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RESERVA DO IBITIPOCA Ibitipoca Lodge Fazendo do Engenho Lima Duarte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Accommodations Spa Activities Reserva do Ibitipoca

ABOUT RESERVA IBITIPOCA'S LODGE - in their own words:

LOCATION
Located in the mountains of the state of Minas Gerais, about a 4 hour drive north and west of Rio de Janeiro. The Fazenda has a private air strip cutting the journey time considerably, but dependent on weather.

CLIMATE
The ‘tropical highland’ climate is characterised by mild temperatures varying between 15º C (59 F) and 18º C (64 F). The winter is dry and cold, and it rains in the summer, especially between November and January. The high humidity directly benefits the fauna and flora, helping to form a perfect habitat for the reproduction of epiphytes, such as lichens, bromeliads and orchids.

HISTORY

Reserva do Ibitipoca was created in 1981 with the purchase of Fazenda do Engenho (Engenho’s Farm), one of the oldest farms in the region, dating back to the 19th century, and where today the Ibitipoca Reserve Lodge (guest house) is located. Over time other lands were acquired; most of these had been abandoned or used for cattle grazing in the vicinity of Ibitipoca State Park.

 

The main aim of the Reserve is the reforestation of native flora species and the formation of wildlife corridors, which entails joining fragments of woodlands with reforestation, providing larger spaces and better living conditions for the reproduction of wild animals. Besides the

commitment to reforestation, since 2006 another ongoing project has been the reintroduction of wild animals that once inhabited the region but had become extinct there. Today the Reserve is composed of more than 50 properties. Of these, only 4 used to have residents who, by choice, moved to cities with better health and educational infrastructures for their children. Now the Reserve totals almost 4,000 hectares (approximately 90% of which is a protected), embracing three counties: Lima Duarte, Bias Fortes and Santa Rita do Ibitipoca.

 

We opened to tourism in 2009 to help us achieve the sustainability of environmental projects, the generation of employment and the qualification of our local population. Another reason was to be able to share our exuberant nature, our contact with the local people and their culture, and above all, the responsibility for our future plans.

ACCOMMODATIONS - click here for complete details
At Reserva do Ibitipoca, luxury is in the simplicity of each detail. Eight guest rooms are located in the faithfully restored farmhouse of Fazenda do Engenho, which is surrounded by extensive green areas and located at an altitude of 900 metres above sea level. The renowned mineira (from Minas Gerais) hospitality and the cosiness of our lodge are an invitation for our guests to relax. Each room has exclusive furniture and a décor that values our local handicrafts and culture. All rooms are equipped with king size beds (some of which can be adapted to twin beds), Egyptian cotton sheets, comfortable armchairs, a nightstand with lamp, a linen wardrobe or drawers and hangers, IPod amplifier and telephone. The bathrooms have underfloor heating, warmed towels, a Victorian style bath, heated showers, L’Occitane amenities, personalised havaianas (the original Brazilian flip flops), a hair dryer and bathrobes.

REGIONAL GASTRONOMY
Breakfast is an invitation to taste typical food from our own land. Bread, cheese, and all of our products are produced at Ibitipoca Reserve. These include warm corn bread, the regional pão de queijo (small bread rolls made with cheese), homemade cakes and bread, cream donuts, biscuits, farm eggs, and fresh coffee and milk from our farm.

Lunch is served at the restaurant from our wood-burning stove, with delicious homemade recipes complemented by salads and vegetables from our kitchen garden. To tickle your taste buds, some of the options are roast suckling pig, chicken à mineira (Minas style), chicken in brown sauce, pork ribs, leg of lamb, tutu (mixed black beans), polenta with sausage, fried plantain with flour, mashed potatoes, soufflés, cabbage, taro, endive, okra and spinach. And to round off the meal, various desserts made at the farm are served, such as guava and cheese, doce de leite (caramelized milk spread), lemon mousse, condensed milk desert, fruit compote, rice pudding and regional fruit salad.

The evening meal is a special event, which can be served as an a la carte menu at the Lodge restaurant, or we can serve you at one of several exotic locations on the Reserve, like underneath a magnificent Jabuticabeira tree – you’ll think you’re paradise! Menus are created especially for the occasion, with careful food and wine pairing. We organize such special events for up to 20 people.

TV LOUNGE
This room is the only area in the lodge with a TV. The bedrooms are our invitation for you to forget the external world and to live each moment at the Ibitipoca Reserve intensely and slowly.

But if you would like to relax by watching a good film, you’ll feel snug in the TV lounge, where you can choose from more than 100 films or Sky TV to watch on our home theatre LCD 60” TV.

SPA - click here for complete details
The SPA provides comfort, wellness, health and relaxation in a warm aromatic and meditative atmosphere. Our therapists use 100% vegetable oils combined with essential oils to enhance our guests’ experience during their massage. Guests are also invited to take part in a Yoga class every morning.

SAUNA & HYDRO-MASSAGE
At the deck behind the Lodge we have a sauna, a small hydro-massage pool, a room for relaxing and an outside illuminated waterfall. Our sauna is wood-heated and semi-humid with a view of Hawk Stone. For those who enjoy the night sky, the external heated hydro-massage bath, heated and made with stones, is a great option.

ENGENHO WATERFALL
Engenho Waterfall delights everyone who sees it. It is a magical place with natural pools and white sands, equipped with comfortable sun loungers and a special bar serving delicious appetizers and caipirinha, the famous Brazilian cocktail. This is an ideal place for a refreshing dip in the ‘coca cola’ coloured waters, the result of natural decomposition of organic materials.

STABLES
At our main house we have stables, equipped with saddles and a living room where our guests can comfortably wait for their horses to be prepared, or to enjoy a nice cup of natural tea after coming back from a ride. Our Mangalarga and Anglo-Arabian horses are specifically trained for horse-riding trips around the Reserve.

CORRAL
A small pen accommodates our three Jersey cows that produce all the milk consumed at Ibitipoca Reserve. We also make Minas and mozzarella cheese with the milk, as well as mozzarella, curd and milk puddings that we serve to our guests. Our guests are welcome to help milk the cows!

AIRSTRIP
Our airstrip for small aircraft allows easy access to Ibitipoca Reserve. It is approved by the DAC (Department of Civil Aviation in Brazil) and only suitable for certain aircraft.

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES - click here for complete details
Local guides from the Reserve accompany guests on excursions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Bilingual guides are available and must be requested at the time of booking. The activities we offer enable our guests to get closer to nature and local culture.