Luxury trip of colonial Brazil with a rental car

Day 2 | Rio de Janeiro

The symbol of Rio de Janeiro is the famous Corcovado with its enormous statue of Christ the Redeemer, which you will be visiting this morning. From here, you’ll enjoy an impressive view over the entire city and Sugarloaf Mountain, where you’ll find yourself in a few hours’ time. You’ll take a cable car up the mountain to admire Sugarloaf Mountain, which was first discovered by indigenous peoples. It is an imposing natural monument that has become an integral part of Rio de Janeiro’s skyline.
Accommodation: Mama Ruisa | bed and breakfast

Day 4 | Rio de Janeiro – Paraty

(approx. 260 km | 4.5-hour drive)
After your Brazilian breakfast, you’ll be picked up and taken to Rio de Janeiro airport, where your rental car for the coming days will be waiting for you. You will drive to Paraty in this rental car. As you leave Rio de Janeiro behind, you will mainly follow the famous Rodovia Rio-Santos. This is one of the most beautiful motorways in Brazil. You’ll drive for kilometres along the Brazilian coast and through the Atlantic Forest before arriving in the colonial town of Paraty. Paraty is a world of its own thanks to its distinctive atmosphere and colonial buildings. The town was founded in 1667 and played an important role in history by transporting sugar cane, gold and diamonds to Portugal.
Accommodation: Casa Turquesa | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | Paraty

Today, together with your guide, you will discover and experience Paraty’s unique blend of culture, nature and history during an excursion into the nearby forests. Today, you’ll step back in time as you walk the ‘Gold Trail’. This path was laid in the 18th century by African slaves to transport gold and diamonds from the ships to Portugal. During the walk, the guide will tell you more about Paraty during the sugar, gold and coffee eras. You’ll enjoy these fascinating stories whilst surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Along the way, you’ll stop at a waterfall for a refreshing dip. The Toboggan waterfall, a rocky slide, is a favourite with the locals and is frequently used for diving or sliding down. After your short stop at the waterfall, it’s just a short walk to the cachaça distillery. Here, you’ll learn about the distillation process and have the chance to taste different types of cachaça (a sugarcane spirit). In the afternoon, you’ll be taken to the historic centre of Paraty. In short, a day to enjoy to the full
Accommodation: Casa Turquesa | bed and breakfast

Day 7 | Paraty – Petrópolis

(approx. 275 km | 4.5-hour drive)
You leave Paraty and continue your journey along a beautiful route to Petropólis. You’ll be taken up through the mountains amidst lush, well-preserved subtropical forests, from where you’ll approach the tranquil town of Petropólis. Petropólis was originally an estate where the Brazilian imperial family stayed during the summer months to escape the heat of Rio de Janeiro. Although Emperor Pedro I purchased and conceived the estate, it was his son, Pedro II, who later built the actual palace. Today, the town features cobbled streets flanked by flower beds, vintage horse-drawn carriages and beautiful buildings. You can visit the Crystal Palace (1879), which lives up to its name thanks to its glass structure. In the imperial summer palace, you’ll find, amongst other things, the crown jewels, furniture, paintings, and colourful robes and cloaks belonging to the former imperial family.
Accommodation: Solar do Imperio | bed and breakfast

Day 8 | Petropolis – Ibitipoca Nature Reserve

(approx. 200 km | 3.5-hour drive)
After breakfast, you’ll get into your rental car and drive further inland towards the north to Ibitipoca. You’ll find that you’re leaving civilisation further and further behind, whilst the landscapes you drive through become increasingly rugged. Your final destination for today is a unique eco-lodge, situated in a private nature reserve called Ibitipoca. The harmony between people and the planet is central to your accommodation, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in nature and the experiences it offers.
Accommodation: Pousada Comuna do Ibitipoca | full board

Day 9 | Ibitipoca Nature Reserve

You have a free day planned. This gives you the option to join the organised excursions or choose to set off on your own to explore the surrounding area in your rental car. From your accommodation, you can go on various walks, for example to the picturesque waterfalls on the Ibiti rivers. You can also learn more about the flora and fauna during a birdwatching excursion. Your guide will be happy to tell you more about the birds flitting about and the countless species in the nature reserve. Exploring the nature reserve on horseback or by bike is another way to fully enjoy the diversity of your surroundings. If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, unwind in the spa or take part in a yoga session.
Accommodation: Pousada Comuna dp Ibitipoca | full board

Day 10 | Ibitipoca Nature Reserve – Tiradentes

(approx. 210 km | 4-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive further north to Tiradentes. It’s a small town where you’ll find beautiful Baroque architecture in the charming, history-steeped town centre. Tiradentes owes its name to Joaquim José da Silva Xavier. He was nicknamed Tiradentes (tooth puller) because of his profession as a ‘dentist’, but was best known as a Brazilian freedom fighter. The colourful colonial-style houses give the impression that time has stood still.
Accommodation: Solar da Ponte | bed and breakfast

Day 11 | Tiradentes

Today is yours to spend as you wish, exploring the surrounding area at your leisure. You can visit one of the old churches or the Padre Toledo Museum here. You could also visit the nearby town of São João del Rei. You can drive there, but there is also a charming steam train that runs between the two towns. A 12-kilometre journey takes you right through the rainforest to the village. This mode of transport may not be as quick as a car, but it does allow you to enjoy the surroundings in a pleasant way.
Accommodation: Solar da Ponte | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | Tiradentes – Congonhas – Ouro Preto

(approx. 190 km | 5-hour drive)
Your next destination on this trip is the city of Ouro Preto. On the way, you can take a short detour to Congonhas, where you can visit the Basílica do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos. The Brazilian architect and sculptor Aleijadinho completed his masterpiece by depicting the Stations of the Cross. He created the 12 prophets from sandstone and 64 life-size wooden statues, which he produced between 1796 and 1805. From the age of thirty, Aleijadinho was unable to use his hands and legs. Nevertheless, he still managed to create the most beautiful sculptures using a hammer and chisel tied to his arms.
Accommodation: Solar do Rosário | bed and breakfast

Day 13 | Ouro Preto

With its historic centre, Ouro Preto is a veritable open-air museum. Before Brazilian independence, the town was called Vila Rica, which roughly translates as ‘rich town’. However, this name was changed to Ouro Preto, which means ‘black gold’. It refers to canga, an iron-bearing mineral that conceals grains of gold, hidden in the soil of Ouro Preto. In earlier times, a fierce struggle for independence took place in this region during the era of Portuguese rule, meaning that a rich history can be found in many of the buildings. You can find the handwritten accounts of the uprising in the Inconfidência Museum, the former Town Hall and prison. The collection includes, amongst other things, furniture, everyday objects and art from the period of the struggle for independence. A visit to Tiradentes Square and the Casa dos Contos, where gold used to be weighed, is certainly worthwhile.
Accommodation: Solar do Rosário | bed and breakfast

Day 14 | Ouro Preto – Belo Horizonte – Porto Seguro – Trancoso

In the morning, you’ll drive to Belo Horizonte Airport, where you’ll return your rental car and board your domestic flight to Porto Seguro. On arrival at the airport, you’ll be welcomed by one of our local staff and taken to your accommodation. You will be staying in Trancoso for the next few nights, a charming village with an authentic atmosphere. It is situated on one of Brazil’s most unspoilt and undiscovered beaches, allowing you to completely unwind during these final days of your unique journey.
Accommodation: Casa Uxua | bed and breakfast

Days 15 to 17 | Trancoso

Casa Uxua is the perfect place to round off your trip. After a delicious, hearty Bahian breakfast, your own sofa in the Uxua Beach Lounge will be waiting for you. You can unwind in the spa or on the beautiful sandy beach. From your luxurious room, you can stroll straight into the nearby picturesque fishing village.
Accommodation: Casa Uxua | bed and breakfast

Day 18 | Trancoso – Porto Seguro – Amsterdam

Unfortunately, your trip of colonial Brazil comes to an end today. One of our local staff will collect you from your hotel and take you to Porto Seguro Airport, where you will board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam (via São Paulo).

Day 19 | Amsterdam

You will arrive in Amsterdam today.