This tour starts in Volta Redonda

 

During this 185km (25% dirt road) tour we will visit Bananal and São Jose do Barreiro and drive through Arapeí.

 

Bananal is one of the historic cities on the "Rodovia dos tropeiros" in the Paraíba Valley (Vale Histórico), which has always been a main travel route in Colonial Brazil, used by drovers (Tropeiros) to transport gold and diamonds from the mines in Minas Gerais to the port town of Paraty. Towards the end of the 17th century, small villages emerged all along this gold and diamond route, providing lodging for travelers and tropeiros.

 

The other historic cities along this road are Arapeí, São José do Barreiro, Areias and Silveiras. This road is also referred to as the "Caminho do Imperador", as it was this road that Pedro I took in 1822 on his historic trip to São Paulo during which he declared the independence of Brazil. 

 

Duration: Full day (10-12 hours)

 

Price: 325 R$ per person (minimum 3 people)

Included: Transport - guiding services

 

IMPORTANT: The price includes pickup and drop off in Volta redonda, which is a 2 hr bus ride from Rio de Janeiro.

 

Buses from Rio de Janeiro to Volta Redonda go about every 50 minutes. The coaches are modern, comfortable, air conditioned (some even have WiFi) and the cost is 40-50 R$ one way, depending on normal or executive. The operator is "Cidade do Aço". Click here to check their timetable. Buses leave from the Rio de Janeiro main bus station, Novo Rio (see map). Take the first or second bus in order to arrive in Volta Redonda around 8 am so we can start the tour early. 

 

Another option is to come the evening before the tour and spend the night in a local pousada. (about 80-100 R$ pp).