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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Caxambu
Spend 1–2 days in Caxambu: one night, visit the mineral water park and the neogothic church, then head to Poços de Caldas.
Caxambu is a small spa town in Southern Minas Gerais, known for 12 mineral springs and a historic church. It’s best explored in a short stay with a night in a local hotel.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$150–250 excl. bed · Mid R$250–350 excl. bed · High R$350–500 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | R$4–6 |
| Meal at a modest restaurant | R$20–35 |
| Bottle of mineral water (500 ml) | R$3–5 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | R$30–45 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CNF · Belo Horizonte/Tancredo Neves International Airport
- ≈2 h 30 min by car via BR‑381; main gateway for Southern Minas Gerais
- GRU · São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport
- ≈3 h 30 min by car via BR‑381/BR‑354; alternative for international arrivals
Typical fares
- Taxi town centre → water park
- about R$30 one‑way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; taxis are available for trips to the water park (≈5 km (3.1 mi)).Town is walkable; taxis are available for trips to the water park (≈3.1 mi (5 km)).
See and do
Known for
- Lysandro Guimarães Water Park (12 mineral springs)
- Igreja de Santa Isabel da Hungria (neogothic church)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Poços de Caldas | BR‑354 north, about 30 min by car | ≈45 min |
| São Lourenço | BR‑354 north‑west, about 45 min by car | ≈1 h |
| São Thomé das Letras | BR‑354 north, then local roads, ≈1 h 15 min | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Fazenda Vale Formoso
- Rural hotel, 8 km (5 mi) north of town centre.Rural hotel, 5 mi (8 km) north of town centre.
- Glória
- Central location on Av. Camilo Soares.
- Hotel Caxambu
- On Rua Major Penha, near main square.
- Palace
- R. Doutor Viotti, convenient for walking.
- União
- Av. João Pessoa, close to shops.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Com licençakohm lee‑zahn‑ah |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh‑bree‑gah‑doo |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?kwahn‑toh koos‑tah |
| Where is the bathroom? | Onde fica o banheiro?ohn‑jee fee‑kah oo bah‑nyay‑roo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited public transport; plan taxi or rental.
- Water park may have seasonal closures – check ahead.
Generally safe for tourists; stay alert at night in isolated areas and keep valuables secure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Caxambu yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lysandro Guimarães Water Park (12 mineral springs)
- Igreja de Santa Isabel da Hungria (neogothic church)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Caxambu, revision 5295062 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5295062
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/caxambu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.