History - The RESERVA
 
The Reserva do Ibitipoca is located just besides The Ibitipoca State Park and started in 1981 with the purchase of the Fazenda do Engenho (Engenho's Farm).

Today the Reserva is composed of properties, which exceed 3.000 hectares of preserved area. The Reserva partially encompasses the State Park, to form a safety and cushioning belt, encouraging the interaction between species for breeding and looking for food and shelter.

Village

The name Ibitipoca comes from the Tupi Guarani, and it means stone house, home of the crash or chipped stone.

The region was inhabited by the Aracis Indians, decimated since the end of the 17th century with the arrival of the first explorers, who came in the track of gold. In 1732, a Spanish publication about the gold mines of Brazil quotes the mines of Aubitipoca.

Founded in 1718, it is one of the oldest villages in Minas Gerais and still preserves marks of the wealth earned at this time. One of them is the Matriz Church in baroque style built in 1768 over the old chapel dedicated to the Our Lady of The Conception in the 17th century. In the lower part of the village, black persons were forbidden to attend the Portuguese temple, so they built the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary during the 19th century. History Heritage protects both churches.

The Gold Cycle was short at the region. The sandy soils and unfavorable typography led the village to economic decline, as quotes the French naturalist, Auguste de Saint-Hilaire, who went there in 1822: "After approximately a league, we reached the village of Ibitipoca located at a peak. Although head of the district that extends to the Black River, this village consists of only a few small houses and the worst aspect".

Nature - FLORA

The vegetative landscape of Ibitipoca confirms the transition area where we are. The Atlantic Forest, besides having great flora diversity, consists of some ecosystems with characteristics typical from the Cerrado. The high altitude grasslands and the campos rupestres (rocky grassland) enrich the variety of species with twisted trees, orchids, cacti, bot, and bromeliads, symbol of the Reserva do Ibitipoca.

FAUNA

The biologist Elisa Girardi conducted a detailed survey of mammals. Using cameras traps, she identified 33 species of mammals, it is observed the return of some animals like deer, irara, wild boar, jaguars and ocelots puma.
In 2002, it was located at the Luna Forest a community of 10 monkeys of the Brachyteles hypoxanthus species, known as Muriqui (friendly people or quiet people, in Tupi Guarani language) or Mono Carvoeiro. It is the largest primate of the Americas, critically endangered according to IUCN (International Union for conservation of Nature).
The rivers of the region are often used for spawning of pirapitinga, a red-tailed fish.

GEOLOGY
The white sands of the region certainly resemble the beaches. Six hundred million years ago, the area consisted of the bottom of the sea and slowly turned into a disjunction of the Mantiqueira Mountain. It is the largest outcrop of quartzite in the world.

The altitudes of the region of the Reserva range from 900m (valley from the Farm's New House) to 1.500 (Hawk Peak), up to 1.800m at the highest point of Ibitipoca State Park (Lombada).

WATERFALLS

The Waterfalls of the region are formed by waters from the Jump River (Rio do Salto) and by the Hawk Creek. With its reddish tone, the crystalline cascades form large falls and natural pools.

In the lands of the Reserva do Ibitipoca, there are 8 beautiful waterfalls

LODGING

Our opening to tourism was more than an action in pursuit of sustainability of environmental and social projects of the Reserva do Ibitipoca. It was, also, consequence of the desire that we felt to receive people and share our exuberant nature, the contact with local population and, specially, the responsibility for our next steps.

The hosting of the Reserva do Ibitipoca takes place at the old main houses of the farms, which were restored and redecorated, each one with its peculiarity, always looking for the characteristics of the time, joining comfort and simplicity, and valuing the local culture and handicrafts. Each main house was particularly restored and redecorated preserving the features of their time, gathering comfort and simplicity and valorizing the local culture and handicrafts.

ENGENHO'S FARM

The traditional farmhouse dating from 1715, where is now located the Reserva do Ibitipoca Lodge, was rebuilt in 2006, maintaining its original characteristics. In our structure, we offer:

8 suites; Restaurant with regional gastronomy; Spa; Sauna and Hidro; Private airstrip

GASTRONOMY

The Reserva's do Ibitipoca menu offers the combination of simplicity and sophistication. The mineira and organic food is the meals' main attraction. For breakfast, we have breads; cakes; jams, and dairy - all of them are produced at the main house. Lunch is served at the wooden stove, with typical mineiro dishes, preferably with local ingredients. The kitchen staff comprises natives' professionals who were trained by renowned international experts.

HORSES

We have mangalarga marchador from Maripa Stud (brazilian famous breeder of one of the most popular gaited horses in the world)

RIDES

Among waterfalls, grottos, and natural pools, the rich nature of the Reserva do Ibitipoca assures beautiful rides.

PHOTOS - Click here

ITINERARY
1st day - Arrival at Rio de Janeiro Airport and transfer to Reserva Ibitipoca ( 3 hours by car or 45 minutes by plane) Riders will become familiar with their horse, riding equipment and if there is time do a short ride around the area . Dinner and overnight at the Fazenda.

2nd day - Pedra do Gavião (Hawk Stone Tour)
The post card of the Reserva do Ibitipoca invites you to see the sundown by the end of the day after a good promenade. The ride will go through the Bromeliads' Garden, Sun Rise Grotto, and the Seven Gentlemen's Tree.

3rd day - Circuito das águas (Water tour)
Today we will ride through waterfalls and natural pools. It goes through the Engenho's Waterfall, Screamers Waterfall, Lage Waterfall, Veil Waterfall, Quiet Waterfall, and Love Beach. During the ride we will cross forest areas and stop to see Andorinha's Cave and its waterfall. Our lunch will be on the beach of Engenho's Waterfall where our lunch will waiting for us.

4th day - Arraial Mogol (Mogol's Village)
This ride is through a small and traditional village of the county that endures with its original features. It is remarkable for its pleasant views of the valleys and mountains, for its amazing waterfalls and the constant contact with local culture.

5th day - Areião Ride
A ride along the vicinity of Ibitipoca State Park,. At the end of the day we arrive at our fly camp house in an accommodation situated amidst landscape virtually unexplored.

6th day - 07 Falls
We leave very early in the morning to have our breakfast on the hills with the spectacular view of the sunrise on the Valley. After coffee we continue our ride crossing the top of the mountain to reach in the other side the Seven Falls waterfall where we will be able to refresh swimming. Our trail lunch will be under Janela do Céu (Window of Heaven). After a rest in a hammock we start our return to Engenho's Farm

7th day - After breakfast, a short visit to Ibitipoca State Park and after lunch we have our transfer to Rio de Janeiro