4* & 5* Railway Tours & Travel - Railway Journeys to Brazil

The trip is a mixture of natural and cultural beauties of the fifth largest country in the world, combined with train rides, which will stirr the blood of every railway friend. The trip takes you from the port city of Vitoria into the region of the gold rush to Ouro Preto, to the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro.

Highlights:

• Train ride on meter gauge of Vitória to Santa Barbara
• Ouro Preto
  
• Mariana steam engine
• Drive to São Jão del Rey
• Railway museum with the largest collection of steam engine throughout Brazil
• Rio de Janeiro

Including:

• Nights in hotels or Pousadas of good middle class
• Breakfast with other meals as described
• Excursions, transfers, train travel, tours and entrance fees as described
• English-speaking Suedamerika-Reisen.travel Tour Guide

Your train:

Brazil has a railway network of almost 30.000 km in length, which is still being expanded today. After the franchising and partitioning of the state railway company RFFSA during the 90's, the private train operators have shown a strong commitment to the new task. Investment and modernization programs are under way. The passenger traffic on rails in Brazil is limited only to a few "islands". A few large cities know a more or less intense suburban transport-ranging from a 3 compartment train and a diesel locomotive in the veterans age to city train networks with modern electronic technology. In addition there are tourist train operations which run on beautiful and scenic route sections. For this purpose often steam locomotives are used, which are called " Maria Fumaça" (smoking Maria) in Brazil, who knows why…

Travel Data:

05.03.2008 - 13.03.2008 (duration 8 days)
15.10.2008 - 23.10.2008 (duration 8 days)

Participants: at least 8, max. 24; international groups

Day 1: Flight to São Paulo from home to start your South America travel adventure.

Day 2: São Paulo-Vitoria
Arrive in Sao Paulo, one of the mega-metropolises in Latin America and the largest "German" industrial city outside of Germany. Change of planes and flight to Vitória, due to its landscape's similarity also called sister of Rio de Janeiro. Afternoon city tour.

Day 3: Vitoria - Ouro Preto
Today is one of the highlights of the entire tour. You will be going on an 11 hour and 582 km long railway trip on meter gauge from Vitória to Santa Barbara through the unique landscape of Minas Gerais. The longest and heaviest trains in whole South America operate here. From Santa Barbara onward you will travel by bus to Ouro Preto, a colonial town which was declared 'Cultural Monument of Mankind' by the UNESCO.

Day 4: Ouro Preto
Sightseeing in the morning. You walk along small cobbled streets where you can admire the neat gables, magnificent baroque buildings and with gold decorated churches. Ouro Preto (Black Gold), is considered a masterpiece of Baroque architecture in whole Brazil. In the afternoon you will go on a train ride with the historic narrow gauge steam railway from Ouro Preto to Mariana in the mountains of Minas Gerais. Return to Ouro Preto.

Day 5: Ouro Preto - Tiradentes-Sao Joao del Rei
In the morning you will drive to Tiradentes, a jewel of Baroque architecture. From the station you will continue with Maria Fumaça, an old steam locomotive on 76 cm track width, to São Jão del Rey, 13 km away, a special experience. In São Jão del Rey you will visit the station and the railway museum with the largest collection of steam engines throughout Brazil.

Day 6: Sao Joao del Rei-Petrópolis-Rio de Janeiro
Full-day bus trip from Sao Joao del Rei to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the "Cidade Maravilhosa", to Rio de Janeiro. Roadside stop in Petropolis, and the imperial palace tour.

Day 7: Rio de Janeiro
Today you will visit the old city of Rio, as well as one of the two famous local mountains of the city, the Sugarloaf. With the cable car you will reach the summit (396m) of Rio's landmark from where you can enjoy a gorgeous view on Guanabara Bay. Ride to the center, where you will get on The Bonde, a very old tram, to the artist's quarter Santa Teresa. For all transfers between today's visiting points you will use the Metro of Rio de Janeiro. The afternoon is free. Enjoy free hours at the Copacabana.

Day 8: Rio de Janeiro-Curitiba
Tour through the lush rain forest of Tijuca National Park with the cog railroad onto the second famous local mountain in Rio, the Corcovado (710 m above the city) The 38-meter high statue of Christ and breathtaking views over the southern districts of Rio fascinate the visitors. Afterwards you will drive to Ipanema. Afternoon is free. Late afternoon departure for home or choose a trip to continue enjoying South America.

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