BRAZIL FOR GEM AND MINERAL LOVERS

Tour itinerary - August 20 – September 1, 2009

The tour starts in Minas Gerais, Brazil's cradle of mineral richness. Here are the world's largest pegmatite deposits, where emeralds, topazes, aquamarines, tourmalines, and many other gemstones are mined, warehoused, and sold. We spend time in Diamantina, where mining of diamonds began in the 18th century and it continues through today. We continue to Araçuaí, a small town located in the heart of the most prolific mining area of Minas Gerais; the town is surrounded with mines producing not only priceless gemstones but also rare and unusual minerals. We visit the Gem and Mineral Show in Teófilo Otoni, visit dealers in Governador Valadares, spend a night away from gems and minerals in a very special place where wildlife is protected and cherished. And end the tour in Ouro Preto, the seat of artistic genius and cultural richness of the state.

There will be an optional extension to Rio de Janeiro* for a bit of fun at the “marvelous city” (see note at the end of the itinerary for details )

Day 1 – August 20, Thursday
Depart
Depart tonight from Miami on an overnight flight.

Day 2 – August 21, Friday
Arrive Belo Horizonte and Diamantina
Early morning arrival in São Paulo, then connect to a flight to Belo Horizonte. We
will be picked up at the airport in Belo Horizonte and from the airport will continue driving on the road to Brazíilia, on our way to Diamantina. We will spend part of
the day at stops in Curvelo and Corinto, both places particularly important for crystal collectors. Probably the purest, clearest, most brilliant crystals in the world come from the mining areas surrounding both towns. We continue to Diamantina.
In the early 18th century gold diggers established several small villages in this region. Quite by accident these prospectors made a startling discovery: the white stones that they found strewn about on the ground and that they used as backgammon counters were not pieces of worthless crystal but diamonds.
The village became the town of Diamantina and grew and prospered as diamond mining became more important. The legacy of that period of wealth and prosperity can still be seen in this very picturesque town. This afternoon we visit some of the crystal, gold and diamond dealers in town. Dinner in town.

Day 3 – August 22, Saturday
Diamantina
This morning after breakfast we pack a picnic lunch and head for a river location where diamonds are mined today just like they were in the 18th century, by the
old miners of the area, following on the tradition of their ancestors. We hope to be able to do some sand washing ourselves, and maybe find a diamond as a remembrance of our visit. Return to the hotel in late afternoon. Dinner in town.

Day 4 – August 23, Sunday
Diamantina and Araçuaí
We leave Diamantina after breakfast and drive to Araçuaí. This small town sits smack in the center of one of Minas Gerais most prolific mining areas. The names
of the mines surrounding the town are recognized the world over; Coronel Murta
for aquamarine, Rubelita for tourmaline, Itinga and Taquaral for fine rose quartz and tourmaline. In spite of this the town remains very small and unassuming, preserving a very rural feeling. There is just one hotel in town, were some of the earliest guest, arriving just as the hotel opened years ago, and have enjoyed the experience several times since. Many dealers, and “garimpeiros” live in town,
there are no gem or mineral shops, all business is conducted from the people’s homes and warehouses. We will try to visit a mine just after arrival. Dinner in town.

Day 5 – August 24, Monday
Araçuaí
After breakfast we will visit several gem and mineral dealers. Lunch and dinner in town. And if possible we may try to visit a mine nearby this afternoon. Return to
the hotel in late afternoon.

Day 6 – August 25, Tuesday
Araçuaí and Teófilo Otoni
After visiting some dealers this morning we drive to Teófilo where we will arrive in the late morning. This is one of the most interesting towns of Minas Gerais. We will visit gem and mineral dealers. And we will take time to deal with the street vendors in the central square. Here is where these merchants, many of them not older than fourteen or fifteen, peddle their goods. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the Gem and Mineral Show taking place in town. The larger dealers will be set up in “Tucson style” booths, - after all, many of them participate in the Tucson Show in a yearly basis - the smaller dealers will be around also in less “flashy” set ups. Many of the dealers from the small towns surrounding the mining areas come here to show their goods and get their “piece of the pie”. A fantastic experience. Lunch in Teófilo on arrival. After checking in at the hotel we will go to the Fair to pick up our ID badges and check out the exhibitors.

Day 7– August 26, Wednesday
Teófilo Otoni
A full day to explore the town. We will visit some of the local dealers and spend a
lot of time at the Show. Lunch in town.

Day 8 – August 27, Thursday
Teófilo Otoni and Governador Valadares
We leave Teofilo after lunch today and drive to Governador. A few hours this afternoon to visit dealers in town, like Teofilo Otoni, Governador is located in the heart of Minas Gerais mining district, and it is used as a distribution point for wholesalers. Dinner in Governador tonight.

Day 9 – August 28, Friday
Governador Valadares and Caraça
We leave Governador in late morning after some time to visit dealers. We drive today to a place in the Serra de Espinhaco, the main mountain range that crisscrosses most of Minas Gerais - and also the location for most of the pegmatites that Minas is famous for - it is not minerals or gems we plan to see, it is really a much rarer site, the Maned Wolves, South America largest wild canine. Neither a wolf or fox, scientist currently classify it as a single species within a single genus
(Chrysocyon brachyurus). They are oversized but incredibly graceful creatures with a reddish brown coat and spindly legs, they are often described as “giant foxes in stilts”. We will visit the Caraça Wildlife Preserve where the wolves live. Tonight we stay at a seminary school built in the 1700s, and to this day still kept by the priests. A portion of the impressive building, with a tall steeple in the centre, was converted into rooms for guests some years ago. This evening, we'll join the priests when they go feeding these very shy animal that come to the sanctuary every night. Other interesting wildlife species populate the mountains and forest of Caraça, amongst them, the endangered Southern Masked Titi Monkey. The bird life is also extensive, includes Red-breasted Toucans and White and Green-barred Woodpeckers amongst many others. Dinner at the seminary.

Day 10– August 29, Saturday
Caraça and Ouro Preto
After breakfast and a chance to look for some of the wildlife we drive the short
way to Ouro Preto. Founded in 1711, Ouro Preto's name means "Black Gold" a reference to the black coloring of the gold mined in the area caused by the iron oxide in the soil. Today we will explore this town with charming old buildings and cobblestone streets. Ouro Preto is known for precious topaz. In fact most of the precious topaz mined in Brazil comes from an area one hundred kilometers around Ouro Preto. We stop at a topaz mine on the way in and visit some of the attractions in town on arrival. Dinner in town.

Day 11 - August 30, Sunday
Ouro Preto
A full day to enjoy Ouro Preto and its surroundings Early today time to explore the town. There is so much iron surrounding Ouro Preto that in the early morning one can smell it in the air. Lunch in town. After lunch we will visit the Mineral Museum and some of the artistic treasures of the town, like the opera house, the oldest in South America.

Day 12 – August 31, Monday
Ouro Preto, Belo Horizonte - Depart
Morning in Ouro Preto, after lunch depart for Belo Horizonte’s airport for a flight to Sao Paulo and a connecting flight to Miami.

Day 13 - September 1, Tuesday
Arrive Miami
Early morning arrival in Miami. Connect with the individual flights home.

*Rio de Janeiro extension.

Day 12 – August 31, Monday
Ouro Preto, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro
Morning in Ouro Preto, after lunch depart for Belo Horizonte’s airport for a flight
to Rio de Janeiro. We will be picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel.
After time to check-in and change we will drive to Rio’s most famous churrascaria where we will be treated to a wonderful meal of Brazilian barbecue. After dinner
it is off to see a show at Plataforma Uno, a two-hour extravaganza of carnival costumes, Samba music, and dancing.

Day 13 – September 1, Tuesday
Rio de Janeiro - Depart
After breakfast this morning we take time to shop the stores of fashionable
Ipanema Beach, and enjoy the surrounding of our hotel, including the beach, just
a few feet from our doorsteps. After lunch wel drive through the Tijuca Forest to
the station where we will board a modern cogwheel train for the twenty-minute ascend up Corcovado Mountain. There, 220 steps take us to the base of the famous forty-ton statue of Christ the Redeemer. From this vantage point we will have an outstanding view of Rio, its beaches, Guanabara Bay and out on the horizon Sugar Loaf. In late afternoon we will be driven to the airport for the flight home.

For Tour Rates and Information Contact

2409 Evans Drive, Silver Spring, Md 20902, USA
Tel: 301 681 3823
saramount@att.net

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