Tombos

Day Trips

Touch down in Tombos and check into your charming pousada overlooking the Rio Pomba. Breathe in the fresh country air as you admire the emerald hills reflecting in the calm river. Let the colonial wooden architecture of your lodgings set a tone of relaxation for the days ahead.

Stroll along the riverbank to observe fishermen casting nets and colorful birds flitting among the trees. Stop at a local café to savor a cheesy pão de queijo and a cup of Minas Gerais coffee. Capture photographs of the rustic footbridges and century-old trees lining the promenade.

Enjoy a sunset picnic on the riverbank accompanied by artisanal cheese and doce de leite. Listen to the soft evening chorus of cicadas and birds as dusk settles over the water. Return to town for a comforting dinner of tutu de feijão at a family-run bistrô.

Visit the Igreja Matriz de São José, an 18th-century church adorned with hand-painted tiles and wooden altarpieces. Wander through the old town square to admire colonial houses with brightly painted façades. Learn about local legends from your knowledgeable guide in historical anecdotes.

Explore the Museu Municipal to see artifacts from indigenous cultures and early settlers. Trace the footsteps of gold prospectors along cobblestone alleys on Rua Direita. Pause at a shaded praça to sip sugarcane juice and chat with friendly residents.

Dine at a traditional restaurante where you can watch local forró musicians warming up. Sample fresh tilápia from nearby rivers served with cassava. Let the rhythm of live accordion tunes carry you into the night.

Journey to a nearby fazenda to witness the dawn harvest of red coffee cherries. Stroll through neat rows of Coffea arabica under the guidance of a plantation expert. Learn how soil, altitude and climate combine to produce renowned Minas coffee.

Join hands-on roasting and grinding sessions to transform cherries into drinkable brew. Taste freshly brewed coffee alongside homemade pão de mel and regional sweets. Compare flavor notes and aromas in a guided coffee cupping workshop.

Gather around a crackling bonfire with your hosts to sample coffee-infused liqueur and storytelling. Enjoy a simple rustic dinner served in lantern-lit surroundings. Drift to sleep to the distant calls of nocturnal wildlife.

Set out before sunrise for a trek to the famous Cachoeira do Tombos deep within the forest. Follow a narrow trail lined with towering jatobá and ipê trees as you listen to the chorus of howler monkeys. Reach the falls in time to witness sunlight dancing on the cascading water.

Cool off in the natural plunge pool at the base of the falls and enjoy a riverside picnic of fresh fruit and coxinhas. Take an optional guided swim behind the curtain of water for a refreshing massage. Capture stunning photos of rainbows forming in the mist.

Return to your pousada and unwind with an herbal tea brewed from local erva-doce and capim santo. Relish a hearty dinner of galinhada prepared with free-range chicken. Reflect on the day while gazing at stars unimpeded by city lights.

Begin at the feira municipal to choose fresh ingredients like legumes, meats and regional cheeses. Meet a renowned local chef who shares family recipes passed down through generations. Learn to prepare feijão tropeiro, pão de queijo and mandioca frita.

Roll up your sleeves in the kitchen for a hands-on cooking class, mastering each dish step by step. Engage with fellow travelers as you stir sizzling beans and skillet-fry golden farinha. Taste your creations paired with homemade suco de caju.

Gather at long wooden tables for a communal feast featuring the dishes you helped prepare. Enjoy live folk music as you savor each bite under twinkling lights. End the night swapping stories with new friends over local cachaça.

Paddle out at sunrise along the gentle currents of the Rio Pomba in a sturdy wooden canoe. Glide past lush riverbanks where capuchin monkeys flit overhead and toucans perch on branches. Pause to learn about local flora and fauna from your experienced guide.

Land on a secluded sandbar for a picnic of grilled cheese, homemade jams and tropical fruits. Watch kingfishers dive for their midday meal in crystal-clear shallows. Continue downstream, navigating small rapids for an added thrill.

Settle around a riverside bonfire to roast marshmallows and sip on camomila tea. Share stories of the day’s adventure with fellow paddlers beneath a canopy of stars. Drift to sleep lulled by the gentle murmur of the river.

Head to the Praça Central to browse stalls of colorful woven baskets, lacework and woodcarvings. Chat with artisans about traditional techniques using buriti palm and local woods. Try your hand at beadwork in an impromptu workshop.

Visit a pottery atelier to see how red clay from nearby quarries becomes jugs and decorative pieces. Paint your own miniature ceramic mug as a keepsake. Sample artisan chocolates infused with regional fruits like jabuticaba.

Choose a handcrafted souvenir to take home, then dine at a pastelaria renowned for its savory turnovers. Sip on a refreshing guaraná drink while listening to acoustic guitar melodies. Return to your lodging feeling inspired by local creativity.

Embark on a scenic drive through rolling hills to the nearby village of Santa Rita. Stop at roadside stands selling banana fritters and fresh coconut water. Observe daily life as farmers tend to coffee and banana crops.

Meet with local cachaça producers for a tasting of small-batch sugarcane spirit. Learn about the distillation process and sample aged varieties infused with fruits. Enjoy a rustic lunch of buchada de bode under a shady mango tree.

Return to Tombos for a lively village festa in the main square featuring forró dancers. Sway to live accordion music and savor regional snacks from street vendors. Bask in the warm community atmosphere before heading back to your accommodation.

Depart early for a guided ascent of the Serra do Tombos, breathing in crisp mountain air. Traverse rocky outcrops and panoramic ridges offering sweeping views of the valley below. Spot soaring king vultures and flocks of parrots overhead.

Pause at a high-altitude lookout for a packed lunch of freshly baked broa and queijo minas. Absorb the vista as you sip sparkling water sourced from mountain springs. Continue along shaded trails lined with bromeliads and orchids.

Return to your pousada for a soothing soak in a natural hot spring bath. Savor a light dinner of salad greens grown in the region’s fertile soil. Drift off to sleep lulled by the distant hum of nocturnal insects.

Revisit your favorite spots in Tombos for a final stroll along the river and through the town center. Pick up last-minute treats like doce de leite and freshly roasted coffee beans. Reflect on your experiences as you watch fishermen prepare for dawn.

Join a sunset photography session atop the Riverbank Lookout for one last panoramic view of the Pomba valley. Capture the golden hues that paint the hillsides as the sun dips below the horizon. Share a farewell toast of sparkling catuaba with new friends.

Gather at an open-air terrace for a grand farewell dinner featuring a spread of local delicacies. Enjoy live music from regional troubadours as you dance under festoon lights. End the night with coffee-infused dessert and heartfelt goodbyes.