São Paulo
 
THE JEQUITIBA TRAIL; a unique RIDING EXPERIENCE in the heart of COFFEE PLANTATION country!!

São Paulo may be the economic, industrial and financial powerhouse of Brazil, and indeed of South America, but it also offers some of the finest rural experiences of the region. Thanks to its cultural diversity and its vast and multifaceted territory, the interior of São Paulo State includes some superb touring experiences.

The Jequitiba Trail takes you riding through the coffee-growing region of the northeast of the State, visiting some of the great historic plantation homes, and passing through the surprisingly well-preserved natural wealth of the region. The diversified terrain takes you from plains to mountains; up and down escarpments and on plateaux that offer an ever-changing scenery punctuated by springs and waterfalls. This variety also accounts for the wealth of arts and crafts that are produced in the region: in leather, ceramics, embroidery, jams and other preserves, honey, coffee, cheese and of course the local firewater, cachaça.

In the remnants of the Atlantic Rain Forest are found the JEQUITIBA, the Giant of the Forest, a species that grows to over 40 meters in height (130 feet) and three meters in diameter; the oldest known specimen has an estimated age of three thousand years.

The region is well-known for its easy-going, hospitable people and for its distinctive down-to-earth cuisine. In Cassia dos Coqueiros the trail takes us along the escarpments of the Paulista Plateau with its swift running rivers, natural pools and waterfalls, such as the Itambe waterfall with a free fall of 84 meters.

The rich cultural heritage, the result of successive waves of immigrants, the teeming plant and animal life with monkeys, deer, coatimundis, and hundreds of species of birds and insects and butterflies and the vibrant and modern agricultural activity make this privileged region a delight to visit and a genuinely unique experience.

5 days/ 4 nights
 
Day one:
Arrive at Fazenda Nova, or New Farm, so called because the Old one burned down in 1830, in Mococa. One of the oldest plantation homes in the region, where horses have been bred for seven generations of the same family. Participants will become familiar with their horse, riding equipment and will make their first contact with the Atlantic Rain Forest riding in the 120-acre forest preserve. Typical Paulista dinner (including a tasting of Mogiana coffees-among the best gourmet coffees in Brazil) and overnight at the Fazenda.

Day two:
After a hearty farm breakfast, depart for Fazenda da Ponte and departure for a trail through pastures and sugar-cane fields to the Jequitiba forest at Fazenda São José do Mato Seco established in late 19th century as a coffee-growing center. Trail in the forest leading to a fine specimen of Jequitiba. Visit to the "Cachaça da Tulha" distillery voted the best cachaça in Brazil by a panel of experts in 2007; sampling of the product. Some of the original constructions have been restored and adapted to the production of cachaça, such as the "tulha", formerly used for drying and storing coffee beans, and which now houses the vats for the aging of cachaça.

Picnic lunch. The trail continues through sugarcane fields belonging to the St.Alexandre ethanol plant, up the escarpment to the Paulista Plateau to Roccaporena Inn: located in a stretch of well-preserved forest by a fast running river with an 8-meter waterfall, rapids, natural pools. Dinner and overnight at the Inn.

Day three:
After breakfast back on the trail to the Itambe Waterfall (84 meters tall); trek down to the bottom of the valley for swimming in a natural pool then back up for a picnic lunch; the trailcontinues to a splendid viewing clifftop platform which offers a view of the entire region. Return to the Inn for dinner and overnight.

Day four:
Breakfast and back on the trail to visit two outstanding examples of late 19th century coffee plantation homes: first stopping for lunch at Fazenda Santana da Serra, and then heading on to Fazenda Santa Cecilia. In its heyday, this Fazenda was a small city with its own railroad station, scores of single-family homes for its workers and state-of-the art machinery for processing coffee, all run by electricity from its own hydro-electric power plant, its own church and recreational club for its employees. Dinner and overnight at the Fazenda's guesthouse.

Day five:
Breakfast and the a two-hour trail inside the forest preserve to see another superb specimen of Jequitiba, passing by the Sampaio Moreira train station. Tour of the plantation home, and then return by car to Fazenda Nova for lunch. End of journey and return to São Paulo.