Diamonds/ Wild Tales + Lost Trails

An odyssey into the Story of Brazil

(28 dias)

Our Journey, by the Numbers

(To begin viewing our complete itinerary, click here or skip to the bottom of the page.)

Route

Days: 28*

Trail Days: 23 (3 optional)*

Overland Days: 8 (3 optional)*

Riding Days: 3 (all optional)*

Rest Days: 2

Transfer Days: 2

Boat Days: 1*

Total Distance (km): 1,142.5 km

Trail Distance (km): 437

Trail Gain/Loss/Total (m): 26,476

* Some days feature trekking, riding, and/or boating as well as overlanding

Setting

Once the epicenter of the global diamond trade, Brazil’s Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (the geomorphological name for the rocky mountains surrounding Diamantina) was abandoned and largely forgotten by the outside world for nearly 2 centuries.

Today, it’s on the cusp of being recognized as one of the most spectacular places on earth.

3 UNESCO Designations

2 Biodiversity Hotspots

20 Conservation Units

3,000+ species of plants (estimated)

7% of Brazil’s total biodiversity*

0.8% of Brazil’s national territory

* Brazil is the most biodiverse country on the planet

Communities

From festive cowtowns to a long-lost traveler’s mecca, and just about everything in between. We’ll have the pleasure of spending time in 22 uniquely compelling communities during our Expedition.

1 UNESCO World Heritage City

7 Colonial-era towns

5 Agrarian communities

4 Quilombos

2 Historic vilas

2 Former railway settlements

1 Mining village

Conservation Units

The Mosaico do Espinhaço accounts for nearly 2,000,000 hectares (4,942,108 acres) of adjacent protected land, spanning a whopping 20 conservation units.

We’ll traverse 8 of them over the course of 21 days during our Expedition.

1 National Park

3 State Parks

1 State Natural Monument

1 State Environmental Protection Area

2 Municipal Environmental Protection Areas

Attractions

You’re going to end up hating rivers, but you’ll be an expert in obscure, white sand-beach waterfalls.

Water Crossings: 75

Waterfalls: 37 (6 optional)

Peaks: 3 (2 optional)

Hot Springs: 2 (1 optional)

Accommodations

If you’re the kind of traveler who values authenticity & genuine human interaction over opulence (& hot water baths), you’re going to love it.

Homestays: 6

Historic Inns: 4

Wilderness Campsites: 4

Pousadas: 3

Wilderness Refuges: 3

Historic Homes: 2

Lodges: 1 (2 nights)

Resorts: 1 (2 nights)

Hotels: 1

Food & Drink

There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal at the end of a long day on the trail. If you’re not familiar with comida mineira, you will be by the end of the trip (and Brazilians everywhere will be jealous).

Breakfasts: 27

Dinners: 27

Snacks: 24

Trail Lunches: 22

Lunches: 6

Total Home-Cooked Meals: : 19

Transportation

We’ll be traversing a distance equal to that from Paris to Budapest (or New York to Nashville) over varied terrain, and sometimes you just need more torque (or 4 legs; or a good ol’ jon boat).

On a related note, if you’ve ever dreamed of riding a trusty steed through the brush, rivers, and rocky mountain passes of the Brazilian hinterlands… now’s your chance.

Transfer Days: 2

Overland Days: 8 (3 optional)

Riding Days: 3 (all optional)

Pack Mule Days: 6 (1 optional)

Boat Days: 1

Crew

If you prefer to do your bushwhacking alongside dogged explorers & savvy locals rather than well-mannered Travel Experts… well, you’re in the right place.

(And for the record, our manners are pretty good, too.)

Expedition Leaders: 2

Drivers: 2

Local Guides: 6

Mule Drivers: 2

Boat Captain: 1