DURATION: 13 Nights / 14 days
AIRPORTS: BEL – CNF & PLU – CWB

ITINERARY: Belém – Ilha de Marajó Tiradentes – Curitiba Morretes – Ilha do Mel

Lip-smacking local specialties, traditional recipes, cooking workshops and unusual Amazon ingredients are the order of the day on this culinary tour, one which also visits a healthy portion of natural wonders, stunning landscapes, and important cultural sites; Bom apetite!

DAY 1 – Origin – Belém

irport arrival at Belém, the economic capital of the Brazilian Amazon located at the mouth of the Amazon River. Belém is the economic center and most important port of the Amazon. It is an exciting and absorbing city with a unique cultural heritage of indigenous people and an interesting colonial downtown. Transfer ends at our hotel. Accommodation.

DAY 2 – Belém (B, L)

After breakfast, we will start our tour in Belém visiting the Mercado Ver-o-Peso, where products from the forest and rivers all over the state of Pará are available for the public. It is a mosaic of the Amazon colors, aromas and flavors.
Then we will take a regional boat to cross the Guamá River to Combu Island. There we will enjoy a gastronomic experience with the handcrafted chocolate of Filha do Combu, who opens its doors for visitors to see the cocoa plantation and to accompany all stages of production. The process, which is very laborious, is done completely manually.

After a walk through its orchard, we will see its production process as we participate in a brief workshop to learn how to prepare a
¨comidilha¨ (little food) using their cocoa. Combu chocolate is conquering more and more refined palates and is considered by renowned chefs of São Paulo´s high quality gastronomy.  After this, still on our boat, we go to have lunch and then back to Belém to take a rest. Accommodation.

DAY 3 – Belém - Ilha de Marajó (B)

In the morning, after check out, we will travel from the hotel to the harbor, where we will board typical boats of the region towards the island of Marajó. In the first part of the journey we will be able to see the region of the islands that surround Belém. After arriving at the island, we will go by land to Soure (considered its informal "capital") directly to the hotel where we will stay. Free time for lunch, for which we recommend the typical buffalo steak (not included).

In the afternoon, we will leave towards Marajó fields. Our goal is to observe marajoara species of wildlife as maguaris (photo), white and blue herons, red ibis, wild ducks and many others. With a little luck we will see monkeys, caimans and capybaras, very common in this region. We will see the sunset and return to hotel. Accommodation.

DAY 4 – Fazenda Marajoara (B, L)

We will leave the city and go to the fishing village, where we can watch the fishermen during the capture of Turú, shellfish species growing on the trunks of mangrove trees. Then we will move to an extractive fazenda and if the tide allows, we take a canoe trip that will take us paddling through the streams that cross the mangroves to Goiabal, a beautiful deserted beach. We walk back to the fazenda.

At the fazenda we will participate in a cooking workshop about preparation of Turú Soup. Lunch at the farm. Free afternoon to enjoy the swimming pool or to explore personal interest topics. In the evening, we will attend a rehearsal of carimbó, an African dance brought to the island by slaves and developed by the mixture of cultures with Indians and Portuguese. Accommodation in the fazenda.

DAY 5 – Fazenda Marajoara – Belém (B)

After breakfast, we will depart to explore different spots around the city with stops at an atelier of Marajoara ceramics, which makes pieces based on Aruan culture, the last indigenous ethnic group living in Marajo; and at a leather atelier that produces local crafts with traditional features passed from generation to generation.

DAY 6 – Belém – Tiradentes (B)

We save the rest of the morning to enjoy the sun on the Pesqueiro beach. We suggest a lunch with fish and crab on the beach (not included). Then we will go back to the hotel to get ready to return to Belém. Transfer to the hotel for accommodation.

We live the hotel after breakfast to get transferred to the airport of Belém for departure to Belo Horizonte. Airport arrival at Belo Horizonte and final transfer to Tiradentes where we’ll go to our pousada. Accommodation.

Today we’ll discover why Tiradentes is known as the capital of Minas Gerais’ cuisine. On this gastronomic tour we will embark on a delightful discovery of the flavors of the region, where we’ll learn by personal experience the reasons of its worldwide fame. This unique tour is planned to indulge our senses with some handmade delicacies of traditional Mina’s cooking. What is your preference? Sippy milk sweet, guava, fine cheeses, handmade popsicles, fruit jellies and the famous cachaça de alambique (type of rum) are some of the delights that make part of this tour’s menu. Accommodation.

DAY 7 – Tiradentes (B, L)

Today we’ll discover why Tiradentes is known as the capital of Minas Gerais’ cuisine. On this gastronomic tour we will embark on a delightful discovery of the flavors of the region, where we’ll learn by personal experience the reasons of its worldwide fame.  This unique tour is planned to indulge our senses with some handmade delicacies of traditional Mina’s cooking. What is your preference? Sippy milk sweet, guava, fine cheeses, handmade popsicles, fruit jellies and the famous cachaça de alambique (type of rum) are some of the delights that make part of this tour’s menu. Accommodation.

DAY 8 – Tiradentes (B)

After breakfast, we will go to Ouro Preto by car, to visit this historic and beautiful city.  Uphill, downhill, the colonial architecture of Ouro Preto coexists with the students’ agitation and the visitors who come for events such as carnival, the Movie Festival (June) and the Winter Festival (July). Good starting points to see the historic attractions and understand the region's importance to the country’s memory are the Museu da Inconfidência and Casa dos Contos, old place for weighing and casting of gold. Around the city there are several gold mines that show how the slaves’ daily life was.

And just 15km from Ouro Preto is another jewel of the Brazilian colonial period: the city of Mariana, the first state capital, with houses, churches and many workshops of painters and sculptors. Accommodation.

DAY 9 – Tiradentes (B)

This day, riding a bike our tour will be made on a dirt road following the old railway Oeste de Minas (West of Minas), making it possible for us to pedal on plain terrain; the tour is ideal for those who want to enjoy the beauties of the region without making a lot of effort. Riding our bikes on an 18km journey we’ll be able to see some natural attractions around the city of Tiradentes. It's a beautiful track, following the Rio das Mortes and going through places of greenery and countryside.

The constant view of the Serra de São José is a high point of the pedaling experience and we’ll get to stop for a deserved drink of lemonade at a local restaurant. Accommodation.

DAY 10 – Tiradentes – Curitiba (B)

After breakfast and check out we’ll have transfer to the hotel for CNF (Belo Horizonte) for departure to our next destination. Airport arrival at Curitiba, capital of Paraná state and transfer to our hotel.

And as good as fresh coffee, you can’t wait to drink it, the best time to start the trip is now. Soon after check in, mounted on our bikes, we’ll visit some of the most welcoming and important coffee shops of Curitiba, tasting the best Brazilian coffee prepared by rewarded baristas in Brazil and abroad.

Each of the stops is made with a commented tasting, giving coffee lovers contact with at least 4 different types of specialty coffees. But not only the types of coffee show us the diversity of this delicious universe; in the Coffee Bike Tour we will be amazed at the different brewing processes offered by coffeehouses of Curitiba, such as the traditional espresso, the French press, aero press and differentiated brewed using the Hario V-60. Because coffee is a good partner for all hours and coffee shops in Curitiba offer us the best in specialties! Accommodation.

DAY 11 – Curitiba - Morretes (B, L)

After breakfast, we check out and leave Curitiba towards Pontal da Graciosa. From here, we’ll mount our bikes again until reaching Morretes, witnessing the incredible scenery amid Serra do Mar.  We will have lunch in Morretes, a typical regional dish called barreado and seafood.

After lunch, we’ll take a walk in the historic downtown of the city and then to our pousada to check in. Accommodation.

DAY 12 – Morretes – Pontal - Ilha do Mel (B)

After breakfast, we will go out for a bike ride in Morretes through rural villages, crossing rivers and streams, fountains of water, places with mountain views, an artisanal cachaça mill, natural pools, a small waterfall, lakes, woods and a suspension bridge.

We will return to the pousada to check out and go to Pontal to catch the ferry bound for Ilha do Mel. Free afternoon in Ilha do Mel.
Accommodation.

DAY 13 – Ilha do Mel (B)

Day off for a well-deserved rest, or we can enjoy optional tours walking, biking or a beautiful boat ride at the sunset. Accommodation.

We will return to the pousada to check out and go to Pontal to catch the ferry bound for Ilha do Mel. Free afternoon in Ilha do Mel. Accommodation.

DAY 14 – Ilha do Mel - Curitiba – Destination (B)
Departure to Curitiba airport to board to the next destination.