Brazil's Gold Route

After soaking up the panoramic views, head down to the quieter Santa Teresa neighbourhood where you can visit its cool artist's studios. Tuck into a feijoada (pork, beef and bean stew) at one of the charming local restaurants before making your way to the Selaron stairs and blazing mosaic tiles, a rite of passage for anyone travelling to Rio. End the day with a cable car ride to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain, and watch the sun set over the city.

From the 33-floor cylinder Hotel Nacional to the UFO-like Museum of Contemporary Art, your guide will be able to give you unparalleled insight into these architectural landmarks.

It's your last night in Rio, so we suggest you make the most of the city's vibrant nightlife and samba bars. Before you go, we'll let you in on our secret hotspots perfect for a party.

Head four hours to Minas Gerais where your traditional fazenda (plantation house) lies tucked away in the rolling hills. You can recover in the outdoor jacuzzi whilst green-billed toucans and Brazilian tanagers fly by. In the evening, order caipirinhas with cachaca made from sugar cane grown in the grounds, then enjoy melt-in-your-mouth suckling pig with homemade polenta for dinner.

There's nearly 1,000 square miles of forest waterfalls, orchids, bromeliads and verdant valleys waiting to be discovered with the help of a local guide. Hike to the highest point of the reserve where you can gaze out over endless treetop canopies.

Your guide will be armed with corn bread sandwiches with home-cured meat and cheese, freshly squeezed juice and a slice of oozing orange cake for lunch. We highly recommend a spot of riding - the reserve's grassy plane runway is ideal for galloping at high speed. When you're ready to relax, unwind on a sun lounger by the natural pools, order an icy caipirinha from the shack and soak up the sounds of cascading water and spider monkeys chattering in the trees.

Check in to your hotel, drop your bags and take a stroll through the cobbled streets lined with wildflowers and palms. During the weekends, the narrow alleys fill up with well-heeled Brazilians browsing in the antique furniture shops and cool cafes. Don't worry, we've already booked dinner for you at one of our favourite local restaurants.

Then visit the baroque Matriz of Santo Antonio church, dazzling with gilding work and just about one of the most ornate you may ever see. The Rosario church is also worth a visit with its hand-painted ceilings and glorious alter. For contrast, your guide can take you to Sao Joao del Rey, another old mining town with a modern buzz where you can spend the rest of the afternoon.

Take a detour to the highland town of Congonhas to visit Bom Jesus do Matozinho and its life-size soapstone statues standing impressively in the churchyard. Continue to Ouro Preto and to your hotel for the next three nights.

Founded in the last years of the 17th century, Ouro Preto became the epicentre of the gold rush when many in the country flocked to its opulent streets. Today you can witness its golden-age glory exploring its old-stone fountains, wide cobbled plazas and masterful architecture. A backdrop of mountains makes it all the more cinematic, so don't forget to charge the camera before you set off. Your guide will take you to a number of baroque and rococo churches with sculptures and altars that will leave you reeling. Lady of Pilar is just such a church, lavishly glittering in gold. Also, don't miss the Museum of Mineralogy, a prerequisite when on the gold route trail.

Funded by a mining millionaire, its riches can be seen in beguiling contemporary works (over 500 pieces). Peruse the striking sculptures, installations, photography and paintings. Nature lovers will no doubt revel in the lush botanical gardens boasting around 5,000 species of flora. Love palm trees? There are 1,500 varieties in this one place.

Touchdown in the early hours and it's a one and a half hour wait until you board your onward flight to the UK.