Colonial flair and pristine islands: Paraty - Tiradentes - Ouro Preto - Salvador - Olinda - Fernando de Noronha

Upon arrival at Rio de Janeiro Airport, you will be met by a driver who will take you to Paraty, where you will spend the first night.

About 4 hours drive along the «Costa Verde» towards Parati. This romantic colonial village can be wonderfully explored on foot on your own, with its romantic alleys, ancient churches, good restaurants and enchanting offshore islands.

After breakfast, head to an area known as the Vale do Café. It takes almost 4 hours to get there, but it's worth it. Vale do Café takes you back in time with its 19th century coffee farms.

We are greeted by tour guide who wants to share all their knowledge about this time.
We get to know the Brazilian colonial and imperial times, see all phases of coffee production and production, understand more about the history of coffee and also have the opportunity to try authentic Brazilian coffee.
We visit the main house with its original furniture, the Slavery Memorial, the Coffee Museum and the coffee plantations. You can also buy coffee to take home.

After breakfast, drive through the Paraiba Valley towards Tiradentes. The farms here are often used for romantic telenovelas.

Tiradentes is a picturesque Brazilian city and is located in the mountains of the Serra de São José in Minas Gerais. The city carries the historical legacy of the gold rush.

In Tiradentes you will visit the most beautiful and richly decorated churches (closed on Mondays). Tiradentes is characterized by its purely colonial urban development with its winding streets and baroque houses. The past is present on every corner and the monuments tell the story of the city. In 1938 it was declared a national historical and artistic heritage.

After breakfast, leave Tiradentes on the famous Maria Fumaça steam train and arrive at São João del Rey. Maria Fumaça is one of the few still active steam locomotives in the world.

Once you reach São João del Rey, visit the city in the company of a guide. The aristocrat São João Del Rey owns the most important historical railway complex in Brazil and the world. The city is home to the Railway History Conservation Center, which is officially listed by the National Secretariat for Historical and Artistic Heritage. The Maria Fumaça Train is an extension of the Railway Museum that connects São João Del Rey with Tiradentes, making it the city's main calling card. São João Del Rey is an invitation to romance that can be experienced on the old stone bridges of Cadeia and Rosário. Rich churches combine rare pieces, such as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Pilar and San Francesco d'Assisi, whose crucifix bears two blood-drop-like rubies on the altar.

At the end of the visit you will arrive in Ouro Preto.

Today you will visit the most important historical city of the state of Minas Gerais: Ouro Preto (Black Gold). This city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is an important stop on Brazil's gold route. Ouro Preto also has the most precious baroque art collection, the largest coherent baroque urban architecture and the largest baroque building complex in the world. After the eventful tour, it's back to the hotel.

After lunch, continue to Mariana, which was once the capital of Minas Gerais, founded in 1696. As you stroll through the city's picturesque streets, you will see some houses from the early 18th century - with their balconies made of wood, iron or even soapstone.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Belo Horizonte Airport to catch a flight to Salvador.
Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil from 1549 to 1763 when it was replaced by Rio de Janeiro and then Brasilia. It was built in 1549 and retains a fascinating historical center that is notable for the presence of an exceptional number of colonial buildings. The historic center of Bahia has been very well cared for and preserved over the years and is one of the best preserved historic centers in the entire American continent. This led to its inclusion in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Salvador Historical Tour is a charming, four-hour tour of the city of Salvador, the first capital of Brazil, which possesses one of the most powerful cultures in the country and is influenced by the African people who have left their cultural legacy in music, food and local culture Religion. You can feel all this local cultural force on our city tour, especially in Pelourinho which is part of the historical center of the city which is now a World Heritage Site and is the highlight of the tour.

After breakfast, learn how Brazil's first capital came to be on this amazing historical tour of Salvador. The route begins at the Fort of Santo Antônio da Barra, where the beautiful Farol da Barra is located, the starting point of the most popular route of the Carnival. We continue towards the Historic Center and Pelourinho for a pleasant stroll through the World Heritage Site. Visit beautiful churches, museums, the house and the Jorge Amado Foundation and the Lacerda elevator with a privileged view of the Bay of All Saints' Day.

The afternoon is at your disposal.

Optional: In the afternoon you have the opportunity to do another tour of the city. The panorama tour is one of the most traditional tours in Salvador. From Farol da Barra we drive towards Dique do Tororó, where you will visit the Fonte Nova Arena and the magnificent sculptures of the Orixás in an unforgettable landscape and then explore the Cidade Baixa and get to know the beach of Ribeira. We reach the highest point of the tour in the church of Bonfim. Don't forget to tie the ribbon on the church gate and take a picture. On the way back we stop for a wonderful panoramic view of Salvador da Ponta do Humaitá and Forte Mont Serrat, where you can take more nice photos of these places. Finally, we will visit the Modelo market, where you will have time to devote yourself to souvenir shopping. Book in advance.

Recommended: Coliseu Show and Dinner. A spectacle that brings together folkloric manifestations from a new to contemporary language, with African mythology being told through its mystical, rhythmic and sensual universe, focusing on aspects of religiosity and popular culture that go back to Brazilian ancestors. Folklore show with 18 artists on stage: musicians, singers, dancers and capoeiristas. An electrifying show full of colors and joy that will delight the most discerning audience. Book in advance.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Salvador Airport to catch a flight to Recife.

After landing, you will be escorted to your hotel and given time to get to know Olinda. Olinda is one of the best preserved colonial cities in Brazil. About a third of the municipality is under burial (protection for historical, artistic and cultural reasons) and in 1982 Olinda was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage because of its numerous baroque churches and its historical center.

Olinda was the capital of the state of Pernambuco but was set on fire by the Dutch who later moved the capital to Recife.

Discover old Recife, where the city originated. Start at Armory Square and take a pleasant stroll around the neighborhood. Next, you can visit one of 3 historical locations. Visit Paço do Frevo for courses, multimedia and temporary exhibitions on local dance and Frevo music. Discover the Pernambuco Embassy of the Giant Dolls, a cultural space dedicated to the giant dolls of the Carnival season. Visit the Cais do Sertão Museum, which has temporary exhibitions and permanent collections that illuminate northeastern Brazilian culture with sensory experiences and innovative architecture. Then head to Bom Jesus Street to visit the Kahal-Zur Israel Synagogue, the first American synagogue. Then, make a stop at the Pernambuco Handicraft Center, with its wide range of masterly handcrafted art, and stroll the streets of this charming neighborhood to admire the architecture and ancient buildings. Next, discover the city of Olinda in the north of the city, surrounded by palm trees, tall coconut trees, the Atlantic forest and the ocean. Amid uneven, cobbled streets and slopes with countless colorful houses, visit secular churches such as the São Bento Monastery, whose high altar is an important example of the Brazilian Baroque. Stroll down the beautiful Rua do Amparo with its handicraft shops. Travel to Largo da Misericórdia and Alto da Sé with their numerous viewpoints. You will have the chance to taste delicious tapioca with cheese and learn about Olinda's famous giant carnival dolls, as well as the city's significant cultural heritage.

After breakfast, transfer to Recife Airport to catch a flight to the beautiful island of Fernando de Noronha.

The Fernando de Noronha archipelago, made up of 21 islands and islets, is a paradise of indescribable beauty and has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. In order for the islands to retain their nature, the number of visitors is limited and you have to pay an environmental fee to enter the island.

Cruise through the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and discover the natural beauty of the 21 islands that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site on this tour.

A complete tour of the entire island. The tour is almost mandatory for those new to Fernando de Noronha, the Ilha tour takes you to practically every possible place and explores the most intense things.

The first point is in the Tamar project. On site, meet with Tamar's biologist for information about the project and his work on the island. It is also an ideal time to buy that small bottle of water that will be your partner and secure your scuba gear. You will visit Sancho Bay, voted the best beach in the world by TripAdvisor! You will find very white sand and a sea of ​​crystal clear water. It is a free diving route, ideal for viewing marine fauna with a snorkel.

Another destination is Praia do Porto. There you can see the famous Buraco da Raquel as well as the Tubarões Museum, a complete collection of Fernando de Noronha's marine fauna. The stop at Capela de São Pedro will give you one of the most beautiful views on the island and tell you about the history of the local fishermen.

In Baía do Sueste you can take advantage of the rich biodiversity of the sea to get closer to nature. When diving, the company of giant sea turtles and sharks is very common, which makes the experience unforgettable. At the Praia do Leão viewpoint, the view is once again enchanting. On the way to Cacimba do Padre you will encounter Morro Dois Irmãos, perhaps the most famous rock formation in Brazil. The waves of Cacimba attract surfers from all over the world, making it one of the most famous beaches on the island. On arrival at Baía dos Porcos, the highlights are the rocks that become real ponds with colorful fish and overlook the Morro Dois Irmãos. Not using the snorkel here is a crime! TripAdvisor has named Baía dos Porcos the fifth best beach in South America.

Finally a sunset that you won't find anywhere else in the world. This unforgettable scene takes place in Mirante do Boldró. Make sure your camera is not discharged at this point.

Note: The tour does not include lunch and although our guides recommend some restaurants, you can accept their suggestions or choose your own restaurant.

Days off to organize other tours or relax on the beach.

After amazing impressions of one of the truly most beautiful and spirited countries on earth, take your flight home today if you end your individual tour of Brazil at this point. After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport. Certainly your eyes will close on the return flight, but maybe you use the time to look at the many vacation photos on the plane and review unforgettable days in Brazil!