Royal Road Diamond Trail Brazil Daily Passenger Train

Board a modern locomotive and walk the colonial diamond trail in one day

The Royal Road Diamond Trail on Rails is a full-day tour from Belo Horizonte combining a 90-minute train journey on Brazil's only daily passenger service with an 8 km guided walk along the Estrada Real's Diamond Route, ending at the 18th-century Conceição Church in Catas Altas. Hotel pickup is included, as is lunch at a restaurant overlooking Serra do Caraça. The walk is light and optional by car if needed. A live Portuguese-speaking guide leads the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Train ride and Diamond Trail hike

• Transfer from hotel to train station
• Board train at 07:30, enjoy executive wagon
• Train ride duration 1 hour 30 minutes
• Drive or hike 8 km along Diamond Route
• Visit Conceição Church in Catas Altas
• Lunch with craft beers and Serra do Caraça view
• Guided tour of Matriz and viewpoint photos
• Return to Belo Horizonte

The experience

What makes this tour different is the train itself. You board an executive car with air conditioning and wi-fi at 7:30 am for a 90-minute ride. The only daily passenger train still running in Brazil. The cars came from Romania and carry a restaurant and cafeteria on board. Hotel pickup gets you to the station, and the journey sets up everything that follows: you arrive at Bicame de Pedras, an old aqueduct that marks the start of the walk.

From there, you walk 8 km along the Caminho dos Diamantes (Diamond Route), part of the Estrada Real, a colonial-era trade path. The route runs through Serra do Caraça, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Espinhaço Mountain Range, and the views open up across the ridge the whole way. If the walk doesn't suit you, a car ride covers the same ground. You end at Conceição Church, an 18th-century building in Catas Altas with Baroque gilding and painted panels filling its interior. Lunch follows at a restaurant with craft beers and views back toward the mountains.

The final stop is Matriz, a small church perched on a lookout with views of Serra de Catas Altas: a place to photograph and take in the landscape before the drive back to Belo Horizonte. The whole day runs about 10 and a half hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Train ticket on the only daily passenger service in Brazil.
• hotel pickup and return transfer.
• snack during the train ride.
• 8 km guided walk along the Diamond Route with the option to travel by car instead.
• lunch at a restaurant with craft beers.
• guided tour of Matriz church and viewpoint.
• travel insurance for Brazilian residents.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guidePortuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Espinhaço Operadora Turística

Is this one for you?Book this if you want transport and activities bundled together: the train ride, scenic drive, and optional 8 km walk all connect without gaps between them.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the train ride, and what's included on board?

The train journey lasts 90 minutes and includes an executive car with air conditioning, wi-fi, and access to the on-board cafeteria and restaurant.

Can I skip the 8 km walk if I'm not up for it?

Yes. The walk along the Diamond Route is light, but you can take a car for the same stretch if you prefer not to hike.

What is Serra do Caraça, and why does it matter for this tour?

Serra do Caraça is a mountain range in the Espinhaço system and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It dominates the views during both the walk and the train ride, and the tour's lunch spot overlooks it.

What's the Estrada Real, and why is it called the Diamond Route?

The Estrada Real is a colonial-era trade network that connected mining towns and ports. The Diamond Route section you walk was used to transport diamonds and other goods during Brazil's mining boom.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, lunch is included at a restaurant in Catas Altas with an excellent selection of craft beers and views of Serra do Caraça.

What time does the day start and end?

Hotel pickup happens early to reach the train station for a 7:30 am departure. The full day runs about 10 and a half hours, with return to Belo Horizonte in the afternoon.