Rural tourism

According to the Ministry of Tourism, rural tourism gathers tourist activities carried out in rural areas that are linked to agricultural and livestock production. The attraction is the countryside way of life itself: working with animals, crops, cooking on a wood stove and the region’s stories.

Agritourism is the name given to visits to properties that continue producing and open their doors to show the work. Visitors learn about the production of cheeses, cured meats, honey, jams or flowers and buy directly from those who make them. These are usually family-run properties, and the host is often the owner.

Wineries, distilleries and coffee farms are also in the countryside, but have their own itineraries — wine tourism and beverage routes. The two types of trips complement each other in the same region.

Lages, on the Santa Catarina plateau, is recognized as a pioneer of rural tourism in the country: since the 1980s, century-old cattle farms have welcomed guests for horseback rides, traditional ranch work and meals around the ground fire. In Espírito Santo, Venda Nova do Imigrante holds the title of national capital of agritourism, with family farms of Italian origin that sell socol (a cured pork loin), cheeses, cookies and jams.

In the Paraíba do Sul river valley, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Vassouras is the center of a region of nineteenth-century coffee farms, with main houses open for scheduled visits. On the São Paulo–Rio de Janeiro border, Cunha gathers smallholdings, a lavender field and ceramic studios. In the interior of São Paulo, Socorro has farmhouse hotels with many outdoor activities and is a reference for hosting people with disabilities or reduced mobility.

In Minas Gerais, Gonçalves, in the Mantiqueira Mountains, has rural inns and producers of cheeses, jams, honey and mushrooms who sell at their door. In Serro, farms make a raw-milk cheese whose artisanal production method is recognized as Brazil’s cultural heritage.

In the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul, the farms around Miranda host visitors amid cattle ranching. The day starts early with the ranch hands’ work, and caimans, capybaras, jabirus and macaws often appear near the homesteads.

A weekend is already worthwhile; three or four nights let you settle into the pace. A car is almost always necessary because properties lie outside towns and many are accessed by dirt roads. It’s wise to ask about road conditions and arrive before dark.

Check what’s included in the daily rate: on farm-hotels, meals and recreation are usually part of the package; on rural guesthouses and small farms, activities may be charged separately or require booking. Visits to agrotourism sites and historic farms generally require an appointment: confirm before you go.

In your suitcase: closed shoes that can get dirty, long pants, a hat, insect repellent and a jacket for the evening. Phone signal and internet don’t always reach the properties, which for many people is part of the rest.