Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
Park · São Roque de Minas, MG
Serra da Canastra National Park
National park created in 1972 in southwest Minas to protect the headwaters of the Rio São Francisco. Portaria 1, 7 km from São Roque de Minas, leads to the chapadão, with the historic spring, the Curral de Pedras and the upper Casca d'Anta.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Serra da Canastra National Park
The Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra was created on April 3, 1972 and is managed by the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). The area set out in the creation decree exceeds 197 thousand hectares, across six municipalities: São Roque de Minas, Vargem Bonita, Delfinópolis, Sacramento, São João Batista do Glória and Capitólio. Only part of that area is regularized, and it is there, on the high chapadão, that visitation is concentrated.
The name comes from the shape of the range: seen from afar, the chapadão resembles a canastra, a type of old rectangular chest. On the top, above 1,200 meters, the landscape is cerrado fields, quartzite outcrops and springs. The range divides the waters of the São Francisco and Rio Grande basins. The park is home to the maned wolf, the giant anteater and the merganser, one of the country's most threatened birds.
There are four gates. Portaria 1, in São Roque de Minas, is the most used and has a visitor center with an exhibition about the park's fauna, flora and history. From it departs the road that crosses the chapadão to the Nascente Histórica do Rio São Francisco, the Curral de Pedras, the Garagem de Pedras, Cachoeira dos Rolinhos and the upper Casca d'Anta. Portaria 2 is in the district of São João Batista da Serra da Canastra, 3 in Sacramento and 4, which leads to the lower part of the Casca d'Anta, in the district of São José do Barreiro.
The internal roads are dirt, with stretches of rock, and distances are long: from Portaria 1 to the upper Casca d'Anta is more than 30 km. Entrance is charged at the gates, and access to attractions ends in the mid-afternoon, before closing. ICMBio accredits drivers and vehicles for those who prefer to visit with accompaniment.
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
A full day for the upper area, from Portaria 1 to the top of the Casca d'Anta, with stops at the spring and the Curral de Pedras. The lower part of the waterfall, via Portaria 4, requires another day.
Best time
From April to October it rains less and the internal roads are usually firmer. From November to March there is more rain, the rivers rise quickly and the roads become more difficult. Early on: distances are long and access to attractions ends in the mid-afternoon.
How to get there
Gatehouse 1 is about 7 km from the center of São Roque de Minas, on a dirt road that climbs the mountain. Gatehouse 4, for the lower part of Casca d'Anta, is in the district of São José do Barreiro, about 22 km from Vargem Bonita. Gatehouses 1, 2 and 3 are linked by internal dirt roads on the top of the plateau.
Tip
Refuel in town and bring water and snacks: there is nowhere to buy inside the park. Confirm beforehand which payment methods are accepted at the gatehouse. Respect the signage, do not leave the roads and trails and do not take anything from the park, neither stones nor plants.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Serra da Canastra National Park
How many gatehouses does the Serra da Canastra National Park have?
Four. Gatehouse 1 is in São Roque de Minas and leads to the upper part, with the source of the São Francisco. The 2 is in the district of São João Batista da Serra da Canastra, the 3 in Sacramento and the 4, which gives access to the lower part of Casca d'Anta, in the district of São José do Barreiro, near Vargem Bonita.
Is admission to the Serra da Canastra National Park paid?
Yes. Admission is charged at the gatehouses, with different rates for Brazilian and foreign visitors and exemptions provided by ICMBio. Check the current fee table before you go.
Do you need a 4x4 vehicle to visit the Serra da Canastra?
The park roads are dirt, with rocky sections, and ICMBio recommends 4x4 vehicles. In the dry season many people do the main sections with a regular car, driving carefully. In the rainy season a high-clearance vehicle makes a difference.
What is the best time to go to the Serra da Canastra?
From April to October, when it rains less and the dirt roads are firmer. From November to March the waterfalls usually have more water, but rain makes the roads difficult and the rivers rise quickly.