"HIDDEN PARADISES OF BRAZIL - AND CLOSE... " a Bocaina de Minas Travel Page by RafaelTheSecond

Visconde de Mauá is the name of a very important business man who live here almost 200 years ago, he had the power to foreseen the real progress to Brazil and he was the first who brought large industrialization to Brazil. A very nica brazilian but not completely understood by the head of State in this time, the second emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro, the Second.

Both great men, but the Emperor was too proud to pay attention to one of the most important brazilian characters who dedicated the best of their lives to Brazil in a time that no one believed us!

But I am not here to write about History, but just to make you understand that this piece of paradise has this name in order of Visconde de Mauá, and also that all these vast lands which reach the limits of our two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, were lands of Maua.

And now, it is one of the most popular winter destinations for many people in Rio, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo, the region is also a very cool escape from the ghastly heat of Rio if you want to get some rest in the mountains.

EVERYTHING GREEN WITH SPARKLING WATER RIVERS AND CHARMING COTTAGES...and I was there with Marcone and our good friends from Rio, and for sure it is one of the secrets that you should know when you decide to come to Rio and find unique places where no foreigners never go.

WHEN YOU VISIT BRAZIL, YOU MUST KNOW THAT...GO TO THE BRAZILIAN PLACES AND AVOID THE VERY TOURISTC ATTRACTIONS!;)

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE AT THE LOCAL PLACES AND THEY ALWAYS HOLDS INCREDIBLE SURPRISES TO US!

We were there in the first week of september!;)

You never know whether you are in Minas or in Rio when you choose which waterfall you want to visit, though you can find very easy signs to tell you where you are and where you are going, but to understand the Region of Visconde de Maua, you have to bear in mind the following little villages:

IN RIO DE JANEIRO STATE:

VISCONDE DE MAUÁ IS A DISTRICT OF A CITY CALLED ITATIAIA WHICH HOLDS A NATIONAL PARK. THE PARQUE NACIONAL DAS AGULHAS NEGRAS

IN THIS VILLAGE YOU WILL FIND: Visconde de Mauá, Maringa and Maromba

IN MINAS GERAIS STATE:

The little village is called BOCAINA DE MINAS and it also has a lovely village called Maringa, best known as very charming restaurants in the other side of PRETO RIVER.

The place is best reached by car when you head south of Rio in the same motorway that you use to go to Săo Paulo, when you reach the entrance to Penedo, you should enter and find the road to Visconde de Mauá, the road goes up to the mountains of Serra da Mantiqueira, the road is rough so you should verify your brake and pay attention in the many abyss bordering the roads...and drive slow unless if you have a good LAND ROVER!

It is very common to come to Visconde de Maua during long holidays and the paradise is not so far from Rio, in 3 hours time you reach the mountains, and the range of Mountains named MANTIQUEIRA has different options for you to choose...I went there with my best friends Marcone and Graziella and more friends and we camped...the weather is really nice during the day, it is hot but not as hot as in Rio, and when the night falls, you will experience an unusual cold in your "TROPICAL TRIP TO RIO", but it is always a cool opportunity for you to share incredible moments with friends, when we work together, when we eat together and when we simply go out to search for a new trail that we know we will find some place special...IN VISCONDE DE MAUÁ, you will come across with the UNKNOWN, but for sure it will be a very cool surprise!