Pick up at the airport by your English-speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in Belo Horizonte, the capital of the Minas Gerais state. Belo Horizonte is nowadays the third city of Brazil, after Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The most visited site of the city is the architectural ensemble in the "Pampulha" area, created by Oscar Niemeyer, the designer of the capital Brasilia. Read more

Belo Horizonte, 1 night

You take the road to the south of Belo Horizonte to visit Inhotim. Founded in 2005, Inhotim is like "a site that produces knowledge and in which the environment and the art cohabit, making up the starting point for applying social-educative means to various fields." In various suburban houses located at the heart of a vast green park, you can enjoy a great collection of contemporary art (paintings, photographs, videos, installations...), as well as the impressive botanical garden (hundreds of different species, some of which are especially rare). Transfer to Ouro Preto at the end of the day. Note: museum closed on monday. Read more

Ouro Preto, 2 nights

A short trip takes you to the mine of Passagem, halfway on the sinuous road between Ouro Preto and Mariana. Visit of this gigantic old gold mine, preserved nowadays like a testimony of the gold rush which made the area busy during the 18th century. A little cart will take you to a few hundred meters below the ground in the large caverns dug by slaves a few centuries ago. You drive a few more kilometers to reach Mariana. First town established in the Minas Gerais area by the Portuguese after the discovery of the gold and diamond deposits, Mariana, unchanged since the conquistadors, is surrounded with mountains. Mariana will instantly charm you with its particular character, the paved streets, the churches and the peacefulness of its inhabitants. Return to Ouro Preto, around midday, to finish your visit of the town. Read more

Ouro Preto, 2 nights

With your English-speaking guide go to Congonhas with a private vehicle. There you will discover the statues of the twelve prophets, considered as the masterpiece of Aleijadinho. These sculptures decorate the parvis of the Bom jesus de Matosinhos Basilica and are dominating an esplanade with the six chapels dos Passos where are kept some scenes of the Passion of the Christ sculpted in cypress wood at real size. Continue to Tiradentes. This small city is certainly the most romantic visit of all the colonial cities of Minas Gerais. The easiest thing to do is to let yourself wander freely in the narrow and steep streets. Read more

Tiradentes, 1 night

Departure from Tiradentes for a 280 km journey through a continental decor of rolling hills filled with history. At almost 1000 meters above sea level, you will discover the favorite holiday destination of the Brazilian Imperial family: Petrópolis. The Imperial museum, the former summer palace, is the most visited site. You will find there the Scepter and the Crown of the Emperor Don Pedro II. You will also visit many colonial mansions and Palaces (home of the baron of Mauá, of Santos Dumont, of princess Isabel, of Stefan Zweig, Amarelo palace, the Presidents Palace), museums, churches (cathedral of São Pedro de Alcântara) and finally the Cristal palace. Read more

Petrópolis, 1 night

Day open in Petrópolis. Start at the time you wish. The road going from Rio down to Petropolis is well worth it. With bridges over wonderful valleys, it meanders between the mountains of the Serra dos Orgaos. It is a one hour journey to arrive to the cidade maravilhosa.

Rio de Janeiro, 3 nights

Private visit of Rio’s city center, from a colossal avenue framed by imposing glass buildings to quaint, small streets and their little affordable shops. Many styles, one spirit, is the best definition to describe the architectural cocktail of the center, where past and modernism coexist in harmony. In the afternoon, a specialized guide will take you on an "off-the-beaten-track" visit: the favelas. This visit of a few hours in a different reality of Rio, will give you a more real and complete view of the life in Carioca than the images of violence poverty which usually shown by the medias lacking of originality. Read more

Rio de Janeiro, 3 nights

City tour with your English-speaking guide, firstly going up to the Corcovado, worldly known symbol of Rio. Once up there, take the time to appreciate the unique and amazing panoramic view of the "cidade maravilhosa". Then way back down via Santa Teresa, which used to be one of the wealthiest residential neighborhoods of Rio, when the town was the capital of Brazil and all the principal institutions were located there. Surrounded by the agglomeration, the neighborhood has lost its former character, and the wealth of the area has moved to the Southwest of Rio, to Barra da Tijuca. Walk through this area to get a taste of its quaint and old atmosphere. During the trip to Lapa, visit the colored stairs or "Escadaria do Convento da Santa Teresa", decorated by Jorge Selarón. Later, take the cable cart to the summit of the Sugarloaf, another symbol of Rio which marks the entrance of the Guanabara Bay. Read more

Rio de Janeiro, 3 nights

Departure from the hotel for a journey to Paraty with your local driver in private car with air conditioning. 4 ½-hour drive on a sealed road along the Green Coast, a vegetation corridor between ocean and mountains. Nestled between ocean and the foothills of the Serra do Mar, Paraty, registered as a word heritage site with UNESCO, shelters one of the most beautiful colonial heritage of Brazil. Along narrow, paved streets, you will discover this outstanding heritage, witness to the wealth of the 17th and 18th century: sublime mansions, four superb baroque churches, one being the church of Santa Rita de Cassia hosting today a museum of sacred art. Read more

Paraty, 1 night

Departure from Paraty with a local minibus for the village of Laranjeiras. Trek - 3-hours walking - 100 meters of elevation gain - easy. The trek starts with a short climb before entering in the Atlantic forest. After an hour and a half of pleasant walk, you will reach the bottom of Saco do Mamangua, certainly the wildest place in the area. Though a vegetation opening, you will discover the narrow and deep Bay looking like a Scandinavian fjord. You will arrive to Regato, a little hamlet hidden near the mangrove. You will be welcomed by Sir Jurray and his family, living in the traditional lifestyle of the Caiçaras. After lunch, you will continue the hike to the "Refugio do Mamangua". comfort (no electricity, but hot shower) and a guaranteed peacefulness. Dinner at the Mamangua Pousada, spend the night in chalets, in a humble setting (no electricity, but hot shower), very quiet and peaceful. Read more

Saco do Mamangua, 2 nights

3 hour of canoeing - easy In the morning, you will go to the end of the bay to explore the mangrove. The canoe is easy to handle and very quiet, which makes it the best way of approaching nature and the fauna: aigrettes, ibises and common kingfishers, and especially many crabs, from the small red siri with black legs, to the caranguejo, its cousin shaped like a rock crab, who will all come accompany us during our trip. You will then leave your canoes to walk up a river on a hundred meters to enjoy the coolness of a natural pool before lunch. Back to the refugio Mamangua in the afternoon. Rest of the day is free. Dinner & night at the Mamangua Pousada. Read more

Saco do Mamangua, 2 nights

In the morning, you will board a fishing boat adapted for the tour (benches and cushions, cooler…). Return to Paraty, from an island to another, from a beach to another. Stops planned on different sites suitable for swimming or snorkeling among hundreds of fishes (mask and snorkel provided): ilha Comprida, Saco Da Velha, Praia Vermelha... Read more

Paraty, 1 night

Departure from the pousada for your transfer to the airport. Flight from Rio (airport, flight time and number to be confirmed).