Belo Horizonte Car Tours: Top 5 Picks + Helpful Tips

Belo Horizonte, which translates to “Beautiful Horizon,” is that a fitting name for this Brazilian city. Very, very many people who visit BH, as the locals almost always call it, find that its mix of urban energy and scenic landscapes really provides quite a delightful experience. Exploring this place by car just brings that a bit closer to a personal level, like you’re kinda writing your own adventure story. Very many places are accessible this way, and very many hidden corners will give you quite a rewarding glimpse. So, at the end of the day, let’s look at what those top five car tours tend to be around here, shall we? We’ll talk about why each one makes for a unique visit and hopefully give you just the boost you may need to plan that ideal trip. Read our full review: Belo Horizonte Car Tours Full Review and Details

1. Pampulha Architectural Wonder Tour

Pampulha might be that cultural heart which is pretty much considered to be BH’s shining treasure; in that case it’s a reason why UNESCO decided it needed some love and put it on their World Heritage list. We have Oscar Niemeyer, a superstar architect, as a mastermind for most places here, it’s like an open-air art exhibit of very impressive curves, really innovative designs, and that kinda iconic style that tells you you’re staring at a masterpiece. Driving means, though, that you are given almost complete freedom; for instance, there’s just stopping whenever you want, staring at how those buildings just mirror themselves on Pampulha Lake; in short, this lake tour is an experience for your mind to just live with the vision around you. As a matter of fact, you ought to have a visit inside São Francisco de Assis Church, which, by the way, a bit irreverently earned the nickname “Igrejinha da Pampulha” (Pampulha’s Little Church) due to its really vanguard designs, yet those vibrant azulejo tiles by Cândido Portinari might leave you practically hypnotized! If you’re getting tired behind the wheel, I feel I ought to mention that Museu de Arte da Pampulha’s gardens (Pampulha Art Museum) could supply a calm, quite serene moment for you just to take a load off, just soaking in all the beauty without that pressure of going fast. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Pampulha Architectural Wonder Tour)

2. Inhotim Art Park Expedition

Ok, here we go, for an artsy road trip, so, that Inhotim’s park should feel right; I mean, we are talking about just one rather cool contemporary art open air kinda place; in some respects this kinda mixes just how an art gallery should be, and what I mean by botanical garden, I’m suggesting that this place will stimulate pretty much every bit of your senses; that its sprawling area is massive might seem challenging until you kinda realize that having a vehicle, even just to reach all zones faster or even between installations, turns things better. Olafur Eliasson’s “Viewing Machine” is an experience like few other that lets you kinda feel those very nature and art dimensions almost collide or Matthew Barney’s “De Lama Lâmina,” so, this bizarre setup mixing earth movers to some weird filmmaking is something that I’m willing to bet will shock the hell outta you!. Very, very few minutes pass after entering before I was saying ‘another place!’ that I never could have ever imagined before. Anyway, it just goes without saying, really; the freedom you are given while going, deciding how things will flow at your tempo. Read our full review: Inhotim Art Park Expedition Full Review and Details

3. Historical Ouro Preto Day Trip

Very, very many people say you could almost turn back the clock, a bit, at Ouro Preto. Very few can imagine the sheer sight, that just that very name means “Black Gold”, really throws you to when Brazil was sorta starting the get famous for mining, like, way back then!. A good little car is exactly how this town must absolutely be experienced – cobblestone, windy lanes, really ancient colonial architecture, churches that’ve been standing here since a while ago; just taking in what very old really looks like with the views you can only access thanks to the flexibility cars bring around should probably be more sought after around there. Get your car heading uphill for São Francisco de Assis Church (another of those little masterpieces Aleijadinho had to show) for views from on top that’re only a little short of breathtaking. You’ll be saying “Now this is why I came to Minas!” really, very loudly; I mean there is the Museu da Inconfidência you have to visit if it’s important enough for you just to go face-to-face just what this very famous independence moment for the country implied; and the Casa dos Contos just adds very many points to our “how did colonial Brazil really operated back in those ages?” test. I guess this place really sets in just exactly why UNESCO exists once you spend that good, lovely day experiencing the beautiful landscape by car like that! Anyway, this could add that historical insight to you for just the price of gas. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Ouro Preto Day Trip)

4. The Flavors of Minas Gerais Culinary Tour

OK, for all you, so, ‘eating is life!’ sorta foodies I reckon what Minas Gerais will showcase to you will be kinda intense, but nice. What, almost, nobody dares to admit is, yet, Minas cuisine is an entire universe, pretty much the soul of Brazil, if that makes any sense, or that kinda mother figure, let’s put it in a way; like what grandma’s food almost really means to pretty much every family in the world!. A cool self-planned culinary route by car in this kinda setting might just prove so worthwhile, that this area could probably rank with some real serious food destinations from other locations out there! Driving, might be, that kinda way to reach some very less-crowded spots; like those rural eateries kinda distant from all big tourist things where those local delicacies kinda spring like a flower for us; very small places, mostly run by families, those gems can seriously change anyone, especially in the gastronomic sense. Start doing things “Mineiro style”; almost imagine devouring that pão de queijo while fresh, maybe just going “mmm” in a really over the top kinda reaction, or if you can get yourself a taste of that tutu de feijão I’ll guarantee you’ll become happier for sure (that even before going for the cachaça). That Instituto Cultural do Buteco (Buteco Cultural Institute), by the way, exists really to try that more and more ‘botecos’, kinda that neighborhood Brazil small bar with good prices and food just come alive with visitors that now you too, can explore by the sheer joy and utility of owning that private driving. It’s kind of fun planning which places deserve that road dedication; in some respects this could become what makes travelling special here in Minas. Read our full review: Flavors of Minas Gerais Culinary Tour Full Review and Details

5. Serra do Cipó Nature Escape

OK, how many times have we tried some days relaxing amidst very green parks while getting to reconnect within mother nature? Right!, or I ought to phrase it better, there’s that Serra do Cipó just waiting to appear!. So that very, almost constant, kinda city stress can have an abrupt interruption to that daily grind once this tour enters your weekend plans. A little escape for just feeling how that biodiversity can refresh the senses; almost to the point of resetting you completely while we stroll here for all that pure energy will seriously make all of it more magical once you start reaching these rather remote, completely pristine zones with your car, for one that few people get this far, two cause this region of parks, literally wants us to feel like that Indiana Jones kinda movie, which could only make people that already are cool, even more cool!. Start things a bit exciting and visit just some gorgeous waterfalls at Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó (that’s Serra do Cipo National Park; I’m referring this in Portuguese so you remember!). A ‘bride’s veil waterfall’ (in portuguese too), means, literally to throw all concerns away like one would; with that cachoeira Grande there as well makes a great postcard style picture if you ever decide it might be a perfect “new life, new me!” moment, especially while you chill and swim its delicious waters for an almost unbeatable day. Don’t you forget to visit that Véu da Noiva; for all those rather romantic couples wishing that those pictures from both would deserve a big frame when back in home so all people can stare, admire. At the end of the day, let your vehicle, too, become a tool within yourself that can do cool outdoor experiences with zero concerns!. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Serra do Cipo Nature Escape)

Read our full review: Belo Horizonte Car Tours Full Review and Details