Vale do Cafe Coffee Adventure Holiday

Discover the countryside surrounding Rio de Janeiro, for a fascinating tour of some truly unique coffee farms. The Vale do Cafe tour unearths some of the biggest secrets in coffee production, ones that simply aren’t accessible from the U.K. Try different coffee blends and single origins, get to know the production process all the way from planting beans to grinding up coffee, all in an incredibly beautiful rural setting.

On the Vale do Cafe tour, you will be lucky enough to stay in some of the old farmhouses that are nestled in one of Brazil’s best coffee growing regions. You will visit historic and picturesque towns such as Barra do Pirai, Vassouras, and Rio das Flores. The surrounding countryside is made up of perfect lush green hills and thick forests. 

Day 1 (Barra do Pirai) – You will drive from Rio to Barra do Pirai through the beautiful green hills. 3 stunning coffee farms await, kicking off at the 200 year old Fazenda da Taquara. Here you will learn all about the coffee making process and more. You will finish the farm tour of the day at the Fazenda Allianca, famous for its organic coffees. At the end of the day, you’ll have a lovely homemade meal awaiting you and a soiree with music and caipiranhas! The stay for night 1 will be at the Fazenda Allianca.

Day 2 (Barra do Pirai) – Today you will see a brilliantly sustainable coffee region in Fazenda Allianca. They produce more than just sugar though, with sugar cane, fruits and vegetables to add to the land’s outputs. Next up is a gastronomic experience and a coffee tour. Following this you will be hiking through the scenic hills of Morro das Cabras and a swim in the lake! After lunch you will have the opportunity to see the farmed buffalos being milked (which they make a signature buffalo cheese with on-site). Next up you’ll be seeing a beautiful coffee farm called Fazenda da Bocaina, then back at the Allianca you’ll have access to the pool, dinner provided, and some live music.

Day 3 (Valenca) – Day 3 will take you to Valenca, a small agricultural town in thee centre of the coffee region. Here, you can see some amazing old houses that have been transformed into museums to tell the tale of the historic area. 2 coffee farms await – First up it’s the Fazenda Vista Alegre and Fazenda Santo Antonio do Paiol. Following lunch there will be a hike through the beautiful Acude Municipal Natural Park, Serra da Concordia or Serra dos Mascates. On the 3rd night you’ll be staying in the Fazenda Allianca again, where you have a relaxing pool and dinner.

Day 4 (Florenca & Conservatoria) – You have a great day to look forward to in Florenca and Conservatoria! You’ll visit a historic coffee farm near the town of Valenca. You’ll have the opportunity to see the stunning centenary mansion with its unique furnishings and a lunch to be served. The town of Conservatoria awaits in the afternoon, which was once a key link in the area’s railway network as it linked Minar Gerais and Corte and the port. Enjoy the sunset in Serra da Beleza. Dinner will be served in Conservatoria, and you will stay at the Fazenda Florenca.

Day 5 (Vassouras) – The last visit in the Valenca area is the breathtaking Fazenda Chacrinha, a rural palace. You’ll have the chance to sample some great coffee here and the traditional potato starch cookie! The town of Vassouras is ready for you – there is plenty of art to see here which is a product of the wealth brought around by the coffee industry in the 19th century. In the afternoon you will tour the colonial-era coffee farms scattered across the Vassouras region. Tonight you will be staying at the Fazenda Sao Luis Boar Sorte.

Day 6 (Vassouras & Uana Ete) – You will have a chance to discover the quiet and accommodating down of Vassouras. The region was once the largest coffee growing region in the world, and even referred to as “the City of Coffee Barons”! You will see 2 historic coffee farms today, in Fazenda Mulungu Vermehlo and Fazenda Sao Fernando. After lunch, you will see the amazing gardens of Uana Ete. The area also has a selection of fun activities such as mediation and webs between trees. Tonight, you’ll be staying at the Fazenda Sao Luis da Boa Sorte.

Day 7 (Craft Beer Trail) – A gastronomic workshop in the morning includes roasting coffees and blind tasting the different types. You can really get into the Brazilian coffee world here! Following your delicious lunch, a 5 hour craft beer train awaits. This afternoon promises to be fun and you’ll get to know and taste more than 10 beers local to the area. The Three Rocks Brewery is the Ipiabas region is unique as they actually make beer… from coffee! Each of the beers in the multiple breweries you see have their own tastes, aromas and back stories, a bit like a good quality coffee. Tonight you will be staying at the Hotel do Cafe in Rio daf Flores, which you will travel to following the beer tasting.

Day 8 (Rio das Flores) – Enjoy a relaxing morning, and after lunch continue to Rio das Flores. The city is surrounded by breathtaking mountain views, and the city centre is pleasant and welcoming. Today you will visit a highly traditional coffee farms, Fazenda do Paraizo which was built almost 200 years ago. Following lunch, continue on to Fazenda Uniao, a building preserved from the coffee empire ages of Brazil. The mansion’s stunning backdrop is not to be missed. Afterwards, enjoy a horseback ride around the lake and enjoy a Brazilian feijoada. Stay the night at the Fazenda Uniao.

Day 9 (Rio das Flores) – Visit the farm of Fazenda Santa Cecilia in Miguel Pereira. The garden features a chapel designed by the prestigious Oscar Niemeyer. After lunch go on a scenic hike through the local area. Enjoy waterfalls, coffee farms, mansions, nature trails, and stunning panoramic viewpoints. End the day watching the sun set from Boa Vista. Stay the night at Fazenda Santa Cecilia.

Day 10 (Return to Rio de Janeiro) – Following breakfast, you’ll be transported the 2-3 hours back to Rio, passing stunning scenery on the way. If you’d like to enjoy more speciality coffee experiences from the Rio region, why not check out Minas Gerais or Sao Paulo?

Holidays are fulfilled by Boutique Travel Experts.