Three states and the Federal District join to create Brazil’s largest tourist route

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Entitled “Via Liberdade” [“Freedom Highway”] the new route was created from the concept of structuring the four destinations’ attractions, linking the historical, cultural, and artistic wonders.

In all, over 1,100 km of the BR-040 federal highway connecting Rio de Janeiro and Brasília will feature strategic activities and programs in World Heritage Sites, landscapes between mountains and sea, imperial cities, luxuriant nature, landscapes, metropolises, typical foods, traditions, hinterland, art and contemporaneity.

According to Minister of Tourism Gilson Machado Neto, the new itinerary has all the ingredients to be a model for other destinations in Brazil.

“Combining several attractions such as the history of Minas Gerais, the civic tourism of Brasília, the beautiful nature of Goiás and the imperial cities of Rio is a great success for national tourism. We must implement it and take this experience to other states, as is currently happening in the Northeast, with the Rota do Sol,” the Minister said.

The plan is for the route to materialize from meetings with researchers, artists, and experts on topics related to the milestones of Brazil’s history; the celebration of the bicentennial of Brazil’s Independence; the promotion of the project’s strategic destinations; seminars; destination marketing activities to support the promotion of the territories involved with agencies and operators; the use of tourism websites and networks; participation in trade shows and national and international events; and strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors and tourism entities.

Federal District Tourism Secretary Vanessa Mendonça highlighted the significance of this agreement for national tourism. “This route coincides with the bicentennial of Brazil’s independence, to be celebrated in 2022. It becomes even more meaningful, since it crosses the paths of Tiradentes, the pioneer explorers, the cattle drovers, Emperor Dom Pedro, and later President Juscelino Kubitschek, until we reach Brasília. It’s three centuries of history,” she says.

Minas Gerais Secretary of Culture and Tourism Leônidas Oliveira highlighted the impact that this route will have on several tourist segments.

“The opportunities surrounding the Via Liberdade suggest promising paths, especially for experience tourism. There are countless postcards, historical landscapes, attractions, cultural spaces, and museums that will have their programming enhanced by the policies focused on the promotion of tourism, culture, and the creative economy in the synergy proposed by the new tourist route. The new route will inaugurate a new era as the synthesis of an original Brazil,” Oliveira said.

The new route will cross 307 cities, 4 biomes (Mata Atlântica; Serra do Mar; Cerrado and Serra do Espinhaço), and 6 parks: Serra dos Órgãos National Park – RJ; Ibitipoca State Park – MG; Itacolomi State Park – MG; Serra do Rola Moça State Park – MG; Serra do Cipó National Park – MG; and Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park – GO.

In addition, tourists will be able to visit historical and cultural sites on Via Liberdade, such as Brasília, Goiás Velho, Pampulha (MG), Rio de Janeiro, Sítio Arqueológico Cais do Valongo (RJ), Sítio Burle Marx (RJ), Congonhas (MG), Ouro Preto (MG), and Diamantina (MG).