Serra Do Cipo National Park to Brasilia

This journey begins in the dramatic Parque Nacional da Serra da Cipo, featuring some wonderful waterfalls and dramatic scenery. Back in the 19th century, this was a mining area, and the town of Diamantina has a wealth of historic buildings and churches. From here, it is a long leg to the capital of Brazil and one of the most striking modern cities – Brasilia. The main sections were built in a staggering 41 months in the early 1960s and laid out like a giant bird in flight with wings of apartment blocks and the main body, the Eixo Monumental, a nine kilometer 250-meter wide avenue, with public buildings on either side and all the government offices at one end. It is a fantastic sight from the air, including the World Cup venue, the Estadio Nacional.