Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Brazil: Minas Gerais, Ouro Preto, Tiradentes and Inhotim
7 days through Minas Gerais's gold towns: Belo Horizonte, Mariana and Ouro Preto, Tiradentes and its steam train, and Inhotim. In development.
7 days · Round trip from Belo Horizonte · up to 12 guests
The Matriz de Santo Antônio church in Tiradentes, the town proposed for nights 5 and 6 (2018 photo) Photo: Pedro Vilela/MTur (Ministério do Turismo), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PedroVilela_Matriz_de_Santo_Antônio_Tiradentes_MG_(25993507997).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Belo Horizonte
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Moderate: 3 to 6 km of walking a day on steep cobbled streets in Ouro Preto and Mariana, steps in churches and low, damp mine passages, with long days on the road. The steam train and Inhotim depend on weekday opening. Easier alternatives use taxis and are not step-free; check access needs before booking. Transfer times are estimates pending suppliers.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 2 dinners
- Season
- Dry season
Highlights
Why this trip
- Mercado Central and Pampulha in Belo Horizonte
- A gold-mine visit near Mariana and Ouro Preto
- Baroque churches and Aleijadinho's work in Ouro Preto
- The colonial town of Tiradentes
- The Maria Fumaça steam train to São João del-Rei, on running days
- Inhotim's art park, where the date and flight time allow
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte airport to your hotel; Mercado Central and Pampulha
- Dinner
- Stay in Belo Horizonte
Fly into Belo Horizonte, either Tancredo Neves International Airport at Confins (CNF) or the city airport at Pampulha, depending on your airline; the main international airport is well outside the centre, so we allow for a transfer of an hour or more, an estimate to be confirmed. A driver is proposed to meet you and take you to the hotel. If you arrive in time, your guide takes the group to the Mercado Central, a covered market of cheeses, cachaça, spices and snacks that is a good first taste of Minas cooking, and then to the Pampulha lake district to see Oscar Niemeyer's church of São Francisco de Assis from outside or inside, depending on opening hours. Market and church hours must be checked for your day.
Evening
A welcome dinner is proposed nearby.
Included
- Pick-up at the Belo Horizonte airport
- Mercado Central and Pampulha visit, if arrival time allows (opening hours to be checked)
- Welcome briefing and dinner
Free time: Free until the briefing
Mariana and a gold mine, then Ouro Preto
Belo Horizonte to Mariana and Ouro Preto by road
- Breakfast
- Stay in Ouro Preto
We drive from Belo Horizonte to the old gold towns, taking a road of roughly two to three hours to Mariana, an estimate not yet sourced. Mariana is the oldest of Minas Gerais's colonial towns, with baroque churches around its squares. Nearby we propose a gold-mine visit, descending into old workings where the history of the eighteenth-century gold rush is explained; which mine we use and whether it is open on the day are to be confirmed. The tourist steam train between Mariana and Ouro Preto is not running: passenger service stopped in 2020 and reports in October 2026 give a return date of 2027 or late 2028, so we use the road between the two towns.
Evening
We reach Ouro Preto in the afternoon and walk its first steep streets before dinner, free.
Included
- Road transfer Belo Horizonte to Mariana and Ouro Preto
- Mariana old-town walk
- Gold-mine visit (mine and opening to be confirmed)
Easier option: Ride between sights instead of walking the steep streets
Free time: Free evening in Ouro Preto
Activity: The Mariana to Ouro Preto train is not operating and is not part of the plan.
Ouro Preto's baroque churches and Aleijadinho
Ouro Preto on foot: the churches, squares and Aleijadinho's work
- Breakfast
- Stay in Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto is a hillside town of steep cobbled streets, white houses and a great many baroque churches, built on gold. With a local guide we spend the day on foot, visiting the main churches and squares, including those connected with Antônio Francisco Lisboa, called Aleijadinho, the sculptor and architect whose carvings mark many of the buildings, and the museum quarter around Praça Tiradentes.
Afternoon
Opening hours differ by church, many close at midday, some charge small fees and a few close on Mondays, so the order is decided closer to the date. The streets are very steep and the cobbles are uneven, and the pace is slow. Lunch is free in a town known for Minas dishes. The afternoon is free for shops of soapstone and local craft.
Evening
The evening is open.
Included
- Guided walk through Ouro Preto's churches and squares (entries to be confirmed)
Optional experiences
- Museum visit; a soapstone craft workshop
Easier option: Take taxis uphill and walk only the downhill sections
More active option: Walk up to viewpoints above the old town
Free time: Free afternoon and evening
A gold mine or museum and a free afternoon
Ouro Preto and its surroundings: a mine, a viewpoint and free time
- Breakfast
- Stay in Ouro Preto
The programme is looser today.
Morning
In the morning we visit an old gold mine in or near Ouro Preto, going underground with a guide to see the tunnels, the narrow passages and the traces of the mining that built the baroque town; if Day 2 already included a mine, today offers a different one or a museum instead. Whether a mine is open on a given day is to be confirmed.
Afternoon
After lunch the afternoon is free to explore the shops, visit a church or museum we have not yet seen, or relax at a café, with suggestions from the guide for viewpoints and walks.
Evening
Evening plans are free; Ouro Preto is a student town and has lively streets after dark. Packing tonight is simple, as tomorrow is a long drive to Tiradentes. Mines can be damp, steep and low.
Included
- Guided visit to a gold mine (mine to be confirmed)
Optional experiences
- Museum visits; a walk to a viewpoint
Easier option: Visit a museum or café rather than going underground
More active option: Walk to a viewpoint above the town
Free time: Free afternoon and evening
Activity: Mines are low and damp; not suitable for everyone.
Road to Tiradentes
Ouro Preto to Tiradentes by road
- Breakfast
- Stay in Tiradentes
Morning
We leave Ouro Preto after breakfast for Tiradentes, a drive we estimate at roughly three hours, depending on the road and stops, not yet sourced. On the way there may be time to stop at a historic town such as Congonhas, if the schedule allows. Tiradentes is a small colonial town of stone streets, flowering gardens and baroque churches set at the foot of a mountain range, quieter and prettier than larger towns, and a base for restaurants serving Minas cooking.
Afternoon
We arrive in the afternoon and walk the old centre with the guide, including the Matriz de Santo Antônio church, whose opening hours are to be confirmed.
Evening
The evening is free. We explain the plan for tomorrow's steam train, which operates on specific days only and depends on the travel date.
Included
- Road transfer Ouro Preto to Tiradentes
- Guided walk in Tiradentes
Free time: Free evening in Tiradentes
The steam train and Minas cooking
Tiradentes to São João del-Rei by steam train and back; a Minas cooking evening
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Tiradentes
- By train
The Maria Fumaça steam train runs between Tiradentes and São João del-Rei.
Morning
A newspaper report of 1 October 2026 says a new operator, ABPF, took over from VLI, and that on Fridays and Saturdays trains leave São João del-Rei at 10:00 and 14:00 and Tiradentes at 11:30 and 15:30, with only the morning departures on Sundays. That reported timetable is not confirmed for your travel date. We propose Friday or Saturday for this day so the following Inhotim visit falls on a weekend; if the train is not running, we would agree a road-transfer alternative before quoting. We ride to São João del-Rei, walk its centre and ride back.
Evening
In the evening we propose a Minas cooking experience or dinner, to be arranged, with dishes such as pão de queijo and tutu.
Included
- Steam train Tiradentes to São João del-Rei and back, on a running day (to be confirmed)
- São João del-Rei walk
- Minas cooking evening
Optional experiences
- Free time in Tiradentes's boutiques
Easier option: Take the train only one way and return by taxi
Free time: Free time in Tiradentes before dinner
Activity: We propose putting this day on a Friday or Saturday, subject to date-specific schedules.
Inhotim and the way out
Tiradentes to Inhotim in Brumadinho by road, then to Belo Horizonte
- Breakfast
Morning
We leave Tiradentes in the morning for Inhotim, the large art park and botanical garden near Brumadinho, a drive we estimate at about three hours (not sourced). Inhotim's official hours list Wednesday to Friday 09:30 to 16:30 and weekends and holidays 09:30 to 17:30, with Tuesday opening 09:30 to 16:30 in January and July. Monday opening is not listed. We check the actual visit date before quoting; the stop is offered only on an open day. A visit of a few hours sees only part of a park of many galleries and gardens. We then transfer to the Belo Horizonte airport (Confins or Pampulha, depending on the airline).
Afternoon
Whether Inhotim fits at all depends on the actual flight window: it needs a flight late enough to leave the park and reach the airport in time, and an early or midday flight means going straight to the airport with no Inhotim visit. Agree the flight time with us before you book. The trip ends at the airport.
Included
- Road transfer Tiradentes to the Belo Horizonte airport
- Inhotim visit only if the date and flight window allow (entry to be confirmed)
Free time: Depends on flight time
Activity: Inhotim is conditional on weekday opening and the flight time; it is not promised.
- Belo Horizonte1 night
- Ouro Preto3 nights
- Tiradentes2 nights
- Belo Horizonteend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Dry-season days are mild to warm, with cool nights in the hills and the chance of short rain at either end of the season. Fog can sit on the hills in the morning.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who like colonial architecture, art and food
- People comfortable with steep streets and some travel days
- First-time visitors who want a quieter side of Brazil
- Solo travellers who prefer a small group
Not for you if you want
- Step-free access or limited mobility: steep cobbles, steps and mines
- Beach seekers
- Anyone who cannot fix dates around the train and Inhotim
- Anyone needing a confirmed departure now: this itinerary is in development
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Belo Horizonte1 night
- Ouro Preto3 nights
- Tiradentes2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights in hotels and pousadas (none chosen): 1 in Belo Horizonte, 3 in Ouro Preto, 2 in Tiradentes
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement (not yet priced)
- Hotels not yet chosen
Transport
- Airport transfers at Belo Horizonte
- Road transfers by vehicle with driver between all towns
- Steam train Tiradentes to São João del-Rei and back on a running day, proposed
- Proposed only; vehicles and operators are not chosen
Your guide
- A guide with the group, appointment and local guiding requirements to be confirmed
- Local guides at Ouro Preto and at mines where required
Activities
- Belo Horizonte: Mercado Central and Pampulha
- Mariana: old-town walk; gold-mine visit
- Ouro Preto: churches and Aleijadinho walk; a second mine or museum visit
- Tiradentes and São João del-Rei: steam train and town walks
- Inhotim: art park visit, only if date and flight window allow
Meals
- Breakfast on 6 days
- 2 dinners: welcome dinner in Belo Horizonte, Minas cooking evening in Tiradentes
- No lunches included
Not included
- International and domestic flights to Belo Horizonte
- Travel insurance
- Visa or e-visa fees, if your passport requires one
- Meals not listed
- Drinks and tips
- Optional activities not listed
- Entry fees not listed, until confirmed in the quote
- Hotel extensions and early or late transfers outside the plan
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- Price on request
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
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What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
Is this trip available to book?
Not yet. It is a proposed itinerary that you can ask about. An enquiry takes no payment and books nothing. We reply with a written quote that sets the final price, taxes, operator and terms, and accepting a quote does not by itself book any supplier.
Can I ride the old train from Ouro Preto to Mariana?
No. That tourist train has not carried passengers since 2020. October 2026 news reports give a return in 2027 or in late 2028 after restoration, so we do not include it and travel between the towns by road.
Is the steam train in Tiradentes running?
A newspaper report of 1 October 2026 says a new operator, ABPF, runs it on Fridays and Saturdays with set times, and only mornings on Sundays. This is not confirmed for any travel date, so we would fix departures to a Friday or Saturday and check before booking.
Why does the date matter?
The October 2026 report lists Friday and Saturday steam trains plus Sunday mornings. We plan Friday or Saturday for day 6 so day 7 falls on an Inhotim weekend opening day. Inhotim's official hours list Wednesday to Sunday and holidays, plus Tuesdays in January and July; Monday opening is not listed. We check both schedules for your requested dates before quoting.
Why is Inhotim on the last day?
Placing the train on Friday or Saturday and Inhotim the next day fits the reported train pattern and the park's weekend opening. An earlier park visit can conflict with its weekday closures, although January and July have additional Tuesday opening. The last-day visit still requires an open date and a late enough flight; otherwise we agree a revised plan before quoting. A few hours sees only part of the park.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate. Ouro Preto's streets are steep and cobbled, and mines are low, damp and have steps. Easier options use taxis, but the programme is not step-free. Tell us about any mobility needs before booking.
When does this trip run?
The proposed season is April to October, the drier months in Minas Gerais. Dates must also suit the train and Inhotim weekday constraints. No departure dates are set.
What is the group size?
The proposed small group is 7 to 12 guests with a guide, with a private version for your own party. Mine visits may limit group size and must be confirmed.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
It depends on your passport, and the rules have changed in recent years. Check Brazil's foreign ministry or your nearest consulate before you book flights. Any visa or e-visa fee is not part of the trip.
How is the price set?
Nothing is fixed until you receive a written quote. It sets the final price, taxes, operator and terms once hotels, vehicles, the guide and entries are confirmed with suppliers, and it depends on the dates you choose.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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