Though travel to Brazil conjures images of Rio beaches and São Paulo urbanism, there’s a whole lot more country to see. In addition to sampling Florianópolis, the Ibiza of South America, savvy southern travelers also enjoy Brazil’s spectacular green landscapes in a luxurious two day train trip from Curitiba to Cascavel.

The posh train is the result of a $1 million investment by Serra Verde Express president Adonai de Arruda, in partnership with Transnico International Group president Thierry Nicholas and Thomas Glenndahl. Designed by Paulo Peruzzo, the luxury wagons are inspired by antique colonial rooms that evoke Brazil’s golden age of railroad travel—think velvet and leather furniture, dark wood panelling and antique lamps added with a menu of mimosa drinks that will make you feel like you’re on a sophisticated adventure. “For railways tourism lovers, this train will make Brazil an obligatory destination,” says Nicholas.

The journey is actually only a part of the Great Brazil Express, a ten day trip that starts in Rio and finishes in Iguaçu Falls, but this two-day jaunt traverses an eye-catching region. The train windows frame an untouched part of the Atlantic Rainforest and bucolic towns such as Morretes, an old Portuguese village famous for its barreado, a slow-roasted beef dish eaten with bananas and manioc flour.

For those passionate about touring in style, this trip should definitely be included as a must do travel experience.

?—Flávia Mendonça