Overview
The open, rolling hills in the historically important state of Minas Gerais, north of Rio, are dotted with delightful colonial towns, founded to service the mining of gold, precious stones and latterly iron. Nowadays they enchant those visitors with an interest in colonial culture and history: the region is the birthplace of Brazilian independence. The university town and arts centre of Ouro Prêto is the best known, with 23 baroque churches crowning the hills. Other historic towns of interest are the less-developed but equally lovely Diamantina, Mariana and arty Tiradentes with its horse-drawn carriages and little steam train.
Minas Gerais embraces 21st century Brazil with equal enthusiasm: its capital Belo Horizonte is a regional powerhouse with a thriving cultural scene. Nearby is the vast open-air contemporary art museum and botanical park of Inhotim, unique in Brazil.
Holidays Ouro Preto and Minas Gerais
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.
Where to go when - our guide to Ouro Preto and Minas Gerais
The weather in Ouro Preto and Minas Gerais is wide and varied
The birthplace of Brazilian independence, the state of Minas Gerais, offers open, rolling hills dotted with delightful colonial towns. With a fresher climate than the coast, here there are pleasant summer temperatures and little rainfall in the Brazilian winter. The summer, December - March, is not unduly hot but some rainfall is possible almost every day. The festivals of Carnival and Easter are celebrated with parades.
View our Ouro Preto and Minas Gerais weather guidePapagaio
Your edit for Latin American inspiration
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
View Extraordinary Inspiration
