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Before you go
Your trip to São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras – MG Destination Historic Towns of Minas Gerais (Estrada Real) about 338 km from Belo Horizonte
How to get there
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Rodoviária de Diamantina Diamantina · 35 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
From Diamantina it is about 35 km along the road toward Serro, with dirt sections; the trip takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. From Milho Verde it is about 10 km. From Serro, about 32 km. From Belo Horizonte, the total is around 338 km via MG-010 and BR-259.
How many days
One or two days. One day is enough for the churches and one waterfall; with two days you can add Milho Verde, about 10 km away, and other falls in the region. Someone based in Diamantina can do both districts in one day, without time for a swim.
When to go
From November to April the waterfalls usually have more water, with almost daily afternoon rains and the dirt road more difficult. From May to September the days are stable and the nights cold; some falls have little water. Holidays and New Year’s Eve fill the guesthouses.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Useful to know. Public transport to the district has few departures, and the road from Diamantina has dirt sections that regular cars traverse with care. In the village everything is done on foot; some waterfalls are a few kilometers away by trail.
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 São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras
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Morning
Village churches
Walk along the paved streets to the Igreja Matriz de São Gonçalo and continue to the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário.
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Afternoon
Cachoeira do Comércio
After lunch, go to Cachoeira do Comércio or Grota Seca for a swim. Ask in the village for directions and whether there is an entrance fee.
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Evening
Night in the village
Have a Minas Gerais meal at one of the district’s restaurants and enjoy an unhurried evening in the square.
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
São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras belongs to which city?
It is a district of Serro, in Minas Gerais, about 32 km from the municipal seat and about 35 km from Diamantina.
What is the distance between Diamantina and São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras?
About 35 km, with stretches of dirt road. The trip takes around 1 hour 30 minutes by car.
What to do in São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras?
Stroll the colonial streets, visit the Igreja Matriz de São Gonçalo and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, bathe in the Cachoeiras do Comércio, da Grota Seca and do Pacu, and go to Milho Verde, about 10 km away.
Can you visit São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras and Milho Verde in the same day?
Yes. The two districts are about 10 km from each other along the Caminho dos Diamantes road. To include waterfalls, it is advisable to spend the night in one of them.