Ibiti Project is one of the world’s great hideaways – a living, breathing environmental project set within 14,800 acres of Ibitipoca National Park.
Located in a remote corner of Minas Gerais in the Mantiqueira mountains, a focus on conservation and sustainability runs through every element of the Ibiti Project experience. At its heart is an elegant 18th-century colonial country hotel, once the centre of the old Fazenda do Engenho sugar cane farm, now beautifully restored. Activities on the reserve are plentiful – there is riding, bird watching, biking trails, an open-air cinema and art pieces scattered around the hills – and the service is outstanding.
What we love about Ibiti Project
- The main house has 8 large, bright and airy rooms, with roll-top baths and views across the reserves; other highlights are the library and shady gallery with hammocks for afternoon snoozing
- The private three-bedroom farmhouse, Casa Carlinhos, has the best suites on the reserve – only 100 meters from the main house, it’s perfect for small groups and families.
- The interiors: the hallways and public spaces are adorned with antiques and modern Brazilian pieces, including old maps and watercolours of indigenous flora
- The hearty meals, prepared on a wood-burning stove using ingredients from the garden – don’t leave before trying the suckling pig or the polenta
- The spa, which offers Ayurvedic massages, daily yoga, local treatments and a wood-heated sauna, housed in an old wooden granary – many of the massage oils are made from local herbs, plants and essences
- The endless activities – think morning yoga classes and guided excursions exploring the the reserve on foot, horseback, electric bikes or 4×4, discovering its heavenly natural swimming holes and waterfalls
- The spectacular Minas Gerais countryside, with all kinds of fruits and flowers growing in abundance
- The bird life: Ibiti Projeto boasts some 350 species of birds, and local guides can help you spot all types from Green-billed Toucans to Brazilian tanagers
There is abundant wildlife, including Muriqui monkeys, wild boar, jaguars and ocelots, puma and wolves.
There are an array of walks or rides available. Botanists will enjoy wild orchids and bromeliads, as well as native forest species.
Don’t miss a ride or trek to the village of Mogol. The journey offers stunning mountain views and a chance to cool off in the clear waters of Engenho’s Waterfall.
With less than 900 Muriqui in the world, the reserve works closely with biologists and researchers to study and protect the Ibitipoca troop.
Those looking to disconnect can take Viradouro, a charming farmhouse with the comforts of the main hotel. Powered solely by sustainable energy, Viradouro uses solar thermal and the wood burning stove to heat water. Walking distance from natural pools, visitors can take an early morning dip before breakfast.
It’s a 3-hour drive north from Rio through the plump green hills of Minas Gerais to Comuna do Ibitipoca. There is also the option of travelling by helicopter, which takes under an hour from Rio de Janeiro.
When
to Travel
Minas Gerais can be visited year-round. The driest months are April through October. January, February, March, November and December see the highest rainfall.
Let us know when you hope to travel and our Brazil experts will guide you accordingly.
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