Serra da Canastra with family: award-winning cheeses, nature and discoveries

The Canastra itinerary: between cheese and history

Discovering Serra da Canastra necessarily passes through traditional cheese factories, where families can closely follow the production process and live the history of Minas Gerais cheese. The Association of Canastra Cheese Producers (APROCAN) has structured a cheese factory route that reveals different aspects of production and offers a cultural and sensory immersion experience.

Queijaria Roça da Cidade

This pioneering cheese factory, with an enchanting view of Serra da Canastra, takes visitors on a guided tour by owner João Leite, who shares the artisanal production method and explains the characteristics that make Canastra cheese so special. For children, it’s a chance to learn about animal care and the importance of environmental preservation in the production process. At the end, tasting fresh cheeses is a hit among the little ones, who can take their own gastronomic souvenirs.

Fazenda Capão Grande

At Capão Grande, managed by couple Solange and Carlos Henrique, the day begins with a typical Minas Gerais afternoon coffee, full of delicacies like cookies, cheese bread and natural juices. The farm has a natural water pool and offers an experience that provides structure and hospitality for families, with the opportunity to visit the farm and see the cheese production process, which highlights the value of local production and sustainable consumption.

Estância Capim Canastra

At Estância Capim Canastra, led by Guilherme Ferreira, who represents the fifth generation of cheese producers, the visit is enriched by a complete structure that receives families with comfort. The experience includes a cheese aging cave and the experience of a producer farm’s routine. During certain periods, Estância organizes the Canastra Balloon Festival, where children can see colorful balloons rising over the mountains up close, in a wide view of the Minas Gerais countryside.

Serra da Canastra National Park: nature and learning

Beyond the flavors of local gastronomy, Serra da Canastra also enchants with the National Park, a conservation area rich in biodiversity and natural beauty. Families visiting the park can walk trails and waterfalls, such as Casca d’Anta, 186 meters high and considered one of Brazil’s largest waterfalls. The trail to the lower part of the waterfall is accessible for children, becoming an experience of direct contact with nature and with the course of the São Francisco River, one of the country’s most important rivers.

Besides Casca d’Anta, the region offers other waterfalls that are true exploration points, such as Chinela and Cerradão. At each stop, children can learn about native cerrado vegetation, local plant and animal species, and the importance of preserving these environments.