Originally posted by Juninho I'm planning a weeklong trip to see Brasilia, Cristalina, Pirenopolis and Goias Velho.  Has anyone been to any of them and are they worth visiting?  Can anyone recommend reasonably priced accommodation and restaurants in any of them?  Thanks in advance for any tips.

I live in Brasilia so I can't recommend accommodation and as far as restaurants, you could probably just look on-line. I don't love the food here so I'm not the best to ask.
There are a decent number of museums and of course government buildings you can tour. Brasilia is not a bad place to visit for maybe 2 days. I haven't been to Pirenopolis yet but I hear it's worth the trip and I'm planning on going soon. I also haven't been to Cristalina (I haven't lived here that long), but it was on the newsletter for the embassy as a place worth visiting. Don't know anything about Goias Velho.

Sorry I can't be more help. But I'd say that in a week you could probably visit these places and it'd be enough. I know there are nice waterfalls near Pirenopolis; some that we're going to check out when we go. The town even has their own website.

Oh, if you like Chinese restaurants, try out Pequim in Asa Norte. The owner was the chef for the Chinese embassy and the food was good and well priced (and they give you a lot).

Originally posted by Juninho Is Asa Norte in Brasilia?

North wing of the city. It is laid out like a giant urubu airplane.


Edited by DUNGA - 31 January 2012 at 14:29

Originally posted by Juninho I'm planning a weeklong trip to see Brasilia, Cristalina, Pirenopolis and Goias Velho.  Has anyone been to any of them and are they worth visiting?  Can anyone recommend reasonably priced accommodation and restaurants in any of them?  Thanks in advance for any tips.

I've just been to Pirenopolis for the day this week. About two hours driving from Brasilia on very good roads (the signposts are not always clear though). The biggest challenge is finding the right road out of Brasilia and make sure you have a good road map/ instructions, or you might get hopelessly lost. There are heaps of pousadas (B&Bs) and you should have no problem finding any number to choose from once you get there. There is also a very helpful tourist office at the entrance to the town.

Brasilia is worth a day or day and a half at most, and you can get through most of Pirenopolis in half that time. There is nothing reasonably priced in Brasilia (unless you're there on a Friday or Saturday when the hotels drop their prices). Booking.com lists almost everything in town and you can generally get a slightly cheaper rate when booked directly off the hotel's website. I stayed at St Pauls Plaza Hotel which offered a rate of 120 reais per night with breakfast which was about the best deal going on a weekend. There are a few lower priced hotels (~90-100 reais) but they are all quite old and quite decrepit. There is no such thing as a good quality decently priced budget hotel in Brasilia.

Thanks - I'd prefer to pay a guide or agent to take us or take a bus there I'd that possible? Do you know any decent local travel
Agents who operate in the area?