Though all our tours offer the best dining experiences to be found anywhere, this tour had been specially designed around an Annual Gastronomic Festival held every August in the 18th Century town of Tiradentes, one of our favorite destinations. Because the route offers such a fantastic variety of exciting coastal, mountain and country back roads, it can be considered an ideal sampler platter of motorcycling in this country, and thus has become our most popular tour, which we now make available year round.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Rio de Janeiro arrival (Airport pickup and transfer to hotel). Check-in at Ipanema’s newest and best hotel, situated just one corner off the beach and convenient to Rio’s best shops and eateries. In the late afternoon, transportation will be provided to nearby Sugar Loaf Mountain, well worth visiting before dusk, to catch the day view as well as the city lights at night. We will begin our culinary journey later that evening at the apex, literally and figuratively, atop Rio's tallest hotel, and the site of the city's most elegant restaurant. The cuisine is French; after all, they were the first settlers in Rio de Janeiro centuries ago.
Day 2: After a good night’s sleep, we will enjoy breakfast at the hotel while the chase vehicle is being loaded with everyone’s bags. We will begin our tour with a comfortable but exciting ride of less than 200 km, passing downtown Rio, crossing the 14 km long Niteroi bridge and on to the internationally renowned, beach resort of Armacao de Buzios, where we will stay in one of the town’s many charming inns. As we will arrive in the very early afternoon, there will be time to explore the village or its numerous beaches. Dinner will be later in the evening, at a stylish Argentine restaurant, famed for its steaks and tango music; an appropriate choice considering Buzios' modern Argentine colonization.
Day 3: After a leisurely breakfast, the morning will be free to enjoy Buzios’ beauty before we depart on our 250 km ride. After returning some 100 km along the wonderful, curvy roadway we enjoyed on our way into Buzios, we will turn towards Rio’s mountain range, climbing over 1,000 meters to Nova Friburgo (translation “New Freiburg”), stopping just beyond the city at a cheese and chocolate academy. Considering the region was settled by Swiss during the Napoleonic invasions of Europe, this unusual training facility does not seem so out of place. Our hotel for the night, where we will also dine, is one of only three establishments in South America associated with the respected Relais & Chateaux family of exceptional hotels and restaurants.
Day 4: At 400 km, this will be the first of our two longest riding days of the tour, so after breakfast we will be underway. We will begin our day winding along breathtaking mountains and valleys, past the towns of Teresopolis and Itaipava, where we will turn onto the freeway connecting the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, capital of the State of Minas Gerais(translation “general mines”). The first 100 km presents some of the best sweepers you have ever experienced, with the final stretch to our overnight destination providing a series of exciting twisties. The day's travel will end in Ouro Preto, the historic capital of not just the State of Minas Gerais but also of the Western Hemisphere’s greatest gold rush. After we check into the city’s top hotel, there will be time to visit some of the numerous 18th Century churches or stroll the cobblestone streets lined with charming shops, many of which specialize in local gem stones. For dinner we will meet back at the hotel, which also boasts the city’s finest restaurant.
Day 5: Since this day’s ride is only 175 km, there will be ample opportunity to check out that church you missed, crawl through an original gold mine, admire more of the Portuguese colonial architecture, purchase some soapstone carvings or just relax after a leisurely breakfast. After our noon checkout, it's off to the 18th Century village of Tiradentes and its International Food Festival. Getting there will be at least half the fun as we get another shot at the 20 Km of twisties that brought us into the town. Afterwards we turn due East along plenty more winding roads before reaching our 2-night stopover. We will check into our lovely hotel, situated just outside the town. There will be plenty of time to relax or visit the town prior to meeting for dinner. Later that evening we will be picked up and taken to a special feast prepared by the renowned Flemish chef Guy Van Cauteren of restaurant Laurierblad in Belgium.
Day 6: Breakfast, as usual, will be served at our hotel. The day will be available for enjoying Tiradentes’ many antique shops, taking a steam train to the neighboring town of São Joao del Rei, lounging about one of our hotel’s two swimming pools, or enjoying the many offerings of the food festival. In the early afternoon we will meet for lunch in the town center, to experience some fresh water fish dishes, including a soup typical of the Amazon region. Following lunch, for those interested - a Brazilian beer tasting. A nap may be in order in preparation for yet another grand dinner prepared by Rio de Janeiro’s hottest young French chef, Olivier Cozan, originally from the island of Bréton, located off the coast of Nova Scotia.
Day 7: After breakfast there will be time for last minute shopping or sightseeing. We will be checking out by noon and heading off on our 200 km ride to Pouso Alto, but not without one last splendid, yet light meal. As August is Brazilian “winter” we will enjoy an early lunch of winter dishes which will include warm salads and French soups as well as some pastas, prepared by Jaya Loyola, a native of Minas Gerais, who trained in France, at Le Cordon Bleu. Following lunch we will promptly hit the road for our last night in the State of Minas Gerais. We will spend the night at a hotel-ranch. In addition to horses they have indoor and outdoor swimming pools, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Dinner will be at the hotel where the fare is Mineira cuisine, regional dishes that could be considered Brazil’s version of good old-fashioned, down home cooking.
Day 8: This is the second of our two longest riding days (400 Km), requiring us to get underway promptly after breakfast, especially since our destination is quite special - the 17th Century port village of Parati. Leaving the State of Minas Gerais, our ride winds down the mountains into the State of Sao Paulo, where we pick up the interstate for some 100 km, where the State has posted signs proudly reminding drivers they are on one of the country’s best highways. One hundred kilometers shy of our destination, we will stop for a late lunch in Ubatuba, a popular coastal town, where we can enjoy the variety of seafood dishes available, including Azul-marinho (translation "Sea-blue"), a regional specialty of fish cooked with bananas and fruits that result in a color similar to the dish's name. After lunch we will enjoy some of Brazil’s best coastal riding, interrupted only by the many photo ops. After checking into our charming inn, there will be time to walk the town’s 400 year old stone streets to work up an appetite for our special dinner treat, the unparalleled experience of being the exclusive guests of the owner of a unique cooking school, where we will experience authentic Brazilian cuisine and are invited to partake in the actual preparation. One can also simply watch and learn, or just sit back and relax until dinner is served.
Day 9: After a relaxing breakfast, the best suggestion of the morning is a visit to the waterfront where life for the local fishermen has changed little over the centuries. After a noon checkout we will begin our 300 km return ride to Rio de Janeiro. The first half of the ride hugs the coast and offers spectacular views and yet more photo ops. In Rio we will check back into our Ipanema hotel. Our last dinner will be a seafood extravaganza unlike any you have experienced. This is great dining and gluttony at its best, and considered by most to be their best seafood meal ever.
Day 10: After breakfast, there will be time for any last minute shopping prior to our picking you up for a visit to Corcovado mountain and its landmark statue of Christ. After our classic sightseeing, we will have our farewell supper at a typical Brazilian steakhouse, Rio's first and best. It is quite a feast, especially for meat lovers. A late check-out will have been scheduled so after the meal you will have an opportunity to gather your belongings and pack up for the airport (transportation will be provided, of course). For those choosing to stay on to enjoy more of Rio or travel to other Brazilian or South American destinations, arrangements can be made to accommodate your needs.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
Hotels, breakfasts, dinners, group events, airport transfers, and motorcycle with insurance and gas
Not Included:
Airfare, visa fees, personal travel insurance, lunches, drinks, snacks or tips.
Notes:
- Passengers (riding 2-up) - add 30%; Spouse/significant other on separate motorcycle – add 70%;
- Single riders sharing a room each receive a 10% discount;
- Group of 4 riders may book a private tour at no extra charge; with only 3 riders – add 25% each; 2 – add 50%;
- 5 or more riders booking together will each enjoy a 10% discount;
- Day Ride prices only include motorcycle with insurance; not gas, meals, hotels, etc.;
- Day Rides may be taken as a solo, private tour; 10% discount each for 2 riders; 20% discount with 3 or more.
F 650 GS - US$ 4000;
R 1150 RS/GS - US$ 4200;
R 1150 RT - US$ 4400.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Brazil
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Motorcycle Tours
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