History, Gastronomy and Modern Art of Brazil: Minas Gerais for 8 Days

Ouro Preto, Brazil

What to expect on this itinerary

Explore the modern cityscapes that boast captivating contemporary museums and art, colonial communities that share authentic Mineiran cuisine, and lush forest reserves that present the breathtaking wilderness on your 8-day Brazil tour with excursions to Minas Gerais. Uncover the cultural treasures of Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto, Congonhas, and Tiradentes en route to the illustrious natural paradise of Ibitipoca as you indulge natural wonder and tropical charm.

Countries Visited

Brazil

Places Visited

Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto, Congonhas, Tiradentes, Ibitipoca

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Belo Horizonte - Make Way for Minas Gerais

The capital city of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, Belo Horizonte, will invite you to discover scintillating South America and its magnificent mix of cultural influences, culinary highlights, and art. You will transfer from the airport to your accommodation and then to the city center where your architectural tour of the surrounding buildings, museums, and neighborhoods will begin. The colorful murals of Igreja Sao Francisco De Assis and regal 1920s design of Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil will impress on your exploration of the city’s charming districts. Later, you will transfer to a chic restaurant with views of the olive-green mountains.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Belo Horizonte - Brazilian Breakfasts and the Inhotim Museum

Day 3

Tiradentes - Cultural Tour of Three Colonial Cities

Day 4

Tiradentes - Culinary Exploration of Minas Gerais Cuisine

Day 5

Ibitipoca - Escape to the Brazilian Forest

Day 6

Ibitipoca - Wade in the Monkey’s Waterfall

Day 7

Ibitipoca - Snapshot the Window of the Sky

Day 8

Ibitipoca - One Last Brazilian Bite to Eat

Trip Highlights

  • Admire the magnificent historic and contemporary architecture of Belo Horizonte on a tour to visit Igreja Sao Francisco De Assis and Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil
  • Indulge in a quintessential Brazilian breakfast and then head to the modern exhibits and lush Botanical Garden of the coveted Inhotim Museum
  • Enjoy a fascinating and inspiring history and culture tour of three colonial cities including Ouro Preto, Congonhas, and Tiradentes
  • Delve into the culinary traditions of Minas Gerais on a gastronomic exploration of typical Tiradentes cuisine including a cooking class and cheese-making tour
  • Step foot on the soft soils of the Ibitipoca Reserve and spend your days admiring the serene natural paradise from accommodation in and amongst the wilderness activity
  • Hike the forest-flanked trails that weave through the Ibitipoca Reserve to the Cachoeira dos Macacos, or Monkey’s Waterfall, for a swim in the beautiful natural rock pool
  • Wander beneath the emerald canopy of the forest to the Janela do Céu, or the Window of the Sky, for memorable moments and stunning snapshots atop the cinematic waterfall
  • Swim in the temperate waters of the Pico do Pião and the Lago dos Espelhos, or Lake of Mirrors after a wonderful hike through the wilderness where you will spot the local wildlife

Starting Price

$10,200 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 48 reviews

Brazil Travel Review: Salvador, Olinda, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Cooking Class, 20 Nights

It was a fantastic trip overall. Our only issue would be perhaps a few fewer churches? We were a bit "churched out" by Salvador. Other than that, we had great guides and a great itinerary that took us to such wonderful and unique spots.

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Brazil Trip Review: Manaus, Amazon, Boat Ride, Wildlife, Nature, Local Cuisine, 12-Day Tour

It was a totally unique travel experience, with wonderful flora and fauna sights in the Amazon area near Manaus, first by boat and then in an eco lodge two hours from Manaus in the jungle. We could look out from our balcony at birds and monkeys in the trees. The food and juices were delicious and healthy for every meal, and all the people we met were friendly and fun.

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Argentina, Brazil Travel Review: Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, Tango Shows, Vineyard Tours, Boat Ride, Wine, Local Cuisine, 11-Night Trip

My wife and I recently embarked on a breathtaking journey through South America, visiting Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Iguazú Falls in Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. We entrusted Zicasso's tour agency with planning our trip and it turned out to be one of the best travel decisions we've ever made.

From the very beginning, the team at the tour company was attentive and responsive, taking the time to understand our preferences and interests. They crafted a personalized itinerary that perfectly balanced adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration.

Buenos Aires: Our adventure began in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires. The agency arranged for a knowledgeable local guide who took us through the historic neighborhoods, tango shows, and culinary delights. The accommodations were centrally located, allowing us to explore the city with ease.

Mendoza: Next, we traveled to Mendoza, where we were immersed in the world of wine. The tour agency organized exclusive vineyard tours and tastings, providing us with a unique insight into the region's winemaking traditions. The picturesque landscapes and charming boutique hotel made our stay unforgettable.

Iguazú Falls: The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls. The agency ensured we had the best vantage points and arranged for a thrilling boat ride that brought us up close to the cascading waters. Their attention to detail and seamless logistics made this experience truly magical.

Rio de Janeiro: Our journey concluded in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro. The travel company curated a perfect blend of iconic sights like Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain, along with hidden gems that showcased the city's unique culture. The beachfront hotel provided stunning views and a relaxing end to our adventure.

Throughout the trip, the tour company was always available to assist with any questions or adjustments, ensuring a stress-free experience. Their expertise and dedication to customer satisfaction were evident in every aspect of our journey.

We wholeheartedly recommend this company to anyone seeking a well-organized and memorable travel experience. We look forward to planning our next adventure with them!

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Brazil Tour Review: Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro, 1 Week

I couldn't recommend our travel company more. We booked them through Zicasso after receiving a very detailed and budget-conscious itinerary for our family trip to Brazil. We decided to visit Iguazú Falls, followed by Rio de Janeiro, over New Year's. Everything was great from start to finish, including trip planning, adjusting the itinerary based on our requests and holiday constraints, travel planning, and the trip itself.

We had a dedicated guide in each of our destination cities and this is what made the trip great. Our guide in Iguazú Falls and our guide in Rio were both fantastic. Each of them was courteous, friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and very well connected with the staff at the various places we visited. Not infrequently, we would be whisked to the front of long lines because our guides had a connection. Both of them were extremely flexible, like letting us enjoy a long lunch and starting our tour an hour late one day. They catered to our needs throughout our trip.

It was a fantastic and memorable trip!

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Brazil, Argentina Trip Review: Iguazu Falls, Jet Boat Ride, Helicopter Flight, Tribal Experience, 4-Day Tour

Our experience while on the trip was exceptional! Zicasso’s travel specialist and our driver were the absolute best! I would recommend them to anyone traveling in the Iguazu Falls area.

The activity choices and recommendations were spot on. We enjoyed each of our hotels on either side of the falls.

Our biggest hiccup was traveling through São Paulo Airport. Either a recommendation to travel through another airport in Brazil or Argentina, or a thorough explanation of how we would have to change terminals and go through security a second time, would have been very useful. We truly thought that even with our two hours between flights (which I asked about being enough time), we were going to miss our connection to Foz do Iguacu. It was unfortunate that a person trying to help us at the airport gave us inaccurate information, adding to the confusion. Both this trip and our last (to Banff/Vancouver) we had trouble connecting with an agent over the weekend. I think this could be addressed more clearly for your future guests. We laughed that as we were waiting to board our plane back to the US, we received a welcome to Brazil email with emergency contact info. The timing was exactly wrong.

When we traveled in Thailand, there was a messaging app connection established before we even left the US. I think this would be wonderful in the future.

FYI, we did make a messaging app connection with the travel specialist that we used each day.

So overall, our experience while in Argentina and Brazil was exceptional, but I would work on helping reduce the travel stress and having emergency contacts established before the travel began.

Thank you.

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Brazil Tour Review: Rio de Janeiro, Paraty, Private Tour, Private Boat Ride, 8 Nights

It was a fantastic trip! Zicasso's travel specialist provided guidance on visiting not just Rio de Janeiro, but Paraty, a fishing village four hours away, and it turned out to be the highlight of the trip.

She scheduled a private boat tour of the bay and it was absolutely stunning; swimming on empty beaches and having a great lunch right over the water.

Additionally she booked a beautiful and relaxing hotel that had some of the best food of the trip. I would not have planned this without her help.

I recommend our travel company unreservedly; totally worth it!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

28,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews