Name: Reserva de Ibitipoca
Address: Fazenda do Engenho, S/N, Lima Duarte, Lima Duarte, Lima Duarte, 36140-000, Brazil
Rating: 10

24-hour reception

Elevator/lift

Smoke-free property

Ticket assistance

Garden

Terrace

General

Laundry

Dry-cleaning

Luggage storage

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Breakfast

Restaurant

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Tour assistance

Tourist services

Barbecue grill(s)

Barbeque

Recreation

Free parking

Parking

Conference Hall

Business

Fitness facilities

Sports

Beauty and wellness

Children swimming pool

Kids

Pets allowed

Pets

Location

At the guest house

Juiz de Fora Airport

Reserva de Ibitipoca

Lima Duarte

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

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limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

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not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

Oh my gosh. This place is amazing. We went in blind having no idea where we were going - we left our entire Brazil trip in the hands of our amazing travel agency - Jacada Travel. We had no idea where we were going or what an amazing experience we were about to have. Everything is first class and included - from meals to guided hikes and private, customized experiences. I don’t want to spoil any surprises, so just trust that you will be well taken care of while here and roll with it. We were so pleasantly surprised by what we experienced. There were only seven other guests here for our stay, so the experience was truly personal. We loved every moment of our stay and can’t wait to come back!

Amazing!

Third time @Ibitipoca and, this time stayed on the remote EPICURO house, which is 18 KM from the MOGOL village and it was superb. I strongly suggest to those who are seeking a truly exclsuive experience.

EPICURO house

It's been well over a week since I came back from Comuna do Ibitipoca, and I still find myself speechless in trying to explain the experience to others.  (It was years of hearing others talk about this place that made me finally go, I just had to see for myself)

My daydreams are haunted by this place, I feel obsessed with it, dreaming of how to go back asap.  

I rented a car at the Rio airport and made the 3.5 hour drive - a very easy trip as you pretty much are put right on Route 40 out of the airport. Highways were super, exciting drive up the mountains from Rio and then a casual cruise to Lima Duarte where you then have about 20km of dirt road to reach Engenho Lodge. The rural scenery just gets better and better the further back you go. 

Rooms:  Absolutely gorgeous.  I stayed in one of the eight guest suites at Engenho Lodge for most of the time. Beautifully restored colonial farmhouse just oozing with character and detail - but with a zen like simplicity to it as well.  You want to touch every surface as the texture of the old wood and antiques is marvelous.  Linens, bedding, bed was dreamy.  Beautiful clawfoot tubs, gargantuan shower-heads split off old copper piping and huge fluffy towels.  Warm radiant floor heating and total serenity.  The sound of the frog in the pond outside my window lulled me to sleep every night. Something about the zen nature of this place awakens the senses and you appreciate things you generally don't notice.  I then spent one night in the remote community cabin, Humbolt Loft, in the village of Mogol where I rode one day by marvelous horseback. That experience was sublime, much more rustic accommodation, but with the magic service that Ibitipoca served up around every corner .  

Food:  Warm creamy polenta soup with poached egg and truffle oil, the most marvelous guava souffle for dessert. Waking in the morning to go pour a hot cup of local coffee out of an antique copper kettle kept warm atop the wood burning stove in the dining room.  Trays of exquisite baked good flowing out of the kitchen, served with a friendly smile.  Platter upon platter of exotic fruits I couldn't remember the name of.  The food is mostly all organically grown on the farm, even down to the rice.  I could have just eaten the rice and beans the entire stay and been happy they were so simply perfect.  Loved the bottles of locally distilled Cachaca sitting on windowsills with small tin cups hanging on pegs, asking you to stop for a drink on the house. Just such marvelous little details with food and beverage, such exquisite food but served in a hearty farmhouse simplicity, with authentic genuine service behind it.  They encourage you to pop into the kitchen whenever you want, really make you feel at home.  I can't stop writing about food..  They also have an open air farmhouse bistro about 800 meters form the main lodge you can walk down to eat at.  Sit there being served by chef Odette, a jolly afro-Brazilian woman who has pots of boiling stews to explore,  as Macaws walk around the barn rafters above you.   Also a great restaurant in the village of Mogol where I spent a night.  Og and can't forget the outdoor BBQ near their private beach and swimming hole.  All in all about 5 different places to eat, scattered across the reserve. 

Excursions:  Well, there are 13,000 acres of outdoors to explore. Just brimming with wildlife and exotic plants.  Waterfall after waterfall to experience, each one there would magically be a rolled up towel waiting for me in case I felt like taking a dip. Little refugios across the property where fresh juices and snacks are magically waiting for you.  Explored by horses, galloping across the land - explored by foot, explored by great full suspension E-Bikes which powered me up 4,000ft climbs to the top of mountains and then down through jungle trails to meadows full of 30 foot tall art sculptures originally displayed at burning man festival?!?  Crossing little springs where tin cups hang on wires inviting you to take a sip from mother earth.  The guides, Junior and Adelson (and others I can't remember the names of) were such sweet souls, brimming with enthusiasm to show you the next surprise around the corner - nothing was too much hassle.  It was a constant struggle of wanting to sit and enjoy every spot serenely, to soak it up, but not wanting to waste a moment as you knew more and more surprises awaited you the more you explored.  

Yoga/Spa:  9am yoga class every morning in the converted wooden barn - perfect music, perfect instruction.   Wild toucans flew in each morning to the yoga barn, perching on furniture to watch us humans stretch as they did stretches of their own.  Was I in a dream?  The massage I took one evening was one of the best I've ever experienced.  Never even had time to use the pool sized outdoor jacuzzi which I regret.

People:  This for me was the icing on the cake.  I'd never received such authentic true hospitality from an entire community - not talking staff, but talking an entire community. You feel taken into this magic land by them and fully welcomed.  Portuguese is the norm, of course, you are in remote Brazil - but the language barrier is never really made much of an issue as everyone understands a smile and what it is to be in this magical place.  

Ibitipoca takes you back to the root of what is important in life - what truly makes people happy - clean abundant nature well cared for, fresh air, healthy quality food from the earth, moving your body and being aware of it, treating people with respect, dignity and kindness - sharing.  

One of the most magical places on earth.  You'll understand once you have been there. 

Thank you Renato and your entire community, may others follow your example.

Can't come back to reality...a week later!

This 17th century farm has all you would want....the place is magical so incredibly tastefully done. The food is mostly homegrown and delicious and the atmosphere is enchanting. So are the surroundings where you go for walks with experienced guides. The art displayed on the property is mind blowing and the ginormous jaccuzzi with starry sky makes you want to cry...........It is expensive, yes.........but if you can afford it, do not miss this incredible place on earth!

one of the best places we ever slept

This is truly a very remarkable and special place. The Lodge is exquisite with lots of comfy places to sit and relax, read or just soak up the views. The smell of woodsmoke along with lovely smell of cooking from the kitchen just adds the the experience.
Meals are all a treat, every meal there are different mats and decorations on the table, the food is fresh and delicious.
The friendly Toucan popping in is a great treat.
The hikes were stunning with our excellent guide, so many surprises at every turn. We were very spoilt, they think of everything.
We did went to the yoga session every morning, a wonderful experience, even if we were not very good at it and all while looking out at a stunning view.
I only wish we had booked a longer stay, we just felt nurtured and relaxed, We will definitely come back.
A massive thank you to all the wonderful staff who are passionate about this wonderful place, it is a pleasure to hear the laughter and chat from the kitchens.
We feel we just had a small taste of this amazing place, it really has so much to see and do.
If you get the chance to come here just do it.

A very special place

We loved Reserva do Ibitipoca! We are a family of five and spent five days at the Reserva. We stayed in the separate three bedroom house: Amazing.  The house was so well done yet comfortable -- it really felt like our home.  The activities were great.  We went hiking, biking and horseback riding.  Our guides (Junior and Eduardo) were super friendly and  informative.  The spa at Reserva is one of the best I have ever been to.  The minute you walk in, you just smile and relax.  The Reserva's spa has ruined all other spas for  me...seriously. All that said, we did have one issue -- food allergies.  One of our daughters is allergic to nuts.  Despite advising them about this, she was served two dishes with nuts.  The first time she noticed before she ate the dish but the second time she did not.  So, if you have a food allergy, you need to extremely diligent.

A truly special place (with one caveat)

   Visiting Reserva do Ibitipoca is an extraordinary experience. The setting is breathtaking, the hiking guides have a great love for the land, and the hotel itself has been set up for maximum comfort and with a great eye for design. Hikes are in a range of terrains and can be designed to be suitable for almost any level of ability and stamina. The staff couldn’t be more welcoming, the beds are perfection, and the food—especially breakfast and lunch—is terrific.  
   The only area that needs any improvement is attention to food allergies. On several occasions during our brief stay, guests in two different families who had explicitly indicated that they were allergic to a food (nuts in one case, dairy in another) were served dishes with that food as an ingredient—even after they specifically confirmed with the staff that the dish was safe for them to eat.  This was not due to any lack of care, as all staff members are warm and attentive.  The issue is just insufficient training, which we believe the hotel is committed to remedying. 

A beautiful place (but be careful with food allergies)

When we were first planning our three-week trip to Brazil, our travel agent couldn't recommend this place strongly enough, but we frankly didn't understand why because it didn't seem like the location was anything special, and the activities didn't seem particularly exotic either. It seemed like it was the hotel itself, but we didn't understand how a hotel could be so nice that it trumped other more beautiful locations. 

Now that we've been there for three nights, we understand completely. From the moment you arrive, they welcome you with a fresh juice and cold towels to refresh yourself, and it sets the tone for the rest of our stay. Meals are taken in the dining room (or other surprise spots occasionally) at your leisure whenever you want. You can have dinner at 7pm or 10:30pm if you wish, and the meals were absolutely delicious. Lunches tend to be Brazilian, but the dinners have a French style, courtesy of a French chef who had apparently stayed there and had designed a week's worth of menus for them. You have a choice of appetizer, a main course and dessert. Other than the souffle which they need to work on a little more, everything was perfect. They have a huge garden where they grow much of their own produce, and there is apparently a vegan restaurant on the property in the works.

The lodge itself is a restored Brazilian farmhouse that is beautiful. The rooms are comfortable, spacious and quaint. They assign you a guide who takes you on hikes, horseback rides, biking or whatever you prefer. The hikes can be somewhat strenuous, but they do their best to break it up with small surprises - snacks laid out near a waterfall at just the right time, drinks and hors d'oeuvres on a look out at sunset, etc. We are amateurs at horseback riding but their horses are probably the best trained horses that we've been on in our dozen or so experiences around the world. 

We understand the owner started out in the mining business, but in his later years has acquired this huge amount of property to create a sort of Shangri-La. He has an appreciation of art and you will see interesting work throughout the property including a massive Burning Man installation with a fun story that I will let them tell. He also appears to be a beloved manager. Our guide told us that he helped send him to California to learn English, and that he shares profits with his employees. A happy staff always make a resort more pleasant for the guests and you can tell. 

What makes this place all the more special is that Brazil as a country is behind in world class luxury standards, so it says volumes that Ibitipoca has managed to make this happen. We met another Brazilian couple who were clearly regulars there, who almost seemed afraid that it would become too popular. Indeed, part of what makes this place special is the intimacy of the service. I

Some not-to-misses: 
- spa. they have wonderfully skilled masseuses. (don't get this weird treatment where they suspend you in air. you basically just dangle in a contraption for 15 min or so, and it takes as long to put you up and take you down. i was curious to try it because i'd never heard of it but i'm here to say it's a waste. Get the massage instead twice. They're great)
- go take a peak in the kitchen. The owner loved the movie Ratatouille so much that he supposedly had the kitchen modeled after the kitchen in the movie. It's very charming. 
- Their Pao de Quejo is the best we had during our entire trip. We got to watch one of the cooks make it, which was huge fun. 
- Make friends with the Antonio the macaw. If you feed him a banana, he will come on your arm. 
- Take advantage of the hot tub. We did every night and no one was there.

Reserva de Ibitipoca

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