Colonial Routes
Day 1 : Welcome to the "Marvelous City"
Reception at International Airport and Transfer to Hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Rio de Janeiro
Morning: Half Day Corcovado Tour and Tijuca Forest. First stop is a visit to the Christ the Redeemer statue, standing on top of Corcovado Mountain (2,300 feet above sea level). To get there, you will drive through The Laranjeiras residential district and the quaint Cosme Velho to the Corcovado train Station, where you will board a cogwheel train for a 15-minutes ride that crosses Tijuca Forest - The largest urban forest in the world. It has 8,000 acres of tropical rain forest right in the middle of Rio de Janeiro. Once the mountaintop, you will be amazed at the construction of the statue that consists of 120 feet of concrete and soapstone above the spectacular 360° view over the city.
Day 3: Rio de Janeiro
Morning: Cultural City Tour in Rio. Rio de Janeiro was founded in 1565 by Portuguese settlers between Dog Face Hill and Sugar Loaf in todays residential area of Urca district. Then the city the city was moved to a more protected location which is now the site of downtown Rio. Many remains of the colonial period are still in existence including ornate baroque churches, palatial mansions and several tree-filled plazas, grand monuments and fountains. In this tour, you will have the opportunity to see important historical places, churches and monuments.
Afternoon: Half Day Sugar Loaf and beaches Tour Starting at the hotel, you will drive along famous beaches, such as Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana and Leme, reaching Praia Vermelha or Red Beach, in the Urca district. There, a cable car ascent is made in two stages toward the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain. It will take three minutes to reach the first stage, the Urca Mountain, where the gardens and sightseeing view will invite you to enjoy this midway stop before proceeding to the peak; where the crescent of the Atlantic Ocean beaches come fully into view and you will be amazed and certain of the city's beauty. Evening: Optional Tour Rio by Night at Samba Show including a typical BBQ dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Transfer to Paraty
Morning: Transfer to Paraty. Check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Paraty
Optional: Paraty Walking Tour. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Transfer to Tiradentes
Check out and transfer to Tiradentes, stopping in Petropolis, the Imperial City. Visit the Imperial Museum in Petropolis. The Imperial city of Petropolis is located 55 miles from Rio, riding through a beautiful countryside the Serra das Estrelas Mountains. The main point of interest in the city is the Emperor Dom Pedro II summer residence, restored to its original splendor and that is nowadays the Imperial Museum. There you will get close to the past history of Brazil, also will be able to see the Imperial Crown, which has over 600 diamonds and pearls. Trip continuous until Tiradentes. Arrive in Tiradentes check in at an Inn. Overnight at the Inn.
Day 7: Tiradentes
City Tour Tiradentes visiting Father Toledos house and St. Antonio Church Depart to São João del Rey, visiting St. Francisco de Assis and Pilar churches. Afternoon: Stop in Congonhas do Campo and visit Aleijadinhos Sculpture. End of the day: Arrive in Ouro Preto. Check in and overnight at an Inn.
Day 8: Ouro Preto
Morning: walking tour Ouro Preto (Mineralogy museum). Afternoon: Tour in Mariana passing through Catedral da Sé and Municipal Chamber. Optional tours: Mina da Passgem Tour, Maria Fumaça Train. Overnight in Ouro Preto.
Day 9: Belo Horizonte
Depart to Belo Horizonte. Arrive in Belo Horizonte. City Tour Belo Horizonte ending at airport. You will have a general impression of the many cultural aspects of the city. You will visit The Liberty Square, where every Sunday morning local art crafts are shown and sold. The Cathedral, the historical Museum of Independence and the Chapel of Saint Francis, decorated by Portinari and built by Oscar Niemeyer who is the architect who built Brasília, are other points that you will visit in this tour.
