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Park · Araxá, MG
Barreiro Complex
Hydromineral spa about 5 km from Araxá town center, state‑listed, with a lake, woodlands, gardens by Burle Marx, Fonte Andrade Júnior (sulfurous water) and Fonte Dona Beja (radioactive water).
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Barreiro Complex
The Complexo do Barreiro occupies the basin of an ancient volcanic crater, south of Araxá, about 5 km from the center. Around the lake are woodlands, gardens, mineral springs and the large thermal complex built in the 1940s, when it was planned to be one of the largest spa resorts on the continent. The ensemble was listed by the Instituto Estadual do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico de Minas Gerais (IEPHA) in 1989.
Use of the waters began in the 19th century. In 1890 physician Joaquim Monteiro Caminhoá published a study on the effects of the Barreiro’s sulfurous waters, and demand for treatments led to construction of the first spa. The main expansion phase came in the 1940s, with the neoclassical thermal building and the gardens designed by Roberto Burle Marx.
Fonte Andrade Júnior, with sulfurous water, was built on the lakeshore, from where the mud used in baths is also taken. Fonte Dona Beja, with radioactive water, stands on a slope of the park, connected by paths through the woods. A trail through the Mata da Cascatinha leads to a small waterfall and a viewpoint overlooking the lake and the thermal complex.
The park, springs and gardens are visited by self‑guided walks during the day. Baths and treatments at the thermal complex are paid separately and follow the administration’s rules; confirm before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half a day to walk the park, taste the water from the two springs and do the Cascatinha trail. A thermal bath takes a few more hours.
Best time
In the morning, when the woodlands are shaded and there are fewer people at the springs. From April to September there is little rain; from October to March afternoons often have showers. Check the park’s visiting hours.
How to get there
It is about 5 km from Araxá center via Avenida Águas de Araxá, which leads to Estância do Barreiro. There is parking in the park area. Without a car, take a taxi.
Tip
Bring a bottle to sample the springs on site and wear comfortable shoes for the woods’ trails. On weekends and holidays the park receives more visitors; arrive early.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Barreiro Complex
How far is the Barreiro from downtown Araxá?
About 5 km to the south, via Avenida Águas de Araxá. The route takes only a few minutes by car or taxi.
Do you need to pay to enter the Barreiro in Araxá?
To walk through the park, see the gardens and visit the springs, entry is generally free. Baths and thermal treatments are charged separately. Check current rules before you go.
Who designed the gardens of the Barreiro?
The landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, during the expansion phase of the resort in the 1940s. The gardens are part of the ensemble listed by IEPHA.