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Before you go
Your trip to Poços de Caldas.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Poços de Caldas – MG Destination Caminhos Gerais about 460 km from Belo Horizonte
How to get there
It is about 460 km from Belo Horizonte and about 260 km from São Paulo via paved roads. The bus station links the city to São Paulo, Belo Horizonte and other cities in the region; check the schedules. Andradas, the other town in the destination, is nearby to the south.
How many days
Two days allow for the center, including the Thermas Antônio Carlos and the park, and the Serra de São Domingos with the cable car, Cristo Redentor and Pedra Balão. With three days there’s time for the surrounding waterfalls and viewpoints and for a day in Andradas.
When to go
In winter, from June to August, nights are cold and the town gets busier due to demand for thermal baths. From December to March there is more rain, especially in the afternoons. April, May and September usually have stable weather and less crowding.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not necessary for the center, which is walkable, nor for the Cristo, which has a cable car departing from the center. A car helps for the viewpoints, waterfalls and attractions in the rural area.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Poços de Caldas
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Morning
Thermas and the historic center
Start with the Thermas Antônio Carlos and walk through Parque José Affonso Junqueira, with its gardens and the Palace Casino building. If you wish, book a thermal bath.
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Afternoon
Cable car up to the Cristo
Take the cable car up to the Serra de São Domingos, visit the Cristo Redentor and walk to Pedra Balão for a view over the town.
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Late afternoon
View from the top of the ridge
Stay up top until late afternoon, when the light falls over the town and surrounding ranges, and check the cable car's descent schedule.
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Evening
Center and crystals
Back in the center, dine on the streets around the squares and visit the crystal and sweets shops, traditions of the town.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is Poços de Caldas inside a volcano?
The town lies inside an ancient volcanic caldera, a large circular depression formed tens of millions of years ago. The surrounding ranges, such as the Serra de São Domingos, are the rim of that caldera. There is no volcanic activity; the heat of the waters comes from deep layers of the ground.
How to climb/ reach the Cristo Redentor of Poços de Caldas?
By cable car, which departs from the center and ascends the Serra de São Domingos; by car via the paved road; or on foot via the trail that starts at Fonte dos Amores.
Is the water at the Thermas de Poços de Caldas hot?
Yes. The town's sulfurous springs emerge hot, around 45 °C, and in the bath tubs at Thermas Antônio Carlos the water is about 37 °C.
How many days should I stay in Poços de Caldas?
Two days for the historic center, the Thermas and the Serra de São Domingos. With three days you can include the waterfalls and viewpoints in the surroundings.