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Train travel is back!
It’s not just low-and-slow adventures or classic locomotives turning back the clock — travelers have the need for speed!
One of the world’s most stunning countries has lagged behind in this department, but with a hefty investment, it’s now ready to go full steam ahead with the first high-speed train, which is sure to be the country’s most exciting travel news in years.
Set to connect a globally iconic beach city with its cultural powerhouse capital, Brazil will soon invite travelers to tick off a pair of their most wondrous destinations without the hassle of airports or notorious gridlock traffic.
Here at Travel Off Path, we’ve covered countless exciting new rail journeys across the world, but this one is truly groundbreaking.
Travelers Can Double-Dip Brazil’s Top Cities
If you ever fly to a far-flung place such as Brazil, sometimes it’s hard to cover as much ground as you’d like to, given the flight time and how spread out the top destinations are.
For example, when I vacationed in Brazil for a week or so, I stayed in ever-so-trendy Minas Gerais the whole time since the juice didn’t seem to be worth the squeeze to reach other cool spots.
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In fact, train travel to this point is almost nonexistent in Brazil, so it’s daylong bus rides and back-and-forth airport trips to get anywhere.
Most travelers visiting Brazil have 2 destinations in mind: Rio de Janeiro and/or Sao Paulo.
That’s why the country’s first-ever “bullet train” is such a big deal since these world-renowned cities will be connected more easily (and quicker) than ever before.
Not only can travelers fly into either Rio or Sao Paulo (both well-connected from the U.S.), they can simply hop aboard a lightning-fast train, cutting the usual travel time to a fraction of what it would normally be.
Brazil’s First Bullet Train Has Green Light For Approval
If you’re visiting Brazil any time soon, you’ll have to make plans to come back to be one of the first passengers.
This project is being led by TAV Brasil and has been green-lit for construction.
The exciting new route is expected to cover roughly 220 miles from Rio to Sao Paulo, whizzing by highway traffic, leaving cars in the dust.
With top speeds expected to hit about 200 mph, the journey from these iconic cities will be slashed from a 6-hour drive or bus ride to less than 2 hours.
Depending on the schedule, it would be feasible to make day trips or weekend getaways.
You could start your day in São Paulo with a bangin’ espresso and pão de queijo in Vila Madalena and enjoy an epic beach day on Rio’s famous Copacabana Beach, sipping refreshing caipirinhas, and be back in your cheap luxury hotel amidst the capital’s sprawling skyline by bedtime.
Doing this nowadays would be unheard of by bus or car, so the impending high-speed train will change Brazil’s tourism forever once it’s set to hit the rails in the coming years, which is expected to be 2032.
Ticket prices and ridership capacity have not been determined yet, but estimates are $94.
Why Wait? Explore Brazil’s Only Train Ride Currently In Service
Circling back to Minas Gerais, we at Travel Off Path can’t recommend this region of Brazil enough.
This vast province, home to awe-inspiring Ouro Preto and the vibrant city of Belo Horizonte, is a must-visit, especially if you’re a foodie.
Boasting far more than acai bowls, traditional Brazilian cuisine is truly underrated but have yet to please most Americans’ palates since Brazil’s ingredients are quite a challenge to import and ensure freshness.
Even seasoned travelers such as myself make plenty of mistakes. If I could redo my trip over again, I would’ve certainly booked a ticket for Brazil’s only passenger train, operated by Vale.
There are 3 routes Vale offers (including a brand new one in 2026!):
- Belo Horizonte – Vitoria — the only line connecting 2 state capitals by rail
- Parauapebas – Sao Luís — mainly a freight line but does sell limited passenger seats
- Ouro Preto – Mariana — links 2 colonial-era gems steeped in Old World charm (a far cry from Rio vibes)
Most notably, keep an eye out for the brand new “Holiday Train”. This new overnight journey launches in January 2026, still connecting Belo Horizonte and Vitoria.
Before deciding to book your next Brazil adventure, it’s important to note there are now hefty visa fees for Americans — a key factor that’s likely added to airlines axing direct U.S. flights to Belo Horizonte, among other political ping-pong rhetoric.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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