saucer shaped museum and crazy works by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Return ferry to Rio Bay. Things to see and do - Visit the Museu de Arte Moderna, built in 1960 by Alfonso Eduardo Reidy, for its perfect architecture - shop for a bikini at Bumbum - chill on Ipanema - observe trends in contemporary art at the Anita Schwartz gallery - see the Maracana Stadium and the huge concrete cone of Sao Sebastiao Cathedral, Rio's twin temples - indulge in churrasco (grilled meat) and feijoada (black bean and meat stew) - go shopping in the bohemian district of Lapa: Portuguese houses in faded colours reinvented as second-hand clothes shops, vintage shops and antique galleries, where splendid mid-century Brazilian furniture is the order of the day - sip Amazonian fruit juice in the cool of a rear courtyard in Leblon, after an afternoon's shopping.
Private transfer to the beautiful seaside resort of Buzios, 120 miles east in the state of Rio. Accommodation for five nights in a beautiful white house with blue shutters, glazed painted tile facades, in the historic centre of Buzios, a stone's throw from the church of Sant 'Ana and the beach. It looks a bit like Greece or Portugal but in the Tropics: Brazil, with a Mediterranean twist. In the spacious rooms, vintage furniture and the most comfortable bedding. The garden has two swimming pools and lush vegetation.
A small traditional fishing port that became a popular destination on the southern Atlantic coast, the beautiful seaside resort of Buzios is located on a peninsula, has long beaches - 20 in all - and small secret coves. At the weekends, Rio's inhabitants flock here to escape the bustling city and taste the almost 'Saint Tropez of the 60s' atmosphere of Buzios. Choose your beach depending on how you are feeling at the time - relaxing in the shade of a parasol, swimming or (kite) surfing - get around in a beach buggy, practice your swing, dive with a guide, read a book by the pool, stroll down cobbled streets now inhabited by galleries and designer workshops, and dine on the terrace... And repeat the next day. Included in the itinerary - A private boat trip around the peninsula along the cove-dotted coastline. In the afternoon, you'll stop at Ossos beach, with its seafront where charming houses and a tiny church sit side by side, Azeda and Azedinha beaches, two paradises with translucent green waters, and Joâo Fernandes and Joâo Fernandinho beaches, ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
Private transfer back to Rio then international return flight at the end of the day. Overnight flight, arriving the next day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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