Serra do Cipó: Dramatic Canyon Country Near BH
Serra do Cipó National Park — 100 km from Belo Horizonte — is a landscape of quartzite canyons, endemic orchids, and extraordinary waterfalls that provides the city with some of South America's most accessible wilderness
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Cânion das Bandeirinhas
The dramatic canyon carved by the Rio Cipó through quartzite rock - with vertical walls and a natural pool at the base - is Serra do Cipó's signature hike; a 6 km trail from the entrance to the park
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Cachoeira da Farofa
The waterfall cascade at Farofa — which cascades into a series of crystal clear pools — is the most popular swimming destination in the park; the surrounding cerrado landscape is covered in endemic orchids
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Cerrado Ecology
Serra do Cipó is in the cerrado biome — Brazil's savannah, more biologically diverse than the Amazon but less protected; the endemic plants, birds and insects of the Quartzite Highlands represent extraordinary biodiversity
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Rio Cipó Swimming
The clear cold water of the Rio Cipó is swimmable throughout the park - natural pools among the quartzite boulders are used by visitors while the surrounding cerrado flora creates a remarkable setting
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Endemic Orchids
Serra do Cipó has hundreds of endemic orchid species — the quartzite cliffs are covered with miniature orchids that can be seen up close on the park's trails, a botanical display like no other
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The night sky at Serra do Cipó
The dark sky above Serra do Cipó – far from the light pollution of Belo Horizonte – offers extraordinary stargazing; The Milky Way visible to the naked eye above the canyon rim is spectacular