Making Travel Plans

When making travel plans, please aim to arrive at Iracambi on either a Monday or Tuesday.  This will allow us to give you (and others who may be arriving around the same time) an orientation before you get thrown into your work week! Arriving on a Saturday or Sunday is difficult for us since our staff do need time off, but if that is your only option, and if you have given us due warning, we´ll do our best to have someone to welcome you when you arrive.

The journey from these 4 main departure points is split into 3 stages:
Departure points (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador) to Muriaé, Belo Horizonte to Viçosa,
Muriaé or Viçosa to Rosário da Limeira,
Rosário da Limeira to Centro de Pesquisas Iracambi (that's the Portuguese name for the Research Center - better get that into your head.)

Rio de Janeiro to Muriaé

If you arrive at Rio de Janeiro International Airport before 12:00 noon, you can get to Iracambi the same day: if your flight gets in later, it’s best to spend the night in Rio and come up the next morning. Your first move is get to the Rodoviária Novo Rio, the main inter-state bus terminal. (There's an a/c bus run by the Real company which stops at the bus station, but if you decide to get a taxi, better pay for it inside the airport terminal because the taxi drivers will probably try to rip you off.) The ground floor of the Rodoviária is the entrance and where the buses depart from: the ticket offices are upstairs. Go upstairs, turn left at the top of the stairs then go to the Viação Rio Doce bus company ticket booth, about two-thirds of the way down on the left, and get a ticket to Muriaé. It will cost around R$45 for Convencional (standard) and R$50 for Executivo (executive). There are many buses that either go to or through Muriaé; try and get the first available one so that you can get to Rosário da Limeira before dusk: you may find us difficult to find in the dark. The journey will last around 5-6 hours with a stop in between should you want a coffee, smoke, bathroom etc. Buses that go through Muriaé (but with different final destinations) leave about every hour, usually from Platform 37-38 (down the ramp in the center of the row of ticket booths). Bus times can change because of heavy rain, road works, holiday seasons etc: it would be advisable to check the timetable on the bus company´s site (www.viacaoriodoce.com.br) or call them (21 2233 5351) to check the timetable.

São Paulo to Muriaé

From São Paulo you need to take a bus from the Terminal Tietê with the Itapemirim company. The bus leaves São Paulo daily at 15.30 and 22.00 and the journey should take around 10 hours. Check the timetable with the bus company (www.itapemirim.com.br) or call them (0800 723 2121). You may want to try to book a ticket before or arrive at least an hour early so you can buy a ticket at the Terminal Tietê before catching the bus. Don’t confuse Rosário da Limeira; Minas Gerais with Limeira, São Paulo or you’ll be in for a big surprise (and a long walk!)

When you arrive at the Terminal Tietê go to the Informações (Information) desk and ask where the Itapemirim booth is. The company booths are located together in a central location so they are not too hard to find. Once there, purchase a ticket to Muriaé. It will cost about R$80 and Itapemirim accepts major credit cards and cash for ticket payment. Your ticket should indicate which Portão de Embarque (departure gate) the bus leaves from, all of which are downstairs.

Salvador to Muriaé

From Salvador, you needn’t go via Belo Horizonte unless you particularly want to (it’ll add about 7 hours to your journey): the Salvador - Rio de Janeiro Itapemirim buses, via Governador Valadares, pass right through Muriaé and will drop you off there. The buses depart daily at 09.30 and cost around R$180. It’s approximately 23 hrs from Salvador to Muriaé by bus. Check the timetable with the bus company (www.itapemirim.com.br) or call them (0800 723 2121). The bus will drop you at a stop in Muriaé but not at the main bus station: you will need to get a taxi to there. This is only a 5 or 10 minute journey so make sure you do not pay too much for the taxi.

There is also the option of flying from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro and then catching a bus to Muriaé from Rio, which will cost more but will save some hours of your journey. The cost of the flight, including tax, is around R$150 if you’re not fussy about your time of travel, e.g. 04.00 departure time. The flight will take around 2 hours. The website for the airline company is www.voegol.com.br or you can call them (0300 115 2121) but it is better to book through a travel agent, as you will need a Brazilian credit card to book online.

Belo Horizonte to Viçosa

The Pássaro Verde bus company runs buses from Belo Horizonte to Viçosa at 05:30, 06:30, 12:30, 15:00 and 00:00. The journey will take around 5 hours and ticket price is R$50 for Convencional (standard) and R$60 for Executivo (executive), which includes coffee, bottled water etc. Go to the bus company’s website (www.passaroverde.com.br) or call them (31 3073 7000) to check the timetable.

Viçosa to Rosário da Limeira

If you have travelled from Belo Horizonte you will need to get a ticket from Viçosa to Rosário da Limeira. Go to the Unida ticket booth to purchase your ticket. Buses depart at 06.45 so it would be advisable to get the midnight bus from Belo Horizonte, so you don’t have to spend the night at Viçosa. The journey to Limeira will take around 1½ hours and the ticket will cost R$16. Check times and prices with the bus company’s website (www.empresaunida.com.br) or call them (32 2101 7200). There is anothe Unida bus that leaves Viçosa at 12:30 aand goes to Muriaé: it does'nt go to Limeira but it will drop you at Ancorado which leaves you a 6 km hitch hike into Limeira.

Muriaé to Rosário da Limeira

On arrival at Muriaé you will need to get another ticket for the next leg of your journey: go through the barrier – the saida (exit) sign is displayed close to the barrier and head upstairs to the Novo Horizonte ticket office to purchase a ticket to Rosário da Limeira. The Novo Horizonte buses leave at 06.00, 08.45 am, 11.30, 13.30, 14.45 and 18.00 (Mon-Fri) and 13.30 and 20.00 (Sat – Sun). Unida also runs one bus a day to Rosário da Limeira but these are less reliable. The journey should last round one hour. Check times on the Novo Horizonte website (www.novohorizonte.com.br) or call them (32 3728 3960).

There are a number of hotels in Muriaé if you need to stay overnight. A list can be found on www.vtn.com.br/hospedagem/estados/minasgerais/jp/muriaeondeficar.htm There is a new hotel (expensive) just in front of the bus station, the Minas Palace (Av. Doutor Passos, 87, Centro. Tel. 32 3721 4049). Another cheaper option is the Hotel Regina (Rua Coronel Marciano Rodrigues, 190, Centro. Tel. 32 3721 1188). Hotel Rex in the main square is a good, basic hotel (Rua Pascoal Bernardino, 247, Centro. Tel. 32 3722 1591), as is Hotel Vila Rica, across the road from Banco Brasil in the main square (Rua Pascoal Bernardino, 136, Centro. Tel. 32 3722 3600).

 

Rosário da Limeira to Centro de Pesquisas Iracambi The bus will arrive in the main square of Rosário da Limeira, in front of the Nossa Senhora bar. The taxi rank is in front of the Farmácia opposite the bar. Any of the taxi drivers will know where to take you if you ask for "Centro de Pesquisas Iracambi." This is where the students and volunteers live and someone will be there to meet you. The drive will take around 20 minutes and will cost around R$50. It’s around a two hour walk, but it’s occasionally possible to hitch a lift in a car or on a horse cart. Sometimes, due to weather and road conditions the drivers will be unable to take you all the way there. If you are dropped at the top of the hill, then you will have to walk down and cross the stream over the little footbridge to the Center, which you can see clearly from the top. If you arrive on a weekday, there is also the option of getting the school bus, which is free! This is a white bus and it leaves from the main square at 11.40am, 4.40pm and 10.20pm. You will need to ask the driver to tell you where to get off the bus for ‘Iracambi Centro’. This will either be on the top road at the top of the hill, in which case you walk straight down towards the Center, or it will be on a smaller road where the bus goes straight and you turn hard left. Continue to the fork in the road, turn right and then follow the road (for about 10 minutes) to the main gate. Suggested Route from Rio de Janeiro to Iracambi Depart Rio 08.00am - arrive Muriaé 13.00 (bus marked ‘Valadares”): Depart Muriaé 13.30 - arrive Limeira 15.00: Depart Limeira either immediately by taxi or on the 16.40 school bus – arrive Iracambi 20 mins later. Suggested Route from São Paulo to Iracambi Depart São Paulo 22.00 – arrive Muriaé 07.00: Depart Muriaé 08.45 – arrive Limeira 10.15: Depart Limeira either immediately by taxi or on the 11.40 school bus – arrive Iracambi 20 mins later. Suggested Route from Salvador to Iracambi Depart Salvador 09.30am – arrive Muriaé 08.30am: Taxi to Muriaé bus station: Depart Muriaé 11.30 - arrive Limeira 13.00: Depart Limeira either immediately by taxi or on the 16.40 school bus – arrive Iracambi 20 mins later. Suggested Route from Belo Horizonte to Iracambi Depart Belo 12.00 midnight – arrive Viçosa 05.00: Depart Viçosa 06.45 – arrive Limeira 08.15: Depart Limeira either immediately by taxi or on the 11.40 school bus – arrive Iracambi 20 mins later. Hostels & Hotels There have been a great variety of hostels and hotels used by volunteers on their way here in the past. If you are staying overnight we’d suggest that you find appropriate accommodation via a reputable guidebook, such as Lonely Planet. A list of suggested hostels and/or hotels can be found here: click here Travel Tips for Gringos If you don’t know Brazil too well and don’t speak Portuguese then here are a few tips to help you with your journey: At the bus stations, go to the Informaçôes (Information) desk to find the appropriate ticket booth. It helps to have the name of the bus company and your intended destination written on a piece of paper. Try to book tickets in advance wherever possible. You may not always be able to get a seat on a bus if you try to book at the last minute. Your ticket should indicate which Portão de Embarque (Departure Gate) the bus leaves from. The departure gate will have a large number that corresponds to the ticket. Once you find the gate, instal yourself on the bench there. The bus driver will need to see your ID and possibly weigh your bag before boarding the bus. Upon getting onto the bus, make sure that the bus driver checks your ticket to be sure that you are on the correct one. Keep your passport to hand when you travel by bus. You may need it to show it to the driver for identification and/or fill out an ID form which you may be given with your ticket. Keep any valuables in your hand luggage and close to your person. If you think you may sleep on the bus then keep your bag closed and the strap looped around your foot for security. Do not assume that belongings stored in the main luggage compartment are secure, even if your bag is locked. Buses on long journeys will make regular stops, of between around 10-30 minutes. Check with the driver when you need to be back on the bus and note which bus is yours when you get off – you don’t want to end up on the wrong one! If your destination is not the terminal stop then find out the estimated time of arrival and set an alarm for at least a half hour before this or ask someone to wake you if you fall asleep. It is not uncommon for people to sleep through their stop. Talking about falling asleep: the bus company warns passengers of the possibility of an old trick well known to travellers in Italy as Buona Notte Cenerentola (Goodnight Cinderella!) - a friendly soul chats you up, offers you a candy which contains a soporific and when you fall asleep, he departs with your wallet. Didn't your Mom ever warn you about taking candy from strangers? This all said, have a safe trip and we look forward to seeing you at Iracambi!!!