Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Brazil - Rio de Janeiro - Minas Gerais - Conceicao do Ibitipoca - Tiradentes - Ouro Preto - Belo Horizonte
100% customisable for you
Your Brazilian adventure begins today. This evening, head to the airport, check in, drop your bags and whizz through security. Board your direct overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro, which will take around 12 hours, and settle in for the journey – long-haul comfort, a couple of films and time to start shifting into holiday mode.
Land in Rio early the next morning and step into warm, slightly humid air. Clear immigration, collect your luggage and meet your private driver, who’ll chauffeur you along the coastline towards Copacabana.
Once you arrive, check into your hotel for a three-night stay. You’ll likely be tired after all that travelling, so spend the rest of the day relaxing, whether you’d rather soak up the sun by the pool or stroll along the beachfront.
This morning, meet your private guide and head uphill to Santa Teresa, Rio’s bohemian district. If the little yellow tram is running, hop aboard and rattle your way up; if not, wind through the narrow streets by car. Either way, the views are worth it.
Once home to 17th-century European nobility and later embassies (before the capital moved to Brasilia), Santa Teresa was eventually claimed by artists, and they’ve never really left. Alongside your knowledgeable guide, wander cobbled alleys, leafy squares and small studios, stopping at the Chacara do Ceu Museum to admire the works of Matisse, Picasso, Dali and Miro.
Later, head down to Porto Maravilha. Here, the vibe shifts from art to industry: think wide waterfronts, warehouse spaces and bold, ever-changing street art lining the port.
This evening is free for you to enjoy independently. Alternatively, head out with a local for a proper Rio-by-night experience.
After a hearty breakfast, head to Corcovado train station and board the cog railway that climbs steadily through the dense Tijuca Forest.
At the summit, walk the final stretch to the iconic Christ the Redeemer monument. Standing beneath the 125ft statue, enjoy a breathtaking view over the city: Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain and the curve of Copacabana and Ipanema laid out below.
After time for photos and exploration, descend into Tijuca Forest for a guided walk. This is the world’s largest urban rainforest, replanted in the 19th century. Follow shaded trails, look out for tropical birds and stop at small waterfalls hidden among the trees.
Finally, continue to Rio’s Botanical Garden. Wander beneath towering imperial palms, see giant Amazonian water lilies and explore landscaped pathways before returning to your hotel mid-afternoon.
The rest of the day is yours for the taking, whether you’d rather head to the beach, relax by the pool or spend a final evening exploring the city.
This morning, head to Sugarloaf Mountain. Armed with pre-booked tickets, you’ll avoid the main queues, so hop aboard the first cable car to Morro da Urca before continuing to the summit of Sugarloaf itself. From the top, watch as boats cross the sparkling bay and the wind bristles through the emerald forest – a last sweeping view before leaving Rio behind.
Later, pack your bags, collect your rental car and set off inland towards Minas Gerais. During the four-and-a-half-hour journey, the scenery gradually shifts – highways open into rolling hills, roadside cafés appear and traffic thins out.
This afternoon, arrive in Concecao do Ibitipoca and check into your restored 18th-century fazenda for a two-night stay. Surrounded by forest and rivers, it feels delightfully off-grid, so settle into your suite and enjoy a peaceful dinner with no distractions.
We’ve left today free for you to enjoy at your own pace. If you’re a nature lover, you’re in luck: Conceicao do Ibitipoca is just a ten-minute drive from Ibitipoca State Park, so pull on your walking boots and head out to explore.
Once there, spend the day hiking along clearly marked trails. Walk through the lush Atlantic Forest, climb to panoramic viewpoints overlooking rolling hills and cool off beneath waterfalls. Visit Gruta dos Coelhos (the ‘Cave of Rabbits’) and cross the ‘Lake of Mirages,’ known for its striking reflections.
Hiking not your thing? Don’t worry: swim in the pool, book a massage or relax with a book overlooking the valley instead. As evening settles, indulge in a perfectly sweet sundowner before enjoying a tasty dinner back at the house.
This morning, hit the road again, heading north towards Tiradentes. The three-hour drive rolls past green hills before delivering you into one of Brazil’s prettiest colonial towns – all cobbled lanes, whitewashed facades and church towers peeking above the rooftops.
On arrival, check into your hotel and unwind after the drive. Once you’ve slowed the pace right down, head out to wander the immaculate streets, dip into antique shops and small museums, and pause for a long lunch in one of the town’s excellent local restaurants. Tiradentes takes its name from an 18th-century dentist-turned-independence-hero (yes, really), and there’s a quiet pride woven through the place.
If you’re feeling curious, head out with a private guide to explore Tiradentes in more depth or visit nearby Sao Joao del Rey for another slice of colonial Brazil.
After breakfast, set off towards Ouro Preto, a three-hour drive away. As you wind through the hills of Minas Gerais, you’ll pass wide skies, green slopes and the occasional church spire rising in the distance – a small reminder that you’re deep in Brazil’s old gold country.
Once you arrive, check in for two nights at your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing. Come evening, either stay in for a tasty dinner at your hotel or head out to the city – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend the best restaurants in town.
Put on your history hats this morning as you meet a private guide for a deeper understanding of Ouro Preto. In the 18th century, this was the mining powerhouse of the Portuguese Crown, and the wealth garnered still shows in its grand art and architecture.
Begin at the Church of Sao Francisco de Assis, a rococo masterpiece, and step inside Nossa Senhora do Pilar, where gold-leaf decoration glows from every surface.
Continue to the Museu do Oratorio to see intricately crafted devotional niches once used to honour saints – small but incredibly detailed.
If time allows, peek inside the Municipal Theatre: built in 1770, it’s the oldest operating theatre in Latin America.
Feeling peckish? Try feijao tropeiro (Brazilian beans with sausage and collard greens) – hearty, local and very Minas.
This morning, leave Ouro Preto behind and drive towards Belo Horizonte, which will take around two hours.
On the way, stop to visit the Inhotim Institute with a private guide. Spread across more than 2,000 acres, it’s part contemporary art museum, part botanical garden, so spend some time wandering between striking pavilions, large-scale sculptures and immersive installations scattered through landscaped grounds. There are around 500 works in total, plus nearly 5000 plant species, a research centre, several restaurants and shops.
Afterwards, continue on to Belo Horizonte and check into your home for the night. If you have time, head out for a stroll, stopping at the central market, Pampulha Lake or Mineirao Stadium before your final Brazilian evening.
Sadly, your Brazilian adventure comes to an end today. Drive to Belo Horizonte airport, return your rental car and check in for your overnight flight home. With a quick stopover, the flight will last around 15 hours, arriving back in the UK the following 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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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
