Carrancas - Minas Gerais

In this post you will check out what to do in Carrancas: unmissable tips in the charming city that is home to wonderful waterfalls. It is the perfect destination to enjoy during the weekend, for those who live in the surroundings, and also ideal to plan a trip with friends during a weekend. Now you can add it to your list of amazing places to visit in Brazil!

Carrancas: where is it and how to get there

With only 5,000 inhabitants, the city of Carrancas is located in the south of Minas Gerais and attracts many tourists for the beauty of its waterfalls, caves and trails. Although most of the roads are dirt, they are in good condition.

As for the ideal means of transport to get to Carrancas, I would suggest going by car. This will not only facilitate your arrival in Carrancas, but also your transportation to the trails and waterfalls in the region.

Leaving Rio

It is 328 km from Rio de Janeiro to Carrancas, approximately 5h30 by road. Just take the BR 040, passing through Juiz de Fora to Barbacena, and then the BR 265 to Itutinga and from there the road to Carrancas.

Leaving Belo Horizonte

For those leaving the capital of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, it is a 4h30 trip. Just take Rodovia Fernão Dias to the entrance to Lavras (exit 688) and you will also arrive at Rodovia BR 265.

Leaving Sao Paulo

If you are in São Paulo, it will take you a little over 6 hours on the road. The way is via BR381 + BR265.

Bus

The trip can also be made by bus. As Carrancas does not have a bus station, it is necessary to buy a ticket to Lavras, which is an hour away. From there, the route to the center of Carrancas is made by Viação São Cristóvão. The ticket costs R$23.00 and can be purchased online.

Passengers can be picked up and dropped off at Praça Manoel Moreira (behind the Church) and it is important to plan well as there are only two buses a day. On the official website of Carrancas you can see more information.

When to go to Carrancas

The ideal is to visit the city between the months of January and March, when the waterfalls have more water. Between March and May, it's also a good time, because that way you can escape the rainy season, which starts in October, and still enjoy a little bit of the heat that is at that time.

Where to stay in Carrancas

If you're looking for comfort, don't worry: there are good options for inns in Carrancas. We recommend Pousada Gaya, which is very close to the center and has a beautiful view, because the chalets are at the top of the mountain. What's more, they are super comfortable, clean and even have a fireplace to warm up on cold days.

Zilda Complex

Complexo da Zilda is a true amusement park. You can do a medium-level trail that will take you to the Racha da Zilda Waterfall and the Angels Waterfall. It's cool to spend the whole day there so take a snack, water and sunscreen, so you can also enjoy the natural slides, visit the caves and even see an impressive wall with cave paintings.

This circuit I mentioned costs R$20.00 to visit, but it also has the Cachoeira dos Índios and the Lapa da Zilda Archaeological Site, which entrance is free. Access to the Complex is very easy, there is parking and it is located approximately 12 kilometers from the city.

It was an exceptional tour, as this is the high point of Carrancas. We were still lucky enough to get a blue sky and the sun very strong, for sure a perfect day.

After a long walk inside the Complexo da Zilda, we returned to the camp. Dinner was improvised, right there! Nothing more rustic and fun. We had the pleasure of seeing the “yellow moon”, a phenomenon that happens every year – a spectacle of nature!

Grao Mogol Waterfall

This waterfall is 10km away from the city, it is a true hidden paradise and requires planning to get there. The road is dirt and you need a 4×4 car to make the journey. We recommend going with a local guide.

From there, you can go up to Poço Azul, which, like Grão Mogol, also has crystal clear water and a great pool for swimming.

Unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to get to know these two charms of nature on this trip, but it was on our list for when we return to Carrancas, and you can insert it in your itinerary and tell us what you think.

The center of Carrancas

Visit the Historic Center and appreciate the architecture of the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Conceição das Carrancas. It has gold paintings and a beautiful altar.

Recanto Bar: Cozy restaurant with live music and homemade food cooked in a wood oven. The tip is to try the pururuca cheese, which made the place famous.

On Saturdays they have a handicraft fair, great for those who want to take a souvenir from the city and still encourage the work of local producers.

Tip: If you liked to know more about Carrancas and decided to venture out into the city, it is worth remembering that it is very important to have good hiking boots or sneakers, to avoid spraining your foot or slipping on the rocks.

Now that you've got all the tips, all you have to do is set up the itinerary, choose the accommodation using BITBOOK.NET, pack your suitcase and throw yourself into the charm of this amazing place.

I have no doubt that you will have unforgettable days. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and we'll be happy to answer them!

Safe travel and enjoy this amazing place!