The Sitio is located in the Highlands of Mantiqueira, in Santo Antônio do Alto Rio Grande (Bocaina de Minas), on the banks of the same river, in one of its most beautiful curves. Imagine yourself in a real 10,000 m² garden, with a well-designed topography, dozens of araucarias and many other trees and plants. In the background, Rio Grande. Imagine more: surrounded by this nature, at your disposal, a chalet, an outdoor kitchen with a wood-burning stove and oven, a sauna. Everything to make your stay unforgettable. The space Surrounded by lush nature, there are five buildings: two cottages close to each other but totally independent (the hosts, Luiz and Ivana, live in one of them), a sauna, a kitchen - actually what we call the Culinary Workshop (in addition to the one in the cottage where you will be staying). And the kokedamas corner, with dozens of examples of this Japanese hanging garden art. Right next door, an imposing wood-burning oven dug into an old termite mound surprises all visitors. All of this will make your stay at Curva do Rio unforgettable. Guest access On the days you will be staying at the site, you will have at your disposal a 50m² cottage and a 12m² mezzanine, with a double bed and a single mattress. Blankets and an oil heater ensure the comfort you desire (bring your own bed and bath linens). And a fan ensures freshness on the rare nights when it is necessary. Equipped kitchen, in an open concept, two rooms, one with a fireplace and a beautiful bay window. Bathroom and toilet complete the facilities. Many glass windows bring the lush landscape into the interior of the chalet. The decoration, rich in handicrafts and works of authorship by the hosts, are a detail apart, as you can see from the photos. In addition, an outdoor area of 10,000 m², the sauna space - with cold shower and full bathroom with hot water shower - and a delightful river for bathing. Other things to note Cooking Workshop They say the coziest place in a house is the kitchen. To confirm that this is true, the Culinary Workshop, one of the spaces on the site, is not just a kitchen, with an oven and wood stove, refrigerator, a small gas stove and a large wooden table with two benches. It was the first construction made at the Curva do Rio site. It is 28m². Culinary and gastronomic experiences were the motto for gathering friends. And where did they sleep? In tents, at Pousada dos Pássaros, wherever they could. The important thing was to meet in the kitchen. Rounds of pizzas, stews, feijoadas, beer, wine and cheese tastings, all of this gave the kitchen the suggestive name of Culinary Workshop, and spontaneously turned it into a high-spirited space, a good place to stay for a long time. And there is one thing that has become a tradition after the gastronomic experiences: paints and brushes are available for the participants to paint the bottles of the wines consumed the next day. Very fun. The painted bottles serve as kitchen decorations. If you're lucky and stay when the hosts are on the site, maybe a round of pizza will happen on the house? You can also participate in a gardening "class," when you will learn how to make a kokedama, the Japanese art of hanging gardens, which we have already mentioned. In any case, you can use the Culinary Workshop, if you wish. Sauna space Measuring about 30m², in this space you will find, in addition to the Finnish-type (semi-humid) wood-burning sauna, a relaxation room with sun loungers. A cold shower (sometimes freezing!), with water that comes straight from the spring. Full bathroom with electric shower. In such an environment, a bottle of artisanal cachaça, made nearby, could not be missing. This cachaça has no brand, it is from an alembic still, but we suggestively call it "Coragem" (Courage). It's what you need to cheer up, get out of the sauna and dive into the cold waters of the Rio Grande, a few meters away. Location and access The village of Santo Antônio do Alto Rio Grande is located within the triangle formed by the cities of Bocaina de Minas, Liberdade and Visconde de Mauá. You can get there from these three locations. On all paths, there will be stretches of dirt road. And it is thanks to this "protection belt," a limit to the exaggerated access of people, that you will enjoy a typically rural experience with great tranquility. Coming from Bocaina de Minas: take the road to Liberdade; after 3 km of asphalt, turn left, there are another 10 km of dirt road. From Visconde de Mauá: head toward lot 10, after about 6 km of asphalt, turn left on the “dog bridge.” From then on, the road is unpaved; it is 10 km to Mirantão and another 11 km to Santo Antônio. By Liberdade: the city is located on the margins of BR 267, which connects Juiz de Fora to Caxambu. From there, take the road to Bocaina de Minas; after 19 km of asphalt, turn right, there are another 10 km of dirt road. In Santo Antônio, take the road that goes to the Rio Grande waterfall (one of the region's waterfalls). It is only 4 km to the entrance of Sítio Curva do Rio. A tip: if you've never been to Santo Antônio, we suggest that you don't come at night the first time. Signage is poor, and in the dark, all dirt roads look alike. Weather You've always heard that Brazil doesn't have a defined climate. In Santo Antônio it is not quite like that. Summer and winter, mainly, have striking characteristics. In the summer, the days are sunny, during the day the temperature usually reaches 30 degrees. At night, a nice chill will put you to sleep, for sure. It usually rains, which, most of the time, does not prevent you from enjoying your stay with great pleasure. In winter, the sky is almost always open and starry, as it is rare to see elsewhere, which helps to increase the sensation of cold. As soon as the sun sets, the cold sets in, and it is not uncommon to reach temperatures close to and even below zero at dawn. However, nothing a good coat and blankets can't solve. The chalet has a fireplace in the living room, blankets and a gas heater in the bedroom. Outside: how about a bonfire or a ground fire? There is no shortage of firewood and space! As the weather in Santo Antônio is mild, and at night it always cools down, it is good to come prepared, bring some lighter clothes for the walks and warm clothes for the night and dawn (if you are sensitive to the cold, also bring gloves, scarf and hat). Host Luiz and Ivana. Both teachers. He teaches Physics, she teaches Arts. For Luiz and Ivana, the teaching phase is over. A life more integrated with Nature, photography, visual arts in general and handicrafts are what motivate their living today. From the beginning, Sítio Curva do Rio has always been a place to rest, relax, and meet old and new friends. Everyone leaves here in awe. By the place, by the hospitality, by the moments lived. Luiz and Ivana live in Niterói, but spend much of the year on the farm. They stay in one of the two cottages, but totally independent, which serve one for housing and the other for lodging. Come. We'll be happy to have you here. A treat from the hosts for you To reach paradise, I mean, Sítio Curva do Rio, you pass through the village of Santo Antônio do Alto Rio Grande. A simple, quiet village of hospitable people, and one that holds delicious surprises. Mrs. Leontina's sweets and cheeses, Mrs. Maria's guava candy, Mrs. Aparecida's guava candy to eat with a spoon, Rosana's honey breads and Italian straw, cornmeal, banana and orange cakes from the small bakery, Alagoa cheeses at Menezes, parmesan and butter from Ernesto and Antonio Carlos, fresh cheese from Toninho or Vinicius, biscuits, jams and sweets from Teresa, from Paiol farm. There is also the handicrafts of Minas Gerais in Selma and Cidinha, who also make some delicious snacks and broths. But there is much more, which you will discover for yourself. You'll get all the tips on how to find these people in Santo Antônio when you arrive at Sítio Curva do Rio. In addition, a surprise: in the cottage's refrigerator, some of these delights will be there for you to enjoy. We won't tell you now what they are. They'll be a welcome treat for you. Tours, trails and suggestions You may think that there is not so much to do in Santo Antônio. But there is. Including nothing. At the site, you can sit in the sun on a sun lounger, lie down on a hammock and just listen to the sound of the river waters, serene but constant, passing, passing, passing. Only interrupted by the birds singing. There are dozens and dozens of species here in the region. It's a good time to read a book. Sip a caipirinha made with Galician lemons (there are trees loaded with them for most of the year). The soul becomes light and you, grateful. Sauna is very invigorating, you know. Enjoy this moment. Then, take a shower in an outdoor shower outside the sauna. The water is cold, very cold, coming straight from the spring. But it raises such intense heat that it tones the body in a surprising way. And if you take “courage,” take a dip in the Rio Grande. There are many options of things to do on the site. And outside of it. Choose one of them: Trails - Light and medium hikes. For example: to the Rio Grande waterfall, it is 2.7 km. There, in addition to the breathtaking landscape, a swim under one of the two falls invigorates more than the best of massages. And if you'd like to have lunch, talk to Vilma, who takes care of the space. A longer hike, 10 km from the site (one way), takes you to Cachoeira Cinco Estrelas, which is on the lands of Zé Manuela, one of the local patriarchs. Going up to the second waterfall, you'll understand why it has that name. The most radical rappel down this waterfall. Two other waterfalls are more distant, but deserve to be visited if your stay is longer: the Prata waterfall, in Mirantão, 15 km from the site (also serves a meal) and the Estiva waterfall, 20 km away, on the way to the French, which also serves a meal. Other suggested tours: a trip to the Santo Antônio camp. There you will find the delicacies and handicrafts we referred to earlier, as well as others, such as Pedrinho and Jéssica's restaurants, simple places, but with very tasty lunches, where you serve yourself from the wood stove. Three farms can be visited, and there you will find wonderful cheeses, butters, sweets and jams: Fazenda Paiol, owned by Tereza and Luiz, Fazenda Machado, owned by Ernesto and Laurinda, and Fazenda Diniz, owned by Antônio Carlos and Luciene. The paths? Just ask in the village and everyone will be able to explain. Some valuable sources of information: Menezes, Zé Nicolino, Zé Manuela... Luiz, from Curva do Rio, also knows a lot of people and many places. He can give tips and even accompany guests on a more special tour, if possible at the time.