Along the way…

Since the discovery of the New World during the 15th century, the legend of the Eldorado fascinates and obsesses the European colons.
In the High Peru (now Bolivia), The Spanish commandeered the famous silver deposit of Potosí, which proved the existence of great wealth and fueled the Portuguese’s greed, busy by the difficult colonization of Brazil.
It is during an expedition of Bandeirantes, the adventurers-explorators Indian hunters, that were discovered the incredible gold, diamonds and precious stones deposits in an area later baptized Minas Gerais (the general mines).
Very quickly, and thanks to the massive influx of slaves, started the edification of towns of ambitious architecture and striking beauty, in the most pure colonial - baroque style of the time. Today, the splendor of these towns remains almost intact under the sol of Minas Gerais, a mountainous region, of generous nature and rich and varied gastronomy. Numerous national parks (in the Serra da Mantiqueira) share with colonial towns the favors of traveler, making the Minas Gerais an ideal area to combine ecotourism and cultural tourism, a few hours away from Rio.

The high lands of Mantiqueira

The high lands of Mantiqueira, where are located some of the highest summits in Brazil, are crossed by rivers, torrents and cascades of great beauty. The are is known as one of the greatest ecological complex of the country.
The abundant water, traveling between its hills and mountains have given its name to the area (Mantiqueira, in Tupi-Guarani, means "crying mountain").
This 14-day program caters to experienced riders. It was built for riders desiring long rides and adventure off-the–beaten-path.

14-day horseback ride

Daily program

Day 1: DEPARTURE FROM TOWN OF ORIGIN

Day 2: SÃO PAULO – CAMPOS DO JORDÃO – FAZENDA SÃO ANTONIO

In the morning, departure from São Paulo or Rio (or other) towards Campos do Jordão. Because of its relative altitude (between el. 1500 and el. 1600 m.a.s.l.) this small town is also a favorite summer vacation place for the wealthy inhabitants of São Paulo.
2½ to 3-hour drive in a private vehicle. We settle in the pousada where we get acquainted with the horses that will be our traveling companions for the next 10 days horseback ride through the Serra da Mantiqueira.
Lunch not included. Dinner included. Night in a fazenda.

Option at the fazenda São Antonio: arvorisme circuit (a course in the trees with a system of ropes, suspension bridges).

Day 3: FAZENDA SÃO ANTONIO – CHARCO - FAZENDA BOA ESPERANÇA

We leave on our horses at 08:30. We follow a train in the heart of the forest, deep in the “horto florestal de Campos de Jordão”, a valley covered with flowered and fruit trees.
We climb up the valley’s foothills to the “divisa” (el. 1800 m.a.s.l.) marking the border between the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. From there, one of the highest point of our expedition, we descend towards Charco, (el. 1750 m.a.s.l.), a small town which principal activity is wood exploitation (cellulose, furniture…).
Lunch break (cold lunch).
At 13:30, we get back on our horse and continue on following a dirt road, in the heart of the Mata Atlantica (literally Atlantic Forest, typical of this region of Brazil) towards fazenda da onça (40 minutes), or “farm of the jaguar” owing its name to the numerous felines inhabiting the area.
We need to be extremely lucky to see one of them, but will be able to spot other animals such as the capivara (largest rodent on earth), or the paca (its little cousin).
After a 1-hour trek, we reach the fazenda Boa Esperança (el. 1700 m.a.s.l.).
Option to bathe in the 50-meter high waterfall located close to the fazenda. All included. Night in the fazenda (gastronomic specialty of the house: the trout).

Day 4: FAZENDA BOA ESPERANÇA – VILA AGUA LIMPA – FAZENDA TAQUARAL

We leave at 08:30 after a hearty breakfast. After ridding for two hours, we pass the village of Delfim Moreira (el. 1100 m.a.s.l.), first national center of trout culture. The village started growing in the 17th Century thanks to the “tropeiros” caravans insuring the transport of merchandise and products from the mines between Paraty and Minas Gerais.
We can do a detour by Santa Clara monastery (2 hours extra) where Franciscan monks still produce elixirs and ointments from medicinal plants. We then follow the old disaffected railroad to reach Agua Limpa (el. 900 m.a.s.l.) after a 2-hour ride. Break (cold lunch).
After lunch, 1½-hour ride to arrive at the fazenda Taquaral via Bigua, in a village that grew around the railroad station, of which remains only vestiges.
We are at the heart of an ecological preserve area where quantities of birds, in particular the “canario da terra” (earth flinch), emblematic of the region, abound.
In the afternoon, we reach fazenda Taquaral (el. 1200 m.a.s.l.), specialized in the production of goat milk products. We finally start to understand where the mining gastronomy reputation (of Minas Gerais) comes from…
All included. Night in a fazenda (basic comfort).

Day 5: FAZENDA TAQUARAL – VILA DOS MARQUES – VIRGINIA

Departure at 08:30. We follow the curves of Rio Manso running at the bottom of a valley. After 30 minutes, we arrive at Barra (el. 1200 m.a.s.l.), triple border of the communes of Maria da Fé, Delfim Moreira and Tajuba. It is also, and this is a lot less common, the place where 3 rivers converge.
We climb the hillsides of Serra do Mogiano, and discover the numerous bucolic fazendas of the area. The landscape is now one of pastures scattered with groves of Mata Atlantica (land owners are obliged by law to maintain a minimum of 20 % of forest on their property). In the morning we ride for 4 hours to reach Vila dos Marquês (el. 1300 m.a.s.l.) where we have lunch (cold lunch).
In the afternoon, we descend via Serra da Virginia, to the village of Virginia (el.1000 m.a.s.l.), important milk production center (3-hour ride). Late in the afternoon, we stop at the Bed and Breakfast / farm Vale da Mantiqueira.
All included. Night at the farm / Bed and Breakfast.

Day 6: VIRGINIA – POUSO ALTO

We leave Virginia at 08:30 for a 3-hour ride in the valley of São Sebastião to Pouso Alto (el. 980 m.a.s.l.), our destination of the day, where a pantagruelian buffet awaits us.
This short day unable horses and riders to rest. We also have time to enjoy the comfortable Serraverde hotel (heated swimming pool, sauna, natural pool, gymnasium, well stocked wine cave…).
All included. Night in a hotel.

Day 7: POUSO ALTO – SÃO LOURENÇO

10:00 departure from Pouso Alto for another short day (4-hour ride) to São Lourenço (el. 900 m.a.s.l., the lowest point of our journey) via Rio Verde Valley.
São Lourenço, water town, is a very well known Brazilian thermal center. In the afternoon, we visit the installations of “parque das aguas” (water park) offering, in the heart of a lush vegetation, a reproduction of the fountain of … Vichy.
Option to indulge in baths, showers and body treatments.
All included. Night in a hotel.

Day 8: SÃO LOURENÇO – VILA DOS CAMPOS – DOM VIÇOSO

Departure from São Lourenço at 09:00. We ride through the rolling hills covering the plateau (el. 900 m.a.s.l.).
We enter a zone of coffee plantations, which boomed in the 19th Century, making Brazil one of the first producer in the world.
We reach Vila dos Campos (3-hour ride) for lunch (cold lunch). In the afternoon, we head for Dom Viçoso (el. 977 m.a.s.l.), small typical village of Minas Gerais with 8000 inhabitants (4-hour ride).
We stop at the house of Ze Correia, which pousada traditionally shelters the “romarias” (pilgrims) making the journey (on foot or horseback), from the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Basilica, the largest on the continent, in the neighboring State of São Paulo.
All included. Night in the pousada (basic comfort).

Day 9: DOM VIÇOSO - CRISTINA

We leave Dom Viçoso at 09:00 and start the ascent of the Serra da Gloria (1½-hour), to reach the fazendinha dos Alpes (“Small farm in the Alps”, el. 1750 m.a.s.l.).
We then descend (1½-hour) towards Cristina (el. 900 m.a.s.l.), our destination of the day.
End of day open during which we may want to visit the fazenda Boa Vista, which produces one of the best coffees of the area (according to some, to a lot of people in fact…). We will not miss the opportunity for a tasting, before a cooling bath in the nearby waterfall.
All included. Night in the Casarão dos Noronha e Kauage (welcoming and comfortable)

Day 10: CRISTINA – MARIA DA FE

At 10:00 we start our day by a 3-hour ride to Maria da Fé. We start the ascent of Serra da Barra Grande (el. 1100 m.a.s.l.). We then return in the valley, pass by the fazenda 7 de Abril, one of the first in the region (dating from the 18th Century).
Picnic in Pedrão, where an excellent cachaças is produced (sugar cane alcohol).
After lunch, the trail takes us on the slopes of Serra da Boa Vista, to Maria da Fé (el. 1300 m.a.s.l.). It is cool, and even cold in the winter, in this village located in a windy corridor. The ideal climate for the araucarias (evergreen species and native of the area, also present in other parts of South America) abounding in this area.
We settle comfortably in the fazenda Pomària for the rest of the day.
Option to do a hike in the area, or to stroll in the village.
All included. Night in the fazenda Pomària.

Day 11: MARIA DA FE – HARAS CAPETINGA - PIRANGUÇU

08:30 departure. We descend from the Serra do Pedrão following an ancient disaffected railroad track.
The climate becomes more pleasant; banana trees replace the pines.
Before noon, we reach the haras Capetinga (Mangalargas breeding farm), where we are welcome by the owner for a guided visit. A Mangalarga is a Brazilian horse breed.
After our picnic, we take the direction of Tajuba, a small (150 000 inhabitants) university town. We follow the bottom of Sapucaí Valley. The trail is flat and the landscape one of pastures and plantations.
After a 4½-hour ride we reach Piranguçu (el. 900 m.a.s.l.).
All included. Night in the fazenda Santa Teresa.

Day 12: PIRANGUÇU – VILA MARIA - CAMPOS DO JORDÃO

We leave Piranguçu at 8:00 for the last and longest day of our expedition.
We ascend the slopes of Serra de Campos do Jordão (4-hour), to Vila Maria (el. 1700 m.a.s.l.). The community looks like a Swiss village with its wooden chalets. We lunch there.
In the afternoon, we start our 1-hour ride during which we pass Campos do Serrano (el. 1850 m.a.s.l.), a plantation area dedicated to the reforestation of the surrounding forests.
3 more hours on horseback and we reach the pousada Santo Antonio in Campos do Jordão.
Lunch not included. Dinner included. Night in a pousada.

Day 13: CAMPOS DO JORDÃO – SÃO PAULO / DEPARTURE

Private transfer to the São Paulo airport for the international flight (not included / time and flight number to be confirmed.
Meals open.

Day 14: RETURN TO YOUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

General information: the program’s itinerary can be modified if necessary (for reasons including but not limited to weather conditions, safety, organization, flight time or unexpected event).
The local guide will suggest then a replacement itinerary or the changes that will be made in agreement with the participants.

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