This could well be our favorite park in Belo Horizonte. It is not as well known as some of the…read moreothers and there are relatively few facilities, but this makes it only more attractive to us. The hike to Mirante 3 (viewpoint/overlook) is an excellent workout and you'll be rewarded by great views. And, importantly, you're in nature. The park itself sits at the base of the mountain range that overlooks the city. Directly after entering the park (free access) there is a small field with lush grass and an area with some workout equipment. This space is excellent to have a picknick; we also often see people do yoga there as well. The hike to the main view platform takes maybe 30 minutes. There are two ways to get there; one is to take the gravel road all the way; the other option is to turn off left onto a steep track that gets you there quicker. We typically go up the steep track and come down the gravel road to make it into a loop. Before you get to the turnoff to Mirante3, there is another side track that goes to a different viewing point. This one is not as impressive, but if you have limited time or fitness it is a decent alternative. Also good to know, there is filtered water at the entrance and at the top by Mirante3. In the past, it was possible to continue past Mirante 3 to hike to the top of the mountain range. It would have given an even better view of the city and also of the (now inactive) open pit iron ore mine on the other side of the mountain, but sadly this part of the track has been closed. They say it may open again in the future, but who knows...

The Gruta da Lapinha is part of the Parque Estadual do Sumidouro, which offers a range of…read moreattractions inside beautiful nature. The main attraction is the cave system, which is accessible through a guided tour. There is also a nice museum and some great hikes. It is only about 45 minutes to an hour out of Belo Horizonte, so it makes for a perfect day (or half day) trip. The cave is easily accessible for anyone and quite pretty. There are great calcite formations (stalactites, stalagmites) that the guide will point out to you. To keep kids entertained the guide may point out some formations that look like animals. The walking surface has been smoothed out a bit, and there are stairs to get you from one 'room' to the next. Some lighting shows the way and highlights the formation; all reasonably modest and not overly dramatic. In the cave it is nice and cool (not so cold that you'd need a jacket). Closed-toe shoes are nice but not absolutely required; the park will give you helmets as the ceiling can be sometimes a bit low. In front of the cave there is a very nice and shaded (grassy) park, which is good for picnics. The museum is small but interesting. Not all explanations are in English, unfortunately, but there is a lot of interesting information about speleology, archaeology, paleontology, and cultural heritage. The oldest human fossil of the American continent (named Luzia and dated at 11,500 years) was found in a cave in this region. There is some good info, also in English, on this discovery and its context. A few kilometers from the cave is a separate visitor area of the park that focuses on the early explorers (bandeirantes) and the large sinkhole (sumidouro) after which the park was named. You buy tickets at the cave and then drive about 8km to the start of the (guided) hike l. There you will be treated to beautiful limestone outcrops, great vistas, and amazing prehistoric rock art; the oldest of this has been dated to about 7,000 years. When we visited, we noted there are some additional hikes through the park, such as the 'travessia' from the Gruta to the Sumidouro. Oh, and English guides are available, but it may be best to call ahead!

Great day out in the ecological park of the Vale Verde cachaça distillery. It's fun for the whole…read morefamily here with a restaurant, farm animals, a playground, many different papagaios and other cool birds, short hikes and a few adrenaline activities. We've been here a few times and enjoyed the tirolesa (zip line), the climbing wall, the boats on the lake and the labyrinth. There's also arvorismo (looked relatively tame), pony & horse cart rides, pula-pulas, and ball walk on the lake. You pay R20 for entry (kids half price, under 6 free) but then also have to pay for all activities (most are R12). The lanchonete is ok; the restaurant charges R44 for buffet lunch, which seems a bit steep. You can of course bring your own drinks and snacks -don't know if it's officially allowed but there's no bag check. In the end, this is a great place to relax on weekends and you can buy cachaça at prices that are a bit better than retail.

Wonderful city park a few km southeast of downtown. Entrance is free and it is easily accessible by…read morebus or car (parking costs a symbolic R3.50). The park has something for everyone and hosts occasional events. Set against a backdrop of the Serra das Mangabeiras mountains and perched above the town, the views are outstanding. Near the entrance, there are some manicured grassy fields + water features; great for families. A bit further afield there are sport courts and a skatepark. The rest is mostly natural terrain with pedestrian access (there are occasional busses too) for some mildly strenuous hikes (~5km for the largest loop). There is a huge number of picnic spots scattered through the park (some easily accessible and some less so), so you might as well bring something to nibble on or to imbibe. There's a restaurant / cafeteria too.