It’s not easy to get to the middle of nowhere. After a trip of 80 km from Belo Horizonte to Ipoema, the asphalt road changes into a dirt road that is very hard to travel on. You finally arrive in Pousada Cachoeira, after conquering 17 kilometers on that dirt road.
It is a hidden gem avant la lettre, only known by a loyal fan base from Minas Gerais.
1. To do and see in Ipoema
2. Stay over in Ipoema
1. To do and see around Ipoema
A few decorated crosses adorn the roadside. They are signposts to the local church. Hikers on a pilgrimage can confirm this. It’s a trip of several kilometers. Once you arrive at the top of the Morro Redondo, you are rewarded with a grand view of the beautiful scenery of Ipoema.
The church, the view, the silence, and the violet light of the setting sun make the spot virtually spiritual. Two Brazilian boys smoke weed there, but it’s not necessary. The spot is already hallucinatory.
2. Stay over in Ipoema
You only pay 57 euros a night for one of the spacious double rooms (including breakfast). And that’s a good deal if you realize that it includes a private waterfall. Most of the time, you don’t have to share this with anyone else. The pousada was built in a deserted nature preserve, only shared with an occasional farm.
Don’t be surprised if you encounter wandering livestock. The ecological park Mata do Limoeiro is at a thirteen-kilometer distance from Ipoema. With even more waterfalls, for those who cannot get enough of it.
