Lavras Novas colonial village in Minas Gerais draws tourists to mountain charm

Lavras Novas, a colonial village perched at about 1,300 m in the Serra do Espinhaço of Minas Gerais, originated in the early 18th century during the gold boom. After the mines were exhausted in the 1780s, the settlement was largely abandoned, but a community of freed‑black and mixed‑race residents preserved its historic stone houses, the 1740 Capela de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, and street names such as Congo and Benguela.

In recent decades the village has become a niche tourism destination. Visitors hike light trails to waterfalls like Cachoeira dos Namorados, Cachoeira do Castelinho, and Cachoeira dos Três Pingos, or enjoy viewpoints such as the Pedra lookout. Adventure activities include quadricycle rides, off‑road jeep tours, kayaking and stand‑up paddleboarding, turning Lavras Novas into a tranquil retreat for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.