A beautiful little mountain just an hour and a half out of Belo Horizonte. You'll find stunning…read moreviews, some small trails, and access to the small church and some religious displays. The mountain is high and solitary enough to have its own ecosystem and flora and fauna, which has been extensively studied; there's several plaques with info about nature and geology. Really a wonderful place for a weekend day retreat (it is possible also to stay here overnight for full-on retreats). There's a small store for snacks and souvenirs and a restaurant that's open on weekends (food not impressive). They also sell a cheese that's cured inside caves on the mountain. Access is by a good quality road and costs R$6 per car.

Of the many mines hidden in the rolling hills of Ouro Preto, this is one of the first in Minas…read moreGerais in the early 18th century. Dug by African slaves brought from the Congo, it extends at least 100 meters deep with smaller passages extending to unknown depths. Jefferson, the animated guide makes your R$25 visit worthy by explaining the nature of gold digging (finding a vein), explaining other mineral mined (magnetic iron, ochre - pigment of iron oxide), and equipping you with a hair net and hardhat for your safety. He tells colorful stories about the rich history and is great with taking fun, memorable photos. The mine opens as a mossy green trimmed cave with a nice house perched on the top of a steep cliff, where the mine owner lived (the height represented hierarchy) and the wealth was represented by the number of windows they could afford. Entering the mine, you see how narrow and claustrophobic it is, with damp and dark conditions. History explains how miserable the working conditions were for the slaves, chained and forced to work by hand, breathing in dust. They were also castrated and shorter stature slaves were bred to keep optimal physical conditions to work in the mine. Children were also utilized for their ability to work in cramped spaces and their loyalty to their parents (less likely to run away). You get to pick a bit of soft ochre from the walls and see the pigmentation changes depending on the chemical composition. Jefferson also shows you what it looks like in candle light by switching off the string of lights that light the path. Since I was small enough, I was able to explore a little deeper into the lower clearance channels which seemed to be endless. This is only advisable for smaller stature people with no issues of claustrophobia and strong legs for swatting (it's impossible to stand up due to low ceilings). But the regular section is definitely worth seeing. Jefferson makes the tour entertaining, though he only speak Portuguese. He also has a few rocks, keychains, postcards and other memorabilia for sale in the front, as well as restrooms.

A true "retreat" inside a large protected area, the Santuário do Caraça attracts lovers of nature…read moreand spirituality. As for the lodging experience, the rooms are simple but the beds are comfortable. Showers are excellent too. Breakfast is fantastic with plenty of breads, fruits, juices. Best part: it's DIY eggs, grilled cheese, pancakes etc over a traditional Brazilian wood-fired stove! Lunch and dinner are buffet-style; both are relatively simple but good quality. The park has really lovely trails, from short and quick (great for kids) to more strenuous ones. Many of the trails head to waterfalls, rivers banks or beautiful overlook points. The last time we were here we did 5 different hikes in 2,5 days. One in the morning and one after lunch. To get here you don't need a car per se (although easiest). You can also take a bus or the (BH-Vitória) train to Barão de Cocais, and then hop in a taxi. The price for lodging is very affordable (a steal actually!). Price includes all meals. Communication to set up a booking is somewhat challenging. Email works ok but it takes a while during busy periods.