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Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, is a vibrant city known for its bustling markets and beautiful parkland. With a diverse population of over 2.5 million people, it is a major industrial hub and a blend of traditional Brazilian culture and modern innovation.
Belo Horizonte is the capital city of the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. It’s situated in the southeastern part of the country. Belo Horizonte is among the leading cities in Brazil and a major cultural and economic hub. It is the country’s third-largest city and a significant player in the national economy and politics. Noted for its complex architecture and rich cultural heritage, Belo Horizonte offers a blend of historical and contemporary attractions. Some of the places that make it famous include the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Mercado Central, a bustling market place, and Praca da Liberdade, a large square surrounded by historical buildings.
The city of Belo Horizonte operates under a Mayor-Council government system. The executive branch of the city government is led by the Mayor, who is elected to four-year terms and is responsible for city administration. The legislative branch is represented by the Municipal Chamber, composed of 41 councilors elected to four-year terms. The city is divided into nine regional administrations, each led by a mayor appointed by the Mayor of Belo Horizonte. These regional administrations are responsible for providing certain local services and for representing their communities in the city government.
Belo Horizonte is one of the major economic centers of Brazil. The city has a diverse economy, with a strong emphasis on industry, services, and commerce. It has a GDP of over $70 billion, making it one of the largest economies in Brazil. The city is renowned for its mineral wealth, including gold, diamond, and iron ore, and it is home to some of the country's largest mining companies. Belo Horizonte is also a leading center for the production of steel and other metals.
Belo Horizonte has a comprehensive infrastructure plan to accommodate its growing population and to ensure the city remains a major economic player. This includes a range of initiatives, from new water and sewerage infrastructure to enhanced digital connectivity and new transport schemes. The city is served by an extensive public transportation system, including buses, metro, and taxis. The city is also home to Tancredo Neves International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Brazil. The city’s digital infrastructure is also expanding, with increasing access to high-speed broadband.
Belo Horizonte is a leading city in Brazil in terms of technology and innovation. The city has a thriving tech scene, bolstered by the presence of several universities and research institutions. The city's 'San Pedro Valley' district has been dubbed Brazil's Silicon Valley, hosting many tech startups and digital companies. Belo Horizonte also hosts a Google Campus, one of only six in the world, providing a hub for entrepreneurs and tech innovators in the region. The city's tech industry is a significant player in its own right, contributing to job creation and economic growth.
Discover Belo Horizonte through its two most iconic markets — one rooted in tradition, the other bursting with creativity. Start your journey at the Mercado Central, a century-old maze of aromas, colors, and stories. Taste artisanal cheeses, sweets, cachaças, and snacks while learning how Minas Gerais became Brazil’s culinary soul. Meet local vendors, hear their stories, and feel the heartbeat of everyday life in this beloved market. Then, walk to the Mercado Novo, where young chefs, brewers, and artists have transformed an old warehouse into a vibrant cultural hub. Taste how Minas cuisine has evolved — blending heritage and innovation in every bite. By the end, you’ll take home more than photos: stories, flavors, and the feeling of having truly experienced the spirit of Minas Gerais. Five-star guarantee — if your experience isn’t five stars, you don’t pay for four.
Visit the historic cities of Ouro Preto, considered a World Heritage Site, and Mariana, the first capital of the state of Minas Gerais. Visit churches and museums and get to know the traditions that tell the specifics and portray the customs and histories of each of these cities
Immerse yourself in the culinary culture of Brazil during a small-group cooking class. Learn about the flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques specific to brazilian cuisine from your instructor. Get your hands dirty as you learn to prepare several authentic recipes while sipping on a caipirinha. Enjoy a true taste of Brazil beyond the restaurant scene. - Learn more about Brazil cuisine than you would just eating out - Small group size allows for a more personalized experience - Ideal for foodies or anyone who likes to create in the kitchen - Enjoy unlimited drinks while you cook
Great day trip getting to know the first two capitals of our Rich State. Both have an invaluable collection, with beautiful buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. A spectacular day awaits you on this tour. In Mariana we will go through the famous Rua Direita, with preserved houses, the Catedral da Sé, the first in Minas, a beautiful example of construction, whose high point is its wonderful organ, of German origin. Praça Minas Gerais, considered one of the 7 Wonders of Estrada Real. In Ouro Preto, we will visit the Museum of Inconfidência, with a rich collection in a wonderful building located in Praça Tiradentes, the main one in the city. Visit the charming Chapel of São Francisco de Assis, a masterpiece by the masters Antônio Francisco “Aleijadinho” and Manoel da Costa Ataíde, considered one of the 7 Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World. A day to be marked in memory and always getting the taste of wanting more, staying another day. Time for shopping at the soapstone fair.
Come with us to participate in a rich gastronomic experience through the center of BH. Tasting, feeling, enjoying, registering, buying, experiencing all the history and tradition of the people of Minas Gerais. In this 6-hour tour, we will visit some of the most iconic places in downtown BH, several from the 1930s of the last century. Snack bars, restaurants, coffee shops, artisanal bakery, the Central Market, the third best in the world, which has a little bit of each region of Minas Gerais. We will travel about 4 km through the city center, tour on foot, with stretches of 5 to 10 minutes of walking between one attraction and another. Halfway through the streets of the planned city, with period buildings, many in Art-Deco style, enjoying the atmosphere of downtown BH. All of this also knowing the history of the foundation of the city, the beginning of everything, of the simple Arraial do Curral del Rei, former name of the Capital. Experience the market, shop for sweets, cheeses, cachaças, coffees, among other delicacies produced in Minas Gerais.
A trip back in time to the Belo Horizonte of the past. In a light 3-hour tour, we'll walk through Belo Horizonte's past portrayed by writers such as Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Henriqueta Lisboa, Pedro Nava and Mário de Andrade. We meet at the Church of Boa Viagem. So, we took a ride on the writings of centenary poets and chroniclers to show the Belo Horizonte lived by them, which today only exists in these records. We will tell picturesque stories of a BH built on the rubble of a city over 200 years old, which was erased from the map in the name of modernity. We are going to retrace the steps of important political and artistic personalities of the last century, comparing poetry, short stories, curious stories and historical images with today's scenarios.
Come enjoy, feel, taste and fall in love with this capital rich in flavors, sayings and traditions. The backyard kitchen, all planted and created in the back of houses, farms and made in the wood stove. We will learn about the history of BH, its rich gastronomy, presented in a traditional or sophisticated way, represented by excellent restaurants of typical Minas Gerais food, a mixture of Portuguese, African and indigenous cuisine. Mercado Central, the third best market in the world, with rich culture, a lot of history, told from a small village to the present day. On Saturday, a day to learn a little more about beer, craft, true, delicious. Finishing in high style, starting early at the Handicraft Fair, former hippie fair. Following, the Pampulha region, with its lagoon, the beautiful and modern buildings of the architect Oscar Niemeyer, from the 40's, holds the title of UNESCO (2016) and the good time of day arrives at Restaurante Xapuri.
