Reserva do Ibitipoca
Minas Gerais | South America
Pros
- Comuna de Ibitipoca’s private 8000 acre reserve is much larger than the neighbouring state park meaning you will have huge swathes of wilderness almost entirely to yourself
- The homecooked cuisine is a highlight, especially the mouth-watering array of freshly baked cakes that appear daily
- This is one of the most genuine experiences you can have of Brazilian nature, culture and hospitality, whilst also being luxurious and far off the tourist trail
- Daily morning yoga classes are complimentary, and if you are lucky Tuca, the resident tame rescue toucan, will come and join in!
- This is truly an eco-hotel. Conservation motivates everything the owners do here they have even developed their own natural water recycling system based on ancient Japanese techniques
Cons
- The nearest airport at Juiz de Fora is just over an hour’s drive away but does not have regular flights. Otherwise Rio is around three and a half hour’s drive and the last half hour is on dirt tracks
- It can be quiet during the week as many of their guests are Brazilians who tend to travel at weekends or holidays
- There is no swimming pool, but swimming in the natural lakes and waterfalls that surround the property is a joy
- The birdlife here is spectacular but let us know if you are keen to birdwatch so we can bring in an outside specialist. The in-house guides are more generalists and not specifically focused on birding