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Brazil is a massive country with a fascinating history, culture and exuberant biodiversity. If you are looking to learn a little more about this fascinating country from the native Brazilian inhabitants; to 16th century Portuguese colonialism; to the gold rush era; to the 18th century ranches; to the present-day culture and art of the country with 21st century luxury; to get away from the beach.... just for a short time, then this is the tour for you!
Special features of our – LUXURY JOURNEY BRAZIL tour:
Type of Tourism: Culture, luxury, Nature, history, art, adventure.
Places to Visit: Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto, Mariana, Congonhas, Sao Joao de Rey, Ibitipoca, Rio de Janeiro
Duration: 10 Days and 9 Nights.
Type of Service: Private tours.
Accommodation: 4 star accommodation at most destinations that you will visit. These hotels, pousadas and ranches have been carefully chosen and we can guarantee that you will feel comfortable and your every need catered for!
Today is arrival day! We will collect you from the Belo Horizonte's airport, to head off on a private tour of the city. Belo Horizonte is both modern and rural, with a welcoming, relaxed vibe that will instantly make you feel at home. All be it the third-largest city of the country, I this city has a small-town feel to it and is the centre of many cultural events, with something for everyone! Belo Horizonte was the first Brazilian city to be built using an urban plan in 1897 Today, it is the home of 2,5 million people and is t...
Today, we will collect you from the hotel for a visit to the incredible open-air museum of Inhotim. Inhotim one of the country's greatest cultural and natural treasures, combining art and botany, with art exhibitions, sculptures, drawings, photographs and videos of various national and international artists, as well as more than 40 gardens in mixed vegetation of Atlantic Forest and Cerrado (a biome in Brazil, similar to savannahs).
The city is fascinating in many other ways, surrounded by three mountains, called S...
Ouro Preto is the masterpiece of colonial architecture in Brazil and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was the centre of the gold rush and Brazil’s golden age in the 18th century. During the same period, liberation movements were initiated here, inspired by the American Revolution. Ouro Preto will take us back in time, passing by beautiful churches, such as Church of Pilar and Church of Saint Francis of Assis, a great example of the Brazilian religious architecture with its sculptures and soapstone carved by Aleijadi...
Today we will head to Congonhas, is a historical town with fabulous baroque buildings such as the famous 6 Chapels and 12 Prophets Statues. Congonhas was an important city during the gold rush and now hosts beautiful baroque sculptures made by Aleijadinho, the renowned Brazilian artist of that period. We will then continue on to São João del Rey, another influential, founded in 1703 when gold was discovered. It is another example of colonial architecture and religious traditions. As we walk through the streets, it is po...
After breakfast, we will head to Ibitopeca. This private reserve is on the State park border and is a sustainability project, where nature rules. Parrots fly above the rainforest, cool rivers run through green valleys and caves, and when the sun goes down, the sky is bright with stars. The community inhabiting this reserve is a 18th-century farmhouse of Fazenda do Engenho, one of Brazil’s finest examples of colonial architecture that has been sensitively restored to its elegant beauty. Now called Engenho Lodge, it houses eight ...
The reserve offers a variety of activities you may enjoy during your stay: -
After breakfast, we will leave the reserve for the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro is world-famous for its Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Christ the Redeemer statue on top of Mount Corcovado, for the Sugarloaf Mountain, a granite peak with cable cars to its summit. The city is also known for its sprawling favelas (shanty towns), its raucous Carnaval, samba, and general party vibe.
A picturesque district of Rio, Santa Teresa is as culturally and historically important as Rio, with its well-preserved characteristics of the Old Rio. Boasting big houses and historical constructions, it tells stories of times gone by, has many handicraft galleries and the traditional trolley, known as “bondinho”. Bohemian artists influenced the district and gave its cultural and architectural charms.
Rio’s downtown has a mixture of antique and modern architecture as it has historical constructions to...
Today we will visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the magnificent Christ the Redeemer, the iconic statue on top of Corcovado Hill and one of Rio’s most famous landmarks. The Corcovado Hill is part of the Tijuca Forest, the largest urban forest in the world. On arrival at the top of Corcovado Hill, it is possible to admire breathtaking views of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and the Botanical Garden.
We will then head to the famous Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Moun...
Enjoy your final morning in Brazil by walking along the famous Copacabana beach before your private car comes to collect you to head to the Airport for your departing flight, or next exciting destination!
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Part of our protocols involve procedures such as:
-Hydroalcoholic gel in all the vehicles
-Use of masks by our drivers, guides and recommendation for our clients;
-Full-time cleaning of the vehicles (doors and all the most-touched surfaces) and the hands of our staff
-Recommendation of bigger vehicles for groups to keep one seat free besides each guest
-Individual headphones for groups to keep the necessary distance.
We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.
We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.
As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.
We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.
Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.
VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.
Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.
Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.
Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.
Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.
We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.
We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.
We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.
The official currency in Brasil is the Brazilean Real (BRL). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.
Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.
As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, intensifying our support for social projects, reinforcing our commitment to the development of our country, and adding community-based responsible experiences as we are also committed to support their recovery. In partnership with local NGOs, we launched our Sustainability and Reforestation seal, where for each apartment booked with us in the Amazon, a tree seedling will be planted in the forest. Our idea is to develop an increasingly conscientious tourism and help preserve this spectacular biome.
Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.
Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature.
The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.
This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests.
For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: + 55 21 99735-7446
It is through travel that we want to give each individual the opportunity to reconnect and positively transform themselves, positively develop traditional Brazilian communities and promote Brazil as a responsible tourism destination.
All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: + 55 21 99735-7446. For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com
This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.
This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.
The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.
Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your hotel.
For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.
In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.
In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.
It depends on each itinerary. We suggest contacting your account representative to give you specific information regarding your program.
We suggest that you bring a refillable water bottle or purchase bottled water if necessary. Depending on your destination, at various points on your trip there will be places where you can fill your water bottle.
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