Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in my favorite small town in Brazil, Ouro Preto. It is located on the Estrada Royal, or the Royal Road, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. This is where you can get a glimpse of Colonial Brazil; a lot of the gems were mined from this region, and Ouro Preto has benefitted greatly from that. It’s also one of the safest and best places to visit in Brazil.
Love #1: Colonial History of Ouro Preto
Part of what makes Ouro Preto so beautiful is the colonial architecture around town. Ouro Preto is surrounded by natural beauty, but the city itself is also wonderful to see. It really has the best of both worlds, which is why it’s my favorite small town in Brazil. Many of the churches have a small admission fee, but it’s totally worth it to go see the interiors.
Hate #1: The Hills of Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto is in the mountains, so it’s a very hilly town. It can’t hurt to prepare for your trip by hitting the Stairmaster for some hill training. If not, expect to have some shin splints, as the hills are quite steep! Even if you’re in good shape, these hills might surprise you!
Love #2: Comida Mineira
The local food you’ll find in Minas Gerais is Comida Mineira. The food is so good here! Yes, there is a lot of beans and rice, but this is Brazilian comfort food at its finest. It’s not just my favorite food in Brazil, it’s quite possibly my favorite food in the world! Queijo Minas with dulce de leche is one of the best desserts in Brazil, and it’s made with local cheese.
Hate #2: Photography Ban in Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Ouro Preto has its own version of the Sistine Chapel, and that is the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. It’s one of the coolest churches in Brazil, and the ceiling took ten years to paint. It’s really beautiful and worth visiting, but hopefully, you have a photographic memory because you can’t take pictures inside. Several of the churches and museums in the area don’t allow photography, so it can be frustrating when you want to share your trip with friends and family back home.
Love #3: Safety in Ouro Preto
Not all of Brazil is super safe, so one of the reasons I love visiting Ouro Preto is that I feel safe bringing my family here. We don’t feel rushed to get back to our accommodation before dark, because it feels safe, even at night. It’s very relaxing to not have to be on high alert all the time.
Hate #3: Finding English Guides
Ouro Preto is really off the beaten path for English-speaking tourists. While it is a big tourist destination for Brazilians, it’s not easy to find English-speaking guides. There are lots of guides all over town, but most of them are giving tours in Portuguese. If you don’t speak Portuguese, you might struggle a bit, so it’s a good idea to try and learn a little bit before you visit.
Love #4: Views from Ouro Preto
The area surrounding Ouro Preto is gorgeous! While it can be exhausting to walk up and down all those hills, they do help you appreciate the views so much more!
Hate #4: Getting to Ouro Preto
If you are prone to motion sickness, you’re not going to love the trip to Ouro Preto. You’ll be on a lot of winding, mountain roads, so make sure you pack some Dramamine if you need it. Trust me, it’s totally worth it, even if you get sick. Just make sure you’re prepared!
Love #5: Day Trips and Surrounding Area
Besides visiting the historic sites, there are so many fun things to do in and around Ouro Preto. There are several mines in the area, where you can pan for gold and take old miners’ carts down to the mines. Mariana is a must-do day trip from Ouro Preto; it’s about an hour by train, and the Mariana train station has an awesome playground that your kids will love.
Make sure you explore some other towns along the Estrada Royal, like Tiradentes, Congonhas, São João del-Rei, São Tomé das Letras, Aiuruoca, São Lourenço, Caxambu, Aparecida and Paraty.
Hate #5: Getting Tickets for the Train to Mariana
One of the highlights of visiting Ouro Preto is taking the tourist train to Mariana. It’s a beautiful scenic train ride, but getting tickets takes forever. The train doesn’t run every day, so plan ahead and I recommend going to get your tickets the day before you want to ride the train. The panoramic seating sells out the fastest, so that’s another good reason to buy ahead.
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I can’t emphasize enough how much I love visiting Ouro Preto Brazil and Minas Gerais. It’s safe, historic, beautiful, and affordable. There are tons of great day trips in the area, and lots of fun festivals, too!
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