Caparaó National Park: a practical guide
Caparaó National Park straddles the border between Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais and is home to Pico da Bandeira, at 2,892 m Brazil's third-highest point. On the Espírito Santo side, the entrance is the Pedra Menina gate in Dores do Rio Preto — 1.5 km from Pousada Alto das Colinas.
Updated September 2026
The entrances
The entrances
Staying in Pedra Menina, you enter through the Pedra Menina gate, in Dores do Rio Preto, and continue to Casa Queimada — the trailhead for Pico da Bandeira. The park has other gates that generic guides mention more often — Alto Caparaó, on the Minas Gerais side, and Ibitirama, also in Espírito Santo — but neither is the entrance for guests staying here. The Pedra Menina gate is 1.5 km from the inn.
Beyond Pico da Bandeira
Beyond Pico da Bandeira
If you're staying more than a day, the Caparaó range holds other mountaineering routes — Pico do Calçado and Pico do Cristal — plus the region's waterfalls and crystal-clear natural pools, of which Cachoeira Bonita is the best known.
This is also coffee country: the towns around the park grow internationally awarded specialty coffees.
Planning
Planning
The best time to visit is May to August, when the weather is drier and colder. The park is run by ICMBio — check the official channels for visiting rules, tickets and booking before your trip.
This is mountain country: nights are cold, especially in winter, even when the day is sunny. Real cold-weather gear is not overkill — and at the inn, every suite has heated sheets.
The base on the Espírito Santo side
The base on the Espírito Santo side
Pousada Alto das Colinas is 1.5 km from the Pedra Menina gate and 9.9 km (a 23-minute drive) from Casa Queimada. Ten double suites with breakfast included, served from 7:30 to 10:00 am — and parking included in the rate.