In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
São Thomé das Letras
Spend 1–2 days in São Thomé das Letras: explore the stone church, pyramid house, waterfalls and UFO‑spotting cross.
São Thomé das Letras is a small mountain town in Southern Minas Gerais, known for its quirky rock formations, historic churches and UFO‑watching spot. Most visitors fit the highlights into a single day, but an extra night lets you hike to the nearby waterfalls and enjoy the relaxed night‑life.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (check)
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (rain, check)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
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$250–400 excl. bed · High R$400+ 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$5–8 |
| Meal (regional cuisine) | R$20–35 |
| Pizza (wood‑oven) | R$30–45 |
| Waterfall entrance (if any) | R$5–10 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CNF · Belo Horizonte/Confins International Airport
- Bus or carpool to town about 2 h 30 min (check)
Typical fares
- Belo Horizonte → São Thomé das Letras, bus
- about R$115, 2 h 30 min (check)
- Taxi town centre → Véu de Noiva waterfall
- ≈ R$30, 5 km (3.1 mi) (check)≈ R$30, 3.1 mi (5 km) (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 town centre is walkable; most attractions are reachable on foot or by short taxi rides (≈5 km (3.1 mi)). No public transport within town.The town centre is walkable; most attractions are reachable on foot or by short taxi rides (≈3.1 mi (5 km)). No public transport within town.
See and do
Known for
- Stone Church (Igreja da Pedra)
- Pyramid House (Casa da Pirâmide)
- UFO cross (Cruzeiro)
- Waterfalls (Véu de Noiva, Shangrilá)
- Rock formations (a Bruxa)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Luminárias | Bus from Belo Horizonte to Três Corações, then local minibus; total ≈2 h | ≈2 h |
| Caxambu | Bus to Três Corações, then local minibus; ≈2 h | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- Pousada Shangrilá
- Simple rooms, near Shangrilá waterfall; good for budget travelers.
- Pousada das Estrelas
- Central location, basic amenities.
- Pousada Alpha Centauris
- Mid‑range, close to Pyramid House.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Com licençakohm lee-sah |
| Thank you | Obrigadoob-ree-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 bahn-yay-roh |
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
- Roads are steep and winding; drive carefully, especially after rain.
- Some waterfalls lack signage; ask locals for safe paths.
Generally safe for tourists; watch for steep roads after rain and keep valuables secure in crowded markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for São Thomé das Letras yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Stone Church (Igreja da Pedra)
- Pyramid House (Casa da Pirâmide)
- UFO cross (Cruzeiro)
- Waterfalls (Véu de Noiva, Shangrilá)
- Rock formations (a Bruxa)
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: São Thomé das Letras, revision 4686927 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4686927
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sao-thome-das-letras). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.