Minas Gerais Holidays

Who is Minas Gerais best for?

History buffs can explore magnificent colonial towns scattered across the countryside, learning how they thrived and the reasons behind their wonderful preservation. Arty types can while away the hours discovering a plethora of churches, filled with hand-painted ceilings and dizzying gilded altars. While in Inhotim, you could easily spend the entire day roaming its 5,000 acres of botanical gardens dotted with works by Anish Kapoor and Doug Aitkens. Man made wonders aside, the landscapes are enough to leave you reeling. Nature lovers can let loose on rolling green farmland and thriving Atlantic forests - home to parrots, spider monkeys and thousands of endemic plants. Those who like to throw a little adventure into their itineraries will appreciate a variety of thrilling experiences - swimming in natural pools, hiking remote canyons and camping out in mountain top cabins. It’s also a foodie heaven - producing hearty regional fare such as pao de queijo (gooey cheese bread), feijoada (meat stew) and suckling pig.

What can you find in Minas Gerais that you won’t find elsewhere?

Between Salvador to the north and Rio to the south and inland from the coast lies the state of Minas Gerais, the heart of the gold mining activity in colonial Brazil during the 18th century. After the gold rush most of the region's cities were abandoned, leaving behind beautiful original architecture as well as some of the richest churches ever built in Latin America. Minas Gerais Holidays are home to endless countryside and an enormous natural and architectural wealth. The city of Belo Horizonte has transformed into a cultural capital, dotted with Niemeyer-designed works and a burgeoning art scene, while the extraordinary indoor/outdoor gallery of Inhotim is only an hour’s drive away. Scattered among the sweeping hills lie the attractive towns of Ouro Preto and Tiradentes, boasting baroque architecture and some of the most lavish churches in Latin America. Tiradentes is home to the St. Anthony Church with its famous Sun Clock, and the Matriz Church, and it is an extremely pleasant town to wander around; a photographic opportunity at every corner. In the surrounding mountains nature is king with muriqui monkeys, wild boar and ocelots residing in the pristine nature reserves. Then there’s the food - rustic comforting cuisine such as Minas cheese, wood-fired pork ribs and guava souffles accompanied by authentic caipirinhas made from homegrown cachaça. Plus, the backdrop makes for the loveliest of settings – candle-lit dining by a waterfall, or maybe at teetering viewpoints or under the shade of a jabuticabeira tree.

A special thing to do in Minas Gerais:

Discover the land on the back of a beautiful Anglo-Arabian horse which can steer you through pristine reserves and flourishing Atlantic Rainforest. Accompanied by an expert guide, who knows the lay of the land, you can take it as slow or fast paced as you like. Gallop down a grassy airplane runway or traverse the meadows, walking to take in the scenery. The surprising viewpoints are plentiful - whether you stop at man made sculptures, visit traditional villages to meet the small communities, or pause for dips under remote waterfalls.