Camping do Chará

Don't let the name Minas Gerais ("General Mines") fool you: there may be gold in these hills, but this part of south-eastern Brazil is home to more than just industry. Guests with itchy feet should make tracks for Tripuí nature reserve (25 minutes' drive), a sizeable slice of untouched forest that's crisscrossed with walkable trails. Itacolomi State Park (also 25 minutes) is another fab option for wild days out: head here for guided hikes up to Itacolomi rock, and stick around for spectacular vistas over the surrounding countryside. Ouro Preto (30 minutes) is a splendid colonial city: as you stroll around these streets, keep your eyes peeled for the informative historic plaques that fill visitors in on the area's past. Top sights here include the Church of São Francisco de Assis, the Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Pilar and the Museu da Inconfidência (a museum dedicated to the anti-Portuguese rebels that once roamed these parts). Fancy following in the footsteps of prospectors of yore? Mina de Ouro da Passagem (35 minutes) arranges fascinating tours of an 18th-century gold mine.