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Cave · Sete Lagoas, MG
Gruta Rei do Mato
Limestone cave beside the BR-040 in Sete Lagoas, with 998 meters of length, of which about 220 meters are open for guided visits. It features twin calcite columns and, next to it, the Grutinha with rock paintings.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Gruta Rei do Mato
The Gruta Rei do Mato is at the access roundabout to Sete Lagoas, on the banks of the BR-040, about 62 km from Belo Horizonte. It is protected by the Gruta Rei do Mato State Natural Monument, a 141-hectare conservation unit managed by the Instituto Estadual de Florestas de Minas Gerais (IEF), and is among the state's most visited caves.
The cave is 998 meters long with an elevation change of about 30 meters. The guided tour covers about 220 meters on illuminated walkways and stairs across four chambers. In the Main Chamber there are large stalactites and stalagmites, nicknamed by guides Cenourão and Sorvetão. In the final chamber, the Chamber of Rarities, are the twin columns: two thin, parallel calcite columns about 12 meters high, formed over thousands of years.
Beside the entrance is the Grutinha, a small cavity with rock paintings dating to about 6,000 years ago and a replica of a giant sloth skeleton. The cave's name comes from a man of unknown identity who is said to have lived there around the 1930s and whom locals nicknamed Rei do Mato.
The monument has a visitor center with exhibits, restrooms, a snack bar and parking, and the trail to the cave is paved.
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
About an hour, including the Grutinha and the visitor center.
Best time
In the morning on weekdays, when groups are smaller. During the rainy season the cave is more humid, with active dripping on the formations.
How to get there
It is at km 472 of the BR-040, at the access roundabout to Sete Lagoas, on the right for those coming from Belo Horizonte. From the town center it is a few kilometers by car or taxi.
Tip
Wear shoes with firm soles, because the walkways can be wet. Check guided-visit days and times before you go. Do not touch the formations.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Gruta Rei do Mato
How many meters of the Gruta Rei do Mato are open to visitors?
About 220 meters of the cave's 998-meter length, across four chambers with walkways and lighting.
What are the twin columns of the Gruta Rei do Mato?
They are two thin, parallel calcite columns about 12 meters high in the final chamber of the tour. They are the cave's best-known formation.
Where is the Gruta Rei do Mato located?
At the access roundabout to Sete Lagoas, at km 472 of the BR-040, about 62 km from Belo Horizonte.