Belo Horizonte

Eco-friendly travel guide to Belo Horizonte advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Partial view of the Santa Efigênia neighborhood, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Air quality: 3 / 5

Exploring by foot: 3.5 / 5

Exploring by bicycle: 4 / 5

Public transportation: 4.5 / 5

Parks: 4.5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 4 / 5

Safety: 3 / 5

Accommodation: US$20 - $100

Budget per day: US$70 - $300

Responsible Travel

Belo Horizonte is a metropolitan Brazilian city whose name translates to 'Beautiful Horizon'. It is one of the most famous Brazilian city and is amongst the top 6 largest cities in the country. The city also serves as Minas Gerais state's capital. Apart from all the economic and political ranks, the city is the first planned modern Brazilian city. With an area covering 282.3 square kilometres, it homes over 2 million people out of which most are of Spanish background. Belo Horizonte is becoming a famous Brazilian city because it has taken part in various urban revitalization and food security programs, for which it received some international awards and acknowledgements. While visiting the city, you must keep the following points in mind to be able to travel responsibly.

The pollution rates are rising steadily and the city’s government and people are trying the best to control it. The tourism industry is one of the prominent contributors to such severe conditions. As a tourist, you must keep in mind that your actions must not worsen the conditions. You can do by using eco-friendly practices like using recycled, reusable, and organic products. These products cause less harm to the environment and your body.

The Spanish communities in Belo Horizonte has come up with various ways to keep their ethnicity, traditions, art forms, and history alive. There are multiple places such as museums, local artisan's shops, cultural festivals, flea markets, and food markets, where you can learn about the traditions, history, and culture. You must prefer using the services of these places as locals run them, and this will help them in building their business and provide you with quality services.

Apart from these exceptional measures, you must also follow some necessary steps. These measures include; using eco-friendly accommodation options such as green hotels, camps, and couch-surfing. These accommodation options are relatively cheaper and provide similar services but with a sustainable environment and measures. Also, you must use public transports such as metro, buses, and trams instead of rental cars and other fossil fuel operated vehicles because public transports cause relatively lower air and pollution. You can also opt for electronic cars, which are great for privacy and comfort.

Air Quality and Pollution

The air quality and pollution level come in between good to moderate in Belo Horizonte, the capital city of Minas Gerais. According to the reports, the primary pollutants in the city is PM2.5 with a concentration of 5.1 g/m3, making the air pollution level – ‘good’ in terms of Air Quality in Belo Horizonte. The Air Quality Index would be 21 US AQI as per the pollution level mentioned earlier. Since the pollution level is far better than any other Brazilian city, Belo Horizonte is a safe holiday destination for worldwide explorers.

PM10 – 52

PM2.5 – 28

PM10 Pollution Level – High

Pollution Index – 53.26

Pollution Exp Scale – 92.20

Respect the Culture

Belo Horizonte follows old traditions with a culturally active environment, making this capital city of Minas Gerais a must-visit tourist destination in the country. The place not only provides you with the Brazilian culture and tradition, but it also allows you to experience the daily urban life of the city in context to its theatre, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, and many more. If you are in Belo Horizonte, make sure to indulge in every activity the city gives you along with respecting and highlighting the various norms and traditions.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Praca da Liberdade (Freedom Square): The large park in the city centre that was specially designed to be the hub of state administration and power, Praca da Liberdade is the best tourist destination in the capital city of Minas Gerais. It houses a public library along with the Art Deco style Palacio Cristo Rio which was built in the 1940s, and a tower. The place has lots to tell you about the ancient history of Freedom Square. The park here enhances the beauty of the area, making it one of the most popular places to go in Belo Horizonte.

Sao Francisco de Assis and Lagoa da Pampulha: It is a park suburb of Pampulha that lies above lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte. The architect behind this was Oscar Niemeyer. The place gives you plenty of sights to inherit and indulge in the history of such a masterpiece. The entire décor and architecture of the building and the park itself is very spell-bounding. You must visit this place in Belo Horizonte, if not, then you might miss the incredible work done by a very famous artist. The green lawns and pathways around Lagoa da Pampulha not only enhance the beauty of the place but also make it a favourite spot to visit for families.

Palacio das Artes: Palacio das Artes is a white building seen on the south-western edge of the municipal park is one of Latin America's most inclusive centres for the contemporary arts. It houses several rooms and studios for artists and musicians who help in hosting galleries of a variety of art shows, theatres, concerts, etc. You can witness high-quality handicrafts by contemporary artisans in this art gallery. From pottery to glassware and jewellery, you can see every creation by masterminds of those times.

Mercado Central (Central Market): It is the most colourful and lively place in the city is Mercado Central. It is a vast market building where you'll find almost everything from food to canaries. The area houses more than 400 odd stalls giving places to small vendors and shopkeepers to sell their produce and products. It is a must-go destination in the list because you can find fresh vegetables and fruits to religious items and artworks in this very Central Market of Belo Horizonte. You are allowed to experience in person the hard work every person puts to earn a living in this same place.

Memorial Minas Gerais Vale: The most innovative museum you'll ever come across in this part of the country is Memorial Minas Gerais Vale. You will witness several artefacts and exhibits which highlight all aspects of life here in surprising ways. From portraits of crucial people in Brazil to theatre, culture, and tradition of Brazil, every detailed information about the country is present here. It houses several rooms depicting daily life in the 18th century along with the lives of farmers and small vendors of those times. It is a must-visit tourist spot if you are in Belo Horizonte.

Museo de Mineralogia: It is a Mineralogy Museum in Belo Horizonte, known as Queen of Scrap Ironbuilt in the late 1980s, now holding a rich collection of nearly 3,000 minerals from the mines of Minas Gerais in Brazil and elsewhere around the world. You are allowed to witness only 800 of those minerals on display which includes gold and other metals, emeralds, diamonds, aquamarines, sapphires, topazes, and amethysts. Along with witnessing such precious stones, the museum allows you to explore their uses in person also.

Parque Mangabeiras: Sitting across the steep slope of the Serra do Curral, Parque Mangabeiras is a large park which houses a primaeval forest, several springs, a lake, playing fields, walking, and jogging paths, children's rides, an open-air theatre, and a theatre. From here, you can have a good city view along with enjoying the delicious delicacies made on the spot for every visitor visiting this park. It comes under the top 10 places in Belo Horizonte because it inherits the natural beauty and the aroma around here is worth experiencing.

Oura Preto: 17th and 18th centuries old Oura Preto is a must-visit tourist spot in Belo Horizonte which was once the wealthiest part of the region as it sits on top of the gold mines. This place was full of gold that was used in building ancient buildings and churches at those times. In today's time, you can see the tiny bit of goldwork done on the churches and buildings built in Oura Preto. It is also UNESCO's World Heritage Site; therefore, visitors from worldwide nations come here to see the fantastic work done by the artists of those times.

Inhotim: Inhotim is an artist’s colony where large works and installations are interspersed among colossal shade trees, tropical plants, pools, fountains, and whatnot. It is a showplace for modern sculpture and architecture, making it the most-visited places in the whole of Belo Horizonte. It houses a gallery which showcases smaller sculptures, paintings, videos, and installations where the whole focus of the collection is for the works done by Brazilian and international artists since 1960. You must witness such notable works to enhance the beauty of this capital city of Minas Gerais.

Pampulha Lagoon: Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer created this magnificent Pampulha Lagoon to increase the beauty of the place by creating a splendid building along the banks of the lagoon. Besides this, there is this famous building which is surrounded by beautiful houses and gardens, making it a must-visit spot to cherish the beauty of the place along with exploring other nearby tourists spot, which is: the Dance House, the Saint Francis of Assisi Church, the late-night Clube, and the Pampulha Art Museum.

Sao Francisco de Assis and Lagoa da Pampulha

Explore

Being similar to the tropical version of New York City, Belo Horizonte makes itself worth visiting for every citizen from any country to inherit and enhance the beauty of this capital city of Minas Gerais. Being Brazil’s second-most populous city, it features a mixture of contemporary and classical landmarks and home to several modern Brazilian architectural icons and tourist spots. It is worth visiting as it has a rich culture and tradition, making it a beautiful and peaceful city in the whole of Brazil. Here are some important places you might consider visiting:

City Parks

Home to several landmarks and city parks in the city, Belo Horizonte is a must-visit tourist destination if you’re planning a holiday in Brazil. This city gives you plenty of options to explore in context to city parks. Belo Horizonte houses so many towns and municipal parks that you might even skip most of them. Every garden has its beauty, surroundings, and aroma that will leave you spellbound. Some of the highly-known city parks are as follows:

Parque Municipal

Americo Renne Giannetti Municipal Park

Pampulha Ecological Park

Municipal Park of Mangabeiras

Parque Guanabara

Parque Municipal

National Parks

There are no such national parks in this part of the country. However, Serra do Gandarela National Park is a national park in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. You can visit this national park on your trip to Belo Horizonte as it lies on the way to the capital city. This national park protects the mountainous region holding a remnant of the Atlantic Forest. It is also an essential water source supply in the town of Belo Horizonte.

Beaches

Belo Horizonte houses no beaches because it sits in a land-locked place and is miles away from the sea or ocean. You will need to visit the coastal cities like Rio De Janerio on the South Atlantic coast.

Landmarks

As it's the capital city of the second-most populous state in the country, Belo Horizonte has plenty of tourist spots and landmarks to visit. It is not only home to traditional Brazilian history and culture, but its pure and serene environment leaves visitors no choice than exploring every bit of the city. Housing plenty of essential landmarks in the city, Belo Horizonte puts itself on the list of highly-visited towns of the country. It would be best if you cherished every place you visit to enhance the beauty and respect the culture of this part of the country. Important landmarks you must-see in Belo Horizonte are:

Torre Alta Vila

Cathedral Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem

Igreja Sao Jose

Serra da Moeda

Igreja Batista da Lagoinha

Igreja Sao Jose

Museums

Apart from essential landmarks, this beautiful city will give you another set of genres to know more about Brazilian history. No doubt why this part of the country is the most famous place in Brazil. It is so because it houses several museums of different kinds that explains to you the culture and tradition Brazilian people inherited at ancient times. There is plenty to explore in museums, so plan your trip accordingly to acknowledge every bit of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Some of the very famous museums it houses are:

Museu de Arte

Museu de Artes e Oficios

Museu de Historia Natural

Museu das Minas do Metal

Casa dos Contos

Museu de Arte

Eat

The primary definition of the taste of Belo Horizonte is its rustic and slow-cooked food, where it is all about soul-warming ingredients served in hearty portions. There is no better place than Belo Horizonte for eating the delicious delicacies of Brazilian cuisine. As it's the capital of Brazil's Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte houses excellent restaurants and intriguing markets that capture the region's best cuisines. Some of the best options for traditional food items and street foods can be seen below:

Traditional Local Restaurants

Cantina do Lucas: The restaurant creates a faintly nostalgic setting that clings to its decorations of the past. Cantina do Lucas is a perfect location for tourists from worldwide nations and locals as well to experience its local delicacy, which is made with love and compassion. The chefs here are highly-skilled; hence you will find that the restaurant will provide every bit of what you desire. Must-try dishes include couvert, salada Verde, salada Mista, carpaccio, palmito, and many more.

Xapuri: To experience an authentic taste of Minas Gerais food, Xapuri is a perfect choice for you all to stop by. The entire décor of this Brazilian restaurant gives you a lot of options on the menu to experience the delicious delicacies of the country. Caramelized banana – slow-cooked beef, is a must-have dish if you are in Belo Horizonte. It can be taken with a rice gravy and a pumpkin filled with tender dried meat – a perfect combination to have in this capital city. It is open from 11 am to 3 pm every day (closed on Mondays).

Casa Amora: It is a must-visit restaurant with perfect dining options in the city of Belo Horizonte. While travelling around to explore the city, Casa Amora restaurant is a must-go place to experience a special menu for healthy eating. The restaurant not only provides you with the best food in the city but also allows you to view the hustle-bustle of the city's life. Must-try dishes here include baked sweet potatoes, thick toasted bread with smoked salmon, avocado, and cream cheese. Apart from these, several other traditional food items can blow your mind away with their distinct flavours. You can visit any day except Sundays between 11 am to 2:30 pm.

Mercearia 130: Blessing you with the perfect traditional Brazilian cuisine, Mercearia 130 restaurant in Rua Ivai, gives you the immense pleasure to taste the traditional food with a contemporary twist, mixing Minas Gerais traditions with modern style culture. Must-try dishes include pork ribs with a thick layer of crispy crackling, deep-fried fish with a tangy lemon sauce, fish with risotto, steak tartar, and lots more. Mercearia 130 is open from 11:30 am to 11:30 pm on all days of the week.

Jorge Americano: Jorge Americano allows you to customize the dish according to your tastes and preferences. It is a must-go restaurant in Belo Horizonte to experience the best of traditional Brazilian cuisine. It not only serves you the best Brazilian cuisine in the city but also give you the honour to pay homage to America F.C., a second-division soccer team. The food is as good as the décor of this fantastic restaurant. Feel free to go any day of your trip as it is open from 11 am to 4 pm every day throughout the year.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Taika Izakaya: One of the best vegan places in the city, Taika Izakaya is a must-go restaurant to experience plant-based food with high-quality ingredients and the rich flavour of the Brazilian culture. You can find this restaurant at Rua Juvenal de Melo Senra and is open from 6 pm to 12 am only (opening hours might differ on different days of the week). Must-try dishes include edamame no vapour, rolinho primavera de cosgumelos e, legumes em Folha de Arroz, and many more.

Bistro Indiano: Bistro Indiano is an Indian restaurant in Belo Horizonte, serving you the best of traditional vegan Brazilian food as well as the taste of Indian culture too. The average starting price of the dishes is from R$60 onwards, hence a very cheap restaurant in the city to have vegan food. You must try sabzi samosa, paneer makhani, and kheer if you are new to the town.

Bistro Villa Rica: Bistro Villa Rica is a local restaurant in Belo Horizonte, serving the best vegan food in this part of the country. You can find this restaurant in Avenue Fleming open from 7 pm to 11 pm every day (timings may differ). The restaurant gives you a cosy environment with perfect décor and lightings, giving you a home-like feeling in Brazil. Must-try dishes include crepe de bacalhau, crepe Caprese, crepe champignon, and many more.

San Ro: Famous for the best Taiwanese cuisines, San Ro restaurant in Rua Professor Moraes, is a must-go vegan restaurant in Belo Horizonte. The restaurant serves you the best of vegetarian and vegan dishes with rich quality flavours of plants and herbs. It is open from 11 am to 3 pm on all days of the week except Sundays. Must-try dishes include pad thai satai Krung tep, pad thai sam roas, pad see ew, Panang curry, and many more.

Nascente um Gosto de Sol: If you want to taste the delicious vegan delicacies of traditional Brazilian culture, Nascente restaurant is a perfect choice to stop by. The restaurant not only provides you with the best vegan food in the city but also allow you to indulge in the traditional culture of Belo Horizonte. Nascente is open on all days of the week except Sundays from 8 am to 6 pm. It would be best if you visit this place to experience the best vegan dishes made with local plants and herbs which are fully nourished and full of vitamins.

Street Food

Acaraje being served in Belo Horizonte

Acaraje: You have to try Acaraje if you are in Belo Horizonte. It is the most famous Brazilian street food that consists of peeled beans, deep-fried in dende palm oil, and stuffing done with flavorful spicy pastes made from cashews, shrimp, and palm oil. In general, Acaraje represents an excellent example of African influences in shaping Brazil's culinary identity and its cultural heritage.

Coxinha: Coxinha is a crispy croquette filled with chicken and creamy cheese that came into existence in the 19th century. Coxinha is popular street food in Belo Horizonte, now become one of the popular savoury appetizers across the country. It's a cheap street food found anywhere from Brazilian snack bars, cafés to street food stalls.

Churrasco: It is a Brazilian barbeque where juicy pieces, steaks, slices, pork, and chicken are placed on a skewer and grilled over fire. The best barbeque dish you'll ever have in the entire Belo Horizonte and can be found anywhere on the local streets of the city.

Mocoto: Mocoto is a popular street food made from cow's feet, vegetables, and beans. It is wildly popular in the north-eastern and southern parts of Brazil. If you are in Belo Horizonte, you must try Mocoto once in your entire trip to this part of the country. You will not regret the taste and flavour of this street food and will probably cherish it forever.

Drink

The capital city of Minas Gerais houses more than 9,500 bars. For alcohol lovers, Belo Horizonte is a perfect destination to drink varieties of alcohol drinks along with local homemade wines. There are significant numbers of bars in easily accessible locations for experiencing tasty and creative libations in the city. Apart from these, you can also enjoy other varieties such as:

Homemade Fruit Juices

Whiskeys

Root Beers

Coconut Waters

Tap-water

Tap water in Belo Horizonte is safe to drink according to the reports by the World Health Organization (WHO). The water here goes through various levels of purification – filtered, sterilized, P.H. controlled and fluoridated. Hence, it is safe to drink tap water even though if you're a visitor, and you can rely on tap waters for your daily hygienic needs and drinking purposes. But still, for your safety, you must ensure the water safety consents wherever you're staying.

Organic Cafés

Odara Café e Officios

Academia do Café

oop café

Intelligenza

Sterna Café

Café com Letras

Breweries

Prototype Bar

Refazenda Bar and Restaurant

Laicos

MeetMe at the Yard

Jangal

Pajubar

A Obra

Activities

Activities are actions that everyone loves to perform. They help us to create memories and makes our body more active. You not only enjoy activities but also get to learn something from it. You can gain knowledge by visiting museums about various elements including nature, artefacts, ancient life of people, different inventions, and many more. It also helps you to connect with people very efficiently.

Visit Waterfalls

Visit Museums

Celebrate Cultural festivals

Play Soccer

Visit Beaches

Yoga and Retreats

Yoga and retreats are places where yoga is taught. There are many yoga studios available in this city because people living in this city are very much concerned about their health. You can take membership in one of these studios, which gives you membership monthly to enjoy the expertise of various trainers. There are many publically accessed parks where you can perform yoga if you know the methods very well. Yoga keeps your mind and body healthy by reducing stress, and providing activeness to your body.

Yoga Integral Belo Horizonte

Casa Yoga

Brahma Kumaris

Satyananda Yoga Center

Vid Yoga

Jai Life Integral Yoga Center

Instituto EntreSer

Casa Gaura - Yoga, Templo e Culinária Vegana

Accommodation

Various options are available in this city because the tourism rates are gradually increasing, which forced many entrepreneurs to open accommodation options like hotels, resorts, and many more. The four categories of accommodations are Green hotels, apartments, Hostels & Guesthouses, and Camping. Whichever you choose, you must focus on being eco-friendly because this city is dealing with moderate pollution in which tourism plays an important role; therefore, you must not contribute to raising the pollution rate.

Green Hotels

Green hotels are hotels certified by a state regulatory body. These hotels are specialized in adopting eco-friendly measures to a maximum level; therefore, these hotels get the most preferences from tourists. They use solar and wind energy as their sources of electricity. Also, the cosmetics, including soap and shampoo, are made up of organic elements; the towels and bed sheet also consists of natural fabrics. You can get facilities like free wi-fi, parking area, room service, premium security, and many more.

Royal Savassi Boutique Hotel

Hotel Fasano Belo Horizonte

Mercure Belo Horizonte Lourdes Hotel

Quality Hotel Lourdes - Belo Horizonte

Normandy Hotel

Ouro Minas Palace Hotel

BHB Hotel

Hostels and Guest Houses

Hostel and guesthouses are best for the solo traveller because these allow only necessary facilities including complimentary breakfast in some of the hostels. Hostels are more eco-friendly as compared to hotels. There are many merits of staying in hostels and guesthouses as it will help you in socializing with different people in hotels. It will help you in making new friends so you won't feel lonesome even if you are travelling alone. While living in a hostel or guesthouse, you will be able to familiar with the foreign city.

Pampulha Green Hostel

B.R. Hostel

Samba Rooms Hostel

Hostel Jussa

Hostel B.H.

Rock! and Hostel

Hostel Trem de Minas

Vila Paris Pousada

Inn of Virtues

B.H. Adventure Guest House

Moradia do Parque

Apartments

Apartments are best when you want to stay for long like a month or more, with necessary facilities. The benefits of apartments are that you have to do all household work, including cleaning floors, utensils, and many more by yourself which will help you in becoming independent. Security guards and cameras best accompany the security which these apartments provide. Many of the flats allow various facilities including fitness centres like Gyms, swimming pools, different indoor sports hall. Hotels and hostels would rarely offer these facilities.

Apartamento 3 Quartos em Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte

Flat Horizonte

Ed Belo Horizonte

Edifício Villa Madrid

Living Savassi - Monterre

Adhara Fine Residence

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing means staying at someone's house in foreign cities for free, and in exchange, you can help in their daily household works. It is the most pocket-friendly option to stay in, which will help you in saving a lot of money. Other such benefits of Couchsurfing are that you open up with locals who may help you in gaining in-depth knowledge about the city you are staying, including the safety, minor regular scams, and many other tourist attractions. In this city, Couchsurfing is possible, but the crime rates are high which states that this city is not safe for trusting any stranger and staying in, on the same way the locals also do not believe tourists so easily. It is the reason why Couchsurfing is not as trendy as it is in other metropolitan cities in Brazil.

Camping

Camping will be best only if you love to stay under a night sky full of stars and a moon. There are various camping sites available where you can bring up your camping equipment. You can enjoy calm winds, the night sky, and nature which will give you a better sleep. You must bring safety pieces of equipment like mosquito repellent cream because in the summer season there are a lot of mosquitos and other insects which may cause skin damage. Other than this, it would be best if you avoided the rainy season because the weather becomes too harsh to stay outside in a temporary tent. Winters often requires a bonfire because it can get cold out in the jungle or other open areas of camping.

M.J. Camping Conserto

Vamos Acampar BH

Camping Raizes

Sea & Nautical

B.H. Pesca

Motorhomes campgrounds

Rancho Encontro dos Pescadores Turismo e Pesca

How to Get There

There is no direct way to reach Belo Horizonte. Among all indirect ways, the fastest in the airways but for that, you must be present to the selected cities outside Brazil.

Air

The Airport in this city is called Belo Horizonte International Airport. It is a primary International Airport which was established in 1984. It was formerly known as Tancredo Neves International Airport which was kept after the president of Brazil. The elevation of this Airport is 827. In 2009, browser up-gradation plan with cost 180 US dollar millions was done to this Airport. This up-gradation was done because of the 2014 Fifa World Cup. That development in world parking extension of runway construction of taxiway improvement of cargo terminal and renovation of the passenger terminal. These airports are not connected with many of the cities, the cities which are connected to this city are Panama, Rio de Janeiro, Campinas, Cuba, and many more. So people living nearby Brazil won't feel any problem, but if people living in Asia want to visit, you have to take an indirect flight to Brazil.

Inside the Belo Horizonte International Airport

Bus

There are intercity buses which travel from this city to other nearby towns. The buses are air-conditioned and well maintained, which enhances your journey experience. You will find many charging sockets next to every seat so that in case of emergency or if you want to set your appliances you can easily do it free of cost. The ticket prices are usually low. As soon as you reach the bus terminal, you will find that the payment of bus fare can be made in three types. Those are - pay direct cash to the counter. Second is by the machines which are replaced near the entrance gate, and you can even enquire for the ticket booth if you are not able to find it. The third is the eco-friendly way to book a ticket for an intercity tour. You can book an intercity bus through the app, and an e-ticket will be sent to you. It is an indirect way to reach the city because the bus network is limited to the nearest cities.

A bus in Belo Horizonte

Train

This city has an intercity train network that runs across many cities. This area was privatized between 1996 to 1999. The trains have furnished sofas to sit or sleep and the ticket can either be bought at the ticket counter or can be extracted from the ticket booth. The train is accompanied by canteen or pantry cars from where snacks and other beverages can be bought if you have not brought your own. Other than this, a train trip gives you a fantastic experience of various nature sceneries, including farms, mountains, and water. Intercity trains are also an indirect way to travel to this city because the trains run across many cities within the country, so you have to be present in this country to take a train trip.

Train passing in Belo Horizonte

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is possible in the city, but the crime rates are at a scale from moderate to high, which is very dangerous for any hitchhiker to believe in any local stranger. Hitchhiking means asking for a free ride from the person going on the same way. Sometimes you might be lucky if you got any genuine helper because most of the time the tourist have a complaint of being robbed while asking for a free ride, therefore, it is advised that you must be cautious.

Others

The other ways to reach the city are by hiring a taxi or a motorcycle. This city is already dealing with moderate-scale pollution; therefore being a responsible traveller, you must not contribute to it. The carbon emissions from the smoke of engine cars pollute the air increasing the amount of carbon monoxide in it. An increase in the use of taxis and motorcycles increases traffic which increases noise pollution. However, many taxi scams happen regularly to tourists; therefore, it is advised that you must use a taxi with genuine cab services only in case of emergency.

Moving Around

Moving around by walking in this city is not considered safe at night because of the crime rate. It would be best if you tried other means of transport which are budget-friendly and are quick.

Walk

The area of the city is more massive, making it impossible to cover by foot. Therefore if you are walking intending to visit the entire city or to the tourist attractions, then you will end up being disappointed. Walking is good for health as it helps us to remain fit and provides activeness to the body, which will be required throughout the day. Walking is also considered eco-friendly as walking can be used in visiting the nearest supermarkets, markets, grocery stores, or departmental stores. Walking does not increase carbon emission rather than it reduces carbon footprints. Many parks and gardens are present across the city for public use to walk around for a morning or evening walk. Walking alone at night is not considered safe in this city because the crime rates are high.

Bicycle

There are many bicycle rental shops available in this city which rents bike at a minimal cost of $5 for one or two hours. You can purchase a membership card which comes with various complimentary services like discounts. Several tracks are converted for cycling, and the government of the city is also promoting a healthy life. The street's streets look almost the same, and you can get confused or lost. To avoid this, you must carry a mobile phone with you for maps. If you are visiting the city in the summers, it is advised that whenever you start cycling, you must be appropriately hydrated. There is a lot of traffic in this city; therefore, you must avoid going to too many busy roads as it will increase the chance of you getting an accident.

Electronic Vehicles

Electric vehicles are present in a smaller quantity, but the government is planning for further expansion of these vehicles because of the increasing pollution. Electric cars are pollution-free as they do not emit any form of smoke and the engine is completely noise-free.

Public Bus

Public Buses are blue colour buses which run across the city. There are many private companies which have their public buses, therefore creating competition in prices. The prices are comparatively low that start from $1. Buses have an extensive network in this city and are the most efficient mode of moving around Belo Horizonte.

Tram, Train and Subway

Belo Horizonte Metro is the railway system serving this city. The station has an area of 28.1 kilometres with 19 stations and serves around 1,60,000 passengers per day. The metro was first opened in 1986, and at that time it covered only 10.8 kilometres of length with six stations out of which three were operational.

Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping includes products that affect the environment and health on a positive side. These products are made up of eco-friendly measures. The energy which is required to produce these products are renewable. The products are human-made which requires immense labour, thus, creating employment opportunities. It is the reason why the prices are lower than standard products because the energy is renewable and does not costs much. These products also reduce pollution, including soil pollution. Buying sustainable products also makes you a responsible tourist and reduces your carbon footprints during your tour.

Food Markets

The food markets in this city are top-rated. You can try various local foods which are freshly made by them. These food markets maintain hygiene and cleanliness. You will find dustbins in every food market stall.

Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte

Quitanda Savassi

Clara Frutas

Pomar da Serra

Almeida Atacarejo

Mercado Popular da Lagoinha

Global Hortfuti

Flea Markets

A flea market is a local seasonal market where small vendors can sell second-hand products. The vendors of the flea market here are of two types, including part-time and full-time. Part-time vendors are those who do this as a hobby or to earn a secondary source of money, the variety of these stalls are relatively low, but they do not bargain much. The second type is the ones who don't sell for hobby or primary instead; they have this business as their primary income. Therefore, they keep a wide variety of products. These three are the most famous flea markets.

Hippie Fair

Roca Capital

Tom Jobim Street Market

Second Hand Stores

Second-hand stores are stores where all the products which are already used by someone are sold. There are many benefits to buying second-hand products because they are usually very low priced; therefore, this makes it worth buying. These products reduce the use of energy because the production of new products requires a lot of energy including electricity, heat, and others which gets reduced if we buy second-hand products, same happens with the raw material. It saves a considerable land which would be required in the dumping of it in a landfill.

Du Acervo

Brechó Nossa Senhora de Lourdes

Dorotea Brechó

Brechó Canindé

Ludot Boutique Brechó de Luxo

Dona Joaquina Brechó

Brechó Anna Cabral

Eco-Fashion

Eco-fashion means buying fashion clothes made with eco-friendly measures. Buying eco-friendly products reduce the number of pesticides which might be required in cloth farming. It also reduces toxic waste, which mainly includes several dyes that are needed to colour clothes. Even the maintenance of these clothes helps you to become eco friendly as it requires clothes to be washed in cold water, no chemicals are needed to clean it; therefore, it reduces your carbon footprints. The quality of these products is comparatively higher because natural fabrics are hard to extract. There are many eco-fashion stores available throughout the city.

ECO'S BRECHÓ

Positiva

Farm

Dress To

Boutique Morena Chic

Polo Wear

Recycling

Recycling involves reusing the product, which is of use in different ways. It involves three steps – collection and processing, manufacturing, and selling. Collection and processing involve the collection of various items that can be easily recycled, including glass, tin, steel, plastic, paper, and many more. These items are collected and divided into their respective category. Processing involves various treatments which are done to clean the items. Manufacturing is the second phase, where items are treated and are given new forms. They are manufactured in different ways like steel is melted and converted into soda cans and other such containers. Glasses are softened and are adjoined together to create one large piece of it. The third phase is selling, which involves selling products in the market. You will find that recycling is eco friendly as it reduces the energy which would have required to make a new product.

Waste

Around 47 per cent of locals are dissatisfied with the garbage disposal, which clearly shows that the waste management policies of this city are not good enough. The government needs to come with new rules and guidelines to control waste management. For this, they must install dustbins at various public places so that no one throws garbage on the roads. Many of the people are spotted throwing litter along the river coast and in the river too. However, the government has implemented strict rules regarding polluting the river. Waste requires a massive landform in which all the garbage is collectively dumped. It creates land and air pollution because of its toxic smell. Waste if not kept to the dumping ground, can cause various diseases like yellow fever and many more.

Work and Study Abroad

For working in abroad, you must have in-depth knowledge of the city, and you must be excellent in your education. There are many job vacancies available for all types of jobs. Due to the increase in the tourism industry, many job vacancies, including English speaking guides and many more are available in Belo Horizonte. Studying in a foreign country will help you in becoming independent. You will have to do all your household work, including cleaning and washing on your own. It also allows in getting familiar with other students who come to this city or are locally present there.

Exchange Student

An exchange student is a program in which students who are good in education are sent to partner colleges in different countries or states. There is a university in this city which offers this type of program. You have to be excellent in your studies, and your name must be on the merit list issued by the state government. You learn many things while studying abroad, including various native and national languages.

Au Pair

Au Pair is a foreign individual who takes care of a child and in exchange, asks to stay in the family's house. You can find au pair jobs in Belo Horizonte, but due to the crime rates going on a moderate scale, you must present yourself safe and friendly. The locals here do not believe strangers so fast; therefore, you need to build the trust.

Volunteering

Volunteering options are available in many NGOs which are active throughout the year helping and providing knowledge and teaching to needy children. These are active in various awareness areas like environment protection, human rights, education, labour laws, domestic violence, etc.

Instituto Boitatá

CIAToxMg

Alessandro Alcantara

Instituto B.H. Futuro

Clarosofia Núcleo Mundial-CNM

Movimento Nossa B.H.

Ponto Terra