There are towns you visit and towns you feel: São Thomé das Letras, in southern Minas, is one of the second kind. Built in quartzite stone at almost 1,500 meters of altitude, a collector of legends — portals to Machu Picchu, lights in the sky, elves in the woods — and ringed by waterfalls, it mixes mysticism and nature in a dose that exists nowhere else in Brazil.
Getting there
Equidistant from three capitals (around 310 km from Belo Horizonte, 340 from Rio, 350 from São Paulo), reached via Três Corações. The stone streets ask for a careful car; the town is compact and covered on foot — preferably slowly, at the local pace.
What to see in town
- Gruta de São Thomé — the cave that gave the town its name, with the image of the saint and the rock inscriptions (“letters”) that have intrigued people for centuries.
- Casa da Pirâmide — the sunset spot where every visitor stacks stones and makes a wish.
- Cruzeiro — the high point of the town, with a 360° view over a sea of hills.
- Pedra da Bruxa and Ladeira do Amendoim — the rock with a witch’s profile and the slope where cars “roll uphill” (magnetism or illusion? go and find out).
- Stone center — a quartzite parish church, mystical cafés and little crystal shops.
The waters
The surroundings hide a generous circuit: Cachoeira Eubiose (the classic, with a pool and an energy of its own), Véu da Noiva (the most beautiful, worth the drive), Vale das Borboletas (pools and rock walls with a name out of a story) and Antares. Short to moderate trails, token entry fees — and icy mountain water at every one.
When to go
Spring and fall balance sun and temperature; winter has an absurd sky full of stars (and a cold that comes off the stone); public holidays fill the place up — the town is small for its own fame. Every day ends the same way: a silent crowd waiting for the sun to drop behind the ranges. Join it.
🥾 Who is it for?
Effort: easy in town and at the lookouts; moderate on the waterfall trails. Children: legends + caves + waterfalls = guaranteed fascination from ages 5-6. Seniors and reduced mobility: the center is compact but has uneven stone paving (genuine care needed); the Cruzeiro and the Pirâmide have access close by car — the sunset is democratic.