A private three-bedroom farmhouse at the heart of Ibiti, a vast conservation and rewilding project in the mountains of Minas Gerais.
Casa Carlinhos was originally built as the home of Carlinhos Repetto, one of Ibiti’s founders, and is the most private way to experience the project. The house has the warmth and simplicity of a traditional Minas Gerais fazenda; with three large suites, it can be taken exclusively for up to six guests. Carlinhos positioned his own bedroom to wake up facing Pico do Gavião and dug the lake in front of the house in the shape of a heart.
Engenho Lodge is a short walk away, and beyond that lies the wider Ibiti Projeto: some 6,000 hectares of the Serra da Mantiqueira, where former farmland is being returned to native forest, scattered with waterfalls, natural pools, mountain trails and huge contemporary artworks.
What we love about Casa Carlinhos
- Each of the three spacious suites has a king-size bed and en-suite bathroom with a big bathtub; the largest is 70m² with views towards Pico do Gavião, while the other two are 60m².
- The interiors have real Mineiro character, with timber floors, local handicrafts and traditional furniture, a wood-fired iron stove in the kitchen, and hammocks strung along the veranda.
- Some of the best Brazilian cooking we’ve come across, with meals served at Engenho Lodge, privately at the house, or in different spots around the reserve: breakfast beneath the jabuticaba trees, picnics and Brazilian barbecues beside waterfalls and swimming holes, and candlelit dinners on the beach or in a cave.
- Personalised daily activities on the reserve: explore with a guide on foot, horseback, e-bike or 4×4, or visit Ibiti’s art, wildlife and community projects.
- Nearby Raízes Spa has an open-air sauna and jacuzzi, a studio where morning yoga is held daily, a 24-hour gym, and treatment rooms.
Old farm tracks and trails cross the mountains and Atlantic Forest, connecting waterfalls, swimming holes, viewpoints, artworks and conservation projects.
Follow the Water Circuit through the forest, stopping to see Karen Cusolito’s The Big Family — a group of enormous recycled metal figures first created for Burning Man, then installed here atop Pedra do Tatu Sentado. Hike to Pico do Gavião for sunrise, paddleboard on Lago Negro, or go deeper into the reserve by e-bike or 4×4. Toucans, macaws, monkeys and capybara can all be seen roaming the land.
There’s plenty to explore beyond the trails. Visit Mogol, a regenerated hillside village within the reserve, home to Ibiti’s school and organic gardens. At Muriqui House, learn about efforts to protect the beautiful and critically threatened woolly spider monkey, the largest primate in the Americas, or visit the ASAS project to see how animals rescued by Brazil’s environmental authorities are rehabilitated for release back into the wild. Specialist birdwatching, stargazing, and sunset sound healing ceremonies can all be arranged.
When to Travel
Ibiti can be visited year-round. The drier months, from May to September, bring clear skies, cooler temperatures and good conditions for walking, riding and exploring the reserve. Nights can be surprisingly cold in the mountains, particularly in June and July.
From October to April, the weather is warmer and wetter. Summer rain fills the waterfalls and natural pools and the forest is at its greenest, though heavy afternoon showers can make some trails and longer excursions less predictable. For a balance of warm days, green landscapes and good walking conditions, April, May, September and October are particularly good months to visit.
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