The Caraça Sanctuary Complex is the only private natural heritage reserve with 11,233 hectares of enchanting transitional landscapes of Atlantic forest and savannah framed by a mountain range with peaks over 2,000 meters high that is part of the Espinhaço mountain range.
The Serra do Espinhaço is a mountain range located on the Atlantic plateau, stretching across the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia.
The chain is known as Caraça due to the shape of one of its peaks: it resembles a giant lying down, with a big face, “caraça”.
Temperatures are mild or low (the annual average is around 15°C) due to the altitude – the headquarters is at an altitude of 1300 meters, so warm clothing is essential.
Another curiosity is the dense fog resulting from the region’s high humidity, which reaches almost 100% in May and June.
A tourist destination known worldwide for its natural, gastronomic, cultural and religious beauty, the Caraça Sanctuary, located on Estrada do Caraça, km 9, between the towns of Catas Altas and Santa Bárbara in Minas Gerais, also has a lot of history to tell.
The Caraça Sanctuary Complex includes the Sanctuary’s architectural complex, the neo-Gothic church, the old school building (now a museum and library) and the inn, the RPPN (Private Natural Heritage Reserve) area, and parts identified by the owner as management areas, the Fazenda do Engenho, the Buraco da Boiada, the Fazenda do Capivari.
The imposing façade of the Church of Our Lady Mother of Men, built in the neo-Gothic style, can be seen from afar. And in that structure, made of soapstone and marble, there are curiosities that delight tourists and visitors alike.
The first in the neo-Gothic style in Brazil, it houses the priceless canvas Santa Ceia, by the master Ataíde, the body of St. Pius the Martyr, the side altars of the old chapel, which depict the Pieta and the Sacred Heart, also painted by Ataíde, and the central French stained glass window donated by Dom Pedro II during his time there.
The headquarters are also home to the cloister, the catacombs, the restored ruins of the old school, the library, the garden with the sundial, the calvary and the museum, whose collection includes furniture, items from the daily life of the school and the seminary, including the bed in which the emperor slept.
Part of the school has been transformed into a guesthouse; the renovated rooms are small and simple.
A peculiarity at Caraça is the visit of a family of maned wolves in the sanctuary’s courtyard at around 8pm.
In the well-sanitized and equipped park – there are picnic areas with barbecues and monitors for the historical part – there are several trails that lead to waterfalls, cascades, natural pools, dams and viewpoints.
There are also caves, such as Centenário, at the peak of Inficionado, the largest quartzite cave in the world in terms of depth, at 485 meters, and the second largest in terms of length of galleries, at around 4700 meters, at various levels, as well as others such as Bocaina, with an internal waterfall.
Guides are recommended for long trails and cave exploration.
How to get to the Caraça Sanctuary
The Caraça Sanctuary is 120 kilometers from Belo Horizonte and 26 kilometers from the town of Catas Altas, on a paved road and 5.5 km in a straight line intersected by the peaks of Serra de Catas Altas and Carapuça.
You can get to Caraça via Mariana, Catas Altas or Santa Bárbara.
The most suitable route is from the town of Santa Bárbara, as the park entrance is closest to it, although the main attractions are in Catas Altas.
It’s 6 kilometers from Santa Bárbara to the start of the Caraça road (MG-436), plus 20 kilometers in good condition (at kilometer 9 is the gatehouse).
The entrance fee is paid, and there visitors receive a detailed map and the regulations.
There are no buses to Caraça; transportation is by private car or cab.
Visiting the Caraça Sanctuary
No reservations
The Caraça Sanctuary has changed its visitation operation, which will no longer require prior reservations. Therefore, visitors will be able to go directly to the site without warning, except that groups and travel agencies must request an appointment in advance.
All the health protocols determined by the authorities have been maintained, including the limit on the number of visitors, which is 400 people per day.
Thus, places are available on a first-come, first-served basis and, once the limit has been reached, the next visitors will have to wait for new places to be released on a rotating basis, i.e. as the people who have already entered leave, the same number of places will be released for those waiting to enter.
The opening hours of the Caraça Sanctuary are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day of the week and departures after 5 p.m. are subject to a fine.
Tourist Attractions and History of the Caraça Sanctuary MG
1 Church of Our Lady Mother of Men in the Caraça Sanctuary
Among the architectural ensemble of Caraça, the Neo-Gothic Sanctuary of Our Lady Mother of Men is the most striking. Inaugurated in 1883, it was built with slave labor and regional materials such as soapstone, marble and quartzite, all taken from neighboring towns.
The Sanctuary is the first neo-Gothic church in Brazil – a style that seeks to revive Gothic and medieval forms to the detriment of the predominant classical style.
Built in the neo-Gothic style, with soapstone and marble, inside the church you can see the painting ‘A Ceia de Ataíde’ and relics such as the body of ‘São Pio Mártir’, which was the first body of a saint to come to Brazil.
A tourist destination known worldwide for its natural, gastronomic, cultural and religious beauty, the Caraça Sanctuary, located on Estrada do Caraça, km 9, between the towns of Catas Altas and Santa Bárbara, also has a lot of history to tell.
The imposing façade of the Church of Our Lady Mother of Men, built in the neo-Gothic style, can be seen from afar. And in that structure, made of soapstone and marble, there are curiosities that enchant tourists and visitors alike;
The Church of Our Lady Mother of Men was built between 1876 and 1883, on the site of the Ermida do Irmão Lourenço, and was inaugurated on May 27, 1883, in the presence of the bishops of Rio de Janeiro, Mariana and Bahia.
There was a church on the site built during Brother Lourenço’s time, which was demolished to make way for Father Clavelin’s project. Two side altars remain from this church, which can be seen at the entrance to the church, one on each side.
The church was the first in Brazil in the neo-Gothic style and has a 48-meter-high tower.
The frontispiece features the symbol of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is the secondary patron saint of the Third Order, to which Brother Lourenço belonged. The symbol is the two crossed hands, one symbolizing the hand of Jesus Christ and the other that of Saint Francis.
The structure of the building is made up of regional materials, such as soapstone, taken from near Cascatona, and marble, from nearby Mariana and Itabirito.
Quartzite, from the Caraça region and nearby, was also used, as well as a product based on lime, stone dust and oil, which was used to bind the stones together.
The altar of the church has a baroque image of Our Lady Mother of Men, carved from wood in a single piece, with gold-painted clothes, which came from Portugal in 1784.
The general manager of the Caraça Sanctuary, Márcio Mol, points out that tourists can appreciate real works of art, such as a painting of the Holy Supper, created by Mestre Ataíde in 1828. “This is one of the most beautiful and important works of art we have here at Caraça.
In the center we see Christ, who is aureolated with light, surrounded by the twelve apostles, divided into groups of three. On the table, covered with a lacy tablecloth, which still retains the folds from when it was stored, in addition to the bread and wine, served in a glass chalice, there is a plate with mutton, the paschal lamb.
On the floor, the basin and towel used for the washing of feet point to the excellence of love and service. Judas, the betrayer, sitting at the front, as if ready to leave the meeting, holds the bag of money and looks at all the visitors, regardless of where they are in the Church.
In the corners of the painting, on the left, there are three characters: a young servant girl, carrying loaves of bread and being caressed by a man who comes up behind her, and another woman, a mulatto, as Mestre Ataíde always makes a point of portraying. On the other side, two more characters complete the scene, entering the enclosure festively and joyfully,” he says.
Visiting the Church of Our Mother of Men is an opportunity for tourists to get to know the cultural, historical and religious richness of the place.
He points out that it houses the St. Pius the Martyr, the first body of a saint to come to Brazil and for a long time the largest relic on Brazilian soil. “Those who visit are often moved, because the body is covered in wax and in a chalice there is sand from his tomb and some blood.
If you approach the reliquary, you can see the Martyr’s fingernails and upper teeth. It was on the baroque altar on the left-hand side of the church for a long time.
2. Gastronomy
The gastronomy of Caraça is a point that deserves special attention from visitors. In addition to the experience of eating in the historic refectory, with all the simplicity and variety of flavors of Minas Gerais food, there is a wine cellar on site where you can see the production process of red wine, mead and fermented orange, jabuticaba and strawberry.
There is also a bakery, which makes breads, cakes and cookies, and a confectionery, for jams, jellies and jams.
The artisanal minas cheese, which has been made for over 200 years, is one of the most sought-after delicacies at the Sanctuary and is the raw material for various dishes from the region in gastronomic competitions and festivals.
3. Source of knowledge
The complex is listed as a National and State Historic and Artistic Heritage Site. It was chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of the Royal Road.
It has a large architectural complex that includes the first neo-Gothic style church in Brazil, the old school building (now a museum and library), the hotel with 57 apartments and rooms that can accommodate up to 230 people, and the Fazenda do Engenho, with 26 apartments.
The Caraça Complex has an enormous diversity of fauna and flora, with rare animals and plants in the environment. The wide range of fauna includes 386 species of birds, 42 species of reptiles, 12 species of fish and 76 species of mammals.
The Caraça Sanctuary Private Natural Heritage Reserve is part of two important ecological reserves, the Serra do Espinhaço Sul Biosphere Reserve and the Atlantic Rainforest Biosphere Reserve, where there are diverse species of flora and fauna, some found only in the Caraça Sanctuary Complex, which lies in the transition between the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado.
and Cerrado, where there are also rupestrian fields. In its mountains there are springs, streams and lakes with dark-colored water that carries suspended organic material. Its soil is rich in minerals, exploited in previous centuries, and has a high concentration of quartzite or
quartzite or metamorphic rock. Since 2011, it has been protected from commercial exploitation. The climate has low temperatures and high humidity, common in forest environments.
The territory of the Caraça Complex is part of the Environmental Protection Area to the South of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, where two large river basins begin, the São Francisco River and the Doce River, which supply approximately 70% of the population of Belo Horizonte and 50% of the population of its metropolitan region.
4. Library
The Library is now housed in the building where the famous College used to be, which today also houses the Museum, the Archives and a Convention Center.
5. Museum
The museum, assembled from furniture and various artefacts of daily use, belonging to Caraça itself and with some pieces left over from past centuries, is an interesting place to visit, which is visited daily by guests and visitors, through tours guided by monitors.
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5. The park’s main attractions grouped by region, with distances from the headquarters
- North of the headquarters
The beautiful Cascatona waterfall, which falls 70 meters in several steps, can be reached via an easy 6-kilometer trail (an hour and a half to go and two hours to return).
The clear water is yellowish due to the presence of iron oxide.
You can see birds, tapirs and monkeys during a 4-kilometer walk along the riverbed, flanked by a dirt canyon.
- East of the headquarters
You reach the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on an easy 30-minute trail.
The chapel, surrounded by forest at the foot of the Caraça mountain range, is 1500 meters above sea level. Built in 1866, it underwent restoration a few years ago.
To reach the small cave of Lourdes, from where you can admire the landscape of the region, take a medium-level trail, with some demanding climbs, which takes an hour.
Reaching the Carapuça peak, the closest to the headquarters, requires a guide.
At an altitude of 1909 meters, it offers a 360-degree view of the region. 4.5 kilometers of hiking, an estimated total of three hours.
The Cascatinha waterfall, 2 kilometers from the headquarters, has four falls that are more than 10 meters high, with a small pool for bathing.
In the middle of the path – an easy trail completed in half an hour – you can see the old stone bridge.
The peak of Sol – the highest point of the Espinhaço mountain range, with an altitude of 2072 meters – is 10.5 kilometers from the headquarters.
The hike is difficult, lasting four to five hours and requiring the presence of a guide.
Visiting the Bocaina waterfall and cave requires a light two-hour walk (to the waterfall) followed by an uphill stretch (to the cave).
On the way, there are typical cerrado flowers and views of the mountain walls – you can see the “lying giant” that forms Caraça.
At a distance of 5.5 kilometers from the headquarters, the waterfall has a swimming pool with deep stretches of cold, clear water, also yellowed by iron oxide.
The climb over rocks to the cave is worth it: after walking 50 meters in total darkness (bring a flashlight) in this quartzite formation with a skylight in the middle and crossing some narrow passages, where only six people pass at a time, the visitor arrives at an internal waterfall with a small well.
The same path leads to the Inficionado peak and then to the Centenário cave, 9.5 kilometers from the headquarters (4.5 km of them uphill, with four to five hours of difficult trail at the end).
This peak is the second highest in the chain, at 2069 meters, and from its top you can see the Cipó mountain range and the Bandeira peak.
Inside the cave, three parallel rivers flow with waterfalls and chasms.
With the accompaniment of experienced guides, it is possible to descend up to 150 meters.
The round shape gave its name to Verruguinha peak, at an altitude of 1,630 meters and 5.5 kilometers from the headquarters, which can be reached via a difficult two-and-a-half hour climb.
- South of the headquarters
From the Bode bridge, very close to the headquarters, you can see the River Caraça.
The Padre Leite forest is a dirt road walk through a heavily wooded area that can be reached by car.
An easy trail leads to the pine area, 1.8 kilometers from the headquarters, full of araucaria trees and from where you can see the “giant’s face”, which gives the park its name.
In this area there are traces of stone constructions made by explorers, which is why it is believed to have been the scene of the first human occupation of the region.
Further on, along an easy path, is the Belchior Bath, with a small waterfall.
Tanque Grande, 800 meters from the headquarters and reached in 15 minutes on a light hike, is the dam that supplied the hydroelectric power station, responsible for producing energy for the school.
The lake is huge, deep and dangerous, not recommended for swimming.
Other attractions are the natural pool with its cold water (2 kilometers from the headquarters); the lookout point, a 15-minute walk from the pool, amid rocks and narrow stretches; the campos de fora, a region of undulating terrain 7 kilometers from the headquarters (access is via a medium-level hike, taking two to three hours), with rupestrian fields and savannah, and a 40-meter-high waterfall with six falls.
The peak of Canjerana, at an altitude of 1,850 meters, offers a beautiful panorama and can be reached on a medium-level hike that requires a guide and takes around three hours.
Of the 12-kilometer hike, the last six are strenuous.
- West of the headquarters
An hour’s walk from the headquarters, almost entirely on asphalt, leads to Funil, a point where an underground river passes under a rock.
There is beautiful scenery all around. At the Cascudos stream, one kilometer from the headquarters, there is a small waterfall.
The confluence of streams with light falls of up to 5 meters, called Sumidouro and Taboões, is 1.7 kilometers from the headquarters, with a descent on the asphalt on the right-hand side.
From the peak of Conceição you can see the entire architectural complex of the sanctuary and the mountain range.
The 8.5-kilometer hike is difficult (a guide is required) and takes about four hours.
The Três Irmãos (or Trindade) peak brings together three peaks, with altitudes between 1840 and 1885 meters; from its crest there is a beautiful panorama of the region. Located 7.5 kilometers from the headquarters, it can be reached by a four-hour hike that also requires a guide.
