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Back to Passos

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Voykit pocket guide · Brazil

Passos

Passos is a working town, not a destination: stop for a night on a Southern Minas road trip, or skip it for Capitólio and São Thomé das Letras.

Passos is a mid-sized city in Southern Minas Gerais, known for its parties and as a base for exploring the region's waterfalls and canyons. Most travellers pass through on the way to Capitólio or São Thomé das Letras, spending a night at most. The town itself has a few churches and a lively bar scene, but the real draws are the surrounding nature.

AbadiâniaAçailândiaAfonso CláudioÁguas de LindóiaÁguas de São PedroAlagoinhasAlcântaraAlter do ChãoAlto Paraíso de GoiásAmparoAngra dos ReisAntoninaAparecidaAquirazPassos1,000 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Brazil
Best months
Apr–Sep (dry, mild)
Avoid
Dec–Feb (hot, rainy)
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$80–120 excl. bed · Mid R$150–250 excl. bed · High R$300+ 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

ItemPrice
CoffeeR$5–8
Lunch (prato feito)R$20–35
Beer (long neck)R$8–12
5 km (3.1 mi) taxiR$20–30
Bus to CapitólioR$31 (check)

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

check · Passos Airport
Small regional airport, 5 km (3.1 mi) from centre; limited flights. Nearest major: Ribeirão Preto or Belo Horizonte.

Typical fares

Bus Belo Horizonte → Passos
about R$96–130, 4–5 h (check)
Bus Passos → Capitólio
about R$31, 1 h (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

The centre is walkable. For waterfalls and the canyon, you need a car or a tour. Buses connect to Capitólio and Belo Horizonte.

See and do

Known for

  • Parties and nightlife
  • Gateway to Furnas Canyon
  • Coffee and dairy farms

Day trips

WhereHowTime
CapitólioBus (Expresso Gardenia) about 1 h, or drive 70 km (43 mi)About 1.5 h
São Thomé das LetrasDrive about 1 h 30 minAbout 2 h
Belo HorizonteBus about 4–5 hAbout 5 h

Sleep

Centre
Walking distance to bars and restaurants; limited options.
Near MG-050
Practical for a stopover; more chain hotels.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloOláoh-LAH
Thank youObrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo
How much?Quanto custa?KWAN-too KOOS-tah
Where is the bathroom?Onde fica o banheiro?ON-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

  • Check bus times in advance; night buses may be limited.
  • Parties can get loud; ask about noise before booking.
  • Driving at night outside town is not recommended.

Passos is generally safe, but keep an eye on your belongings in crowded bars and avoid walking alone late at night.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Passos yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Parties and nightlife
  • Gateway to Furnas Canyon
  • Coffee and dairy farms

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Passos

Para este endereço, por favor

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

US consulate in Rio or São Paulo; embassies in Brasília.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/passos). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.