Mini Brazillian adventure, Rio and the Countryside!
When most people picture Brazil, they think of Rio’s golden beaches, the thundering Iguazu Falls, or the famous Christ the Redeemer gazing down over the city. And yes, I ticked off those postcard moments — but this trip went far deeper than that.
I was lucky enough to join a small group of fellow Travel Counsellors on an incredible familiarisation trip with Encounter Latin America, one of my favourite specialist suppliers. It was designed to show us that Brazil is so much more than samba and sunsets — and wow, did it deliver.
We began in Rio de Janeiro, staying right on Copacabana Beach at the Windsor California. There’s nothing quite like that first morning stepping out and seeing the curve of the bay, the rhythm of life on the beach, and the hawkers selling absolutely everything under the sun. After a few hours relaxing with the sound of the waves, we headed out on a private city tour — the best way to really experience Rio. Having our own guide meant we skipped the queues up to Christ the Redeemer, and it was surreal standing at one of the New Seven Wonders of the World with barely anyone else around. Later, we watched the sun dip behind Sugar Loaf Mountain — a perfect Rio send-off.
From there, we left the coastline behind and drove inland to the state of Minas Gerais. The scenery changed completely — rolling green hills, colonial towns, cobbled streets and pastel-painted houses. Our first stop was Petrópolis, known as Brazil’s “Imperial City”, before continuing to Tiradentes, a charming little town that feels frozen in time. It reminded me of a Greek village — whitewashed walls, tiny boutiques and candlelit restaurants tucked down narrow lanes.
The next few days were full of surprises. We rode the old Maria Fumaça steam train, explored gold mines (where a few hats were lost in the tunnels), and even crawled through caves to reach hidden waterfalls — not something I expected to do in Brazil! By this point we’d started joking that we’d seen enough churches to last a lifetime, so a little rebellion was in order — the caves and waterfalls were our reward.
Our journey finished in Belo Horizonte, a big, buzzing city that felt worlds away from the sleepy villages we’d just come from. It was the perfect place for one last night together, sharing stories and laughter from the week.
Like any good trip, ours had its dramas — a forgotten rucksack that finally made it to Lisbon airport, a few “dirty towel” moments, and one poor host (nicknamed Mildred) who never even made the flight after being off-loaded by the airline. But that’s what makes travel so memorable — the unexpected bits that turn into stories you’ll laugh about for years.
This trip reminded me that Brazil is a country of contrasts — beaches and baroque towns, samba and serenity, city skylines and rural backroads. It’s full of history, warmth, and character, and it deserves to be explored properly, not just as a tick-box stop in South America. I cannot wait to return one day and see more of this stunning country.
If you’d like to experience your own slice of Brazil — whether that’s sipping a caipirinha on Copacabana or exploring the hidden heartlands of Minas Gerais — I’d love to help you plan it. As always, it’s those off-the-beaten-path moments that stay with you the longest.