Pampulha Lake is the center of so much in Belo Horizonte, whether it be cultural, sports / leisure,…read moregastronomical, architectural, or nature. It's also an area that shows off the sometimes extreme wealth inequalities in Brazil, with beautiful palatial homes overlooking the (sadly polluted) waters. With so little in terms of accessible nature or parks in BH, the lake is very popular among cyclists, runners, & walkers. There are some great (and a few ok ones) restaurants around, worth-visiting architecture including by the famous Niemeyer, and the Mineirão soccer stadium. You can rent bikes to take it all in in a loop (around 18km) around the lake.
