Camping Vale das Cachoeiras

If visiting the site’s waterfall whets your appetite for more, the valley around the park has 10 or so smaller cascades with free falls ranging from three to 10 metres in height; take a trek to snap photos of these natural attractions while keeping an eye out for animals including monkeys, capybaras, deer and tropical birds as well. To spot more creatures, drive for a couple of hours to Pacaás Novos National Park – named after the mountain inside it – or paraglide from Parque Chico Mendes, 55 minutes away, with views out across the UNESCO-listed town of Ouro Preto. Drop down to this destination later on to bimble around the baroque bridges, fountains and squares accessible through steep and winding cobbled streets; there are churches and chapels to check out too, including an 18th-century structure paying homage to St. Francis of Assisi.