Suggested Tour 1

Day 1 Brasilia
Morning arrival in Brasilia, Federal Capital of Brasil, located in the center of the country, in the state of Goiás, in a region which was completely undeveloped before the creation of Brasilia, in 1957, replacing Rio de Janeiro as the Capital in 1960. Arrival and rest of the day free to walk around this modern city or to rest.

Day 2 Brasilia/Goiania
Morning visit to Cerrados Agricultural Research Center of EMBRAPA (Brazilian Enterprise of Agricultural Research), Federal research Institution. This center is the headquarters for agricultural research in the whole Cerrados Area. We have the chance to discuss the different aspects of the region with some of the EMBRAPA experts. After the visit, check out of the hotel and trip by bus to Goiania, 200 km southwest of Brasilia. Founded in 1933, this young city is the capital of the Goias State. Agriculture (mainly coffee in its origin) and cattle are the most important economic activities. Lodging in Castro Park Hotel.

Day 3 Goiania/Rio Verde
Morning farm visits in the area. Discussions with owners/managers about the advantages and
disadvantages of farming in the region (yields, inputs, farming practices, transportation). In the
afternoon, trip to Rio Verde, 250 km southwest of Goiania, a small agricultural town, of a little more than 100,000 inhabitants. Lodging at Rio Verde Palace Hotel.

Day 4 Rio Verde/Sao Simao
We dedicate this morning to infrastructure. Visit to grain elevator and input supplier. In the afternoon, we travel again South to Sao Simao, small village (pop.14,000) located in an area with several dams on the Paranaiba River, which meets the Paraná, that flows into the Atlantic at Buenos Aires, 2000 km. Away. There is a project in South America to dredge the Paraná River, its tributaries; and the Amazon and tributaries, to create a navigable river network to transport the production of this huge region to the exporting ports. Lodging in Paranaiba Hotel.

Day 5 Sao Simao/Ituiutaba
Farm visits in the area. In the afternoon, travel to Ituiutaba, industrial pole of the region, with a population of around 100,000.

Day 6 Ituiutaba/Goiania
In the morning, travel to Centralina, a very small village close to the Paranaiba River, in the center of the Planalto (higland). Visits in the area before continuing our trip to Goiania.

Day 7 Goiania/Brasilia
In the morning, travel to Brasilia airport to fly home.