Lapinha da Serra is a small village at the foot of Pico da Lapinha, one of the highest peaks of Serra do Cipó, a beautiful mountainous region, about 150km from Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais. If you decide to go by bus, the company Saritur has some options to go to Santana do Riacho, from there you have to hitchhike or hire a transfer. The other option is to rent a car, but towards the end, you’ll reach a small stretch of dirt road, so be ready for a lot of dust and a bit of adventure!
The best season to visit Lapinha is out of the rainy season. Between December and March we do not recommend to go there, because it could be a little bit dangerous to visit the waterfalls at this period.
On our last trip to Lapinha, we rented a house in Sítio Jatobá, a complex with 4 very comfortable and cozy houses for you to enjoy your stay in the region. The little center of the town is walking distance from the house (about 20 minutes, access by a trail) and it’s where you will find markets, restaurants, and is the main access to the trails that surround the area.
The main attraction in Lapinha are the waterfalls. Since we wanted to enjoy the house and the beautiful Sítio Jatobá, we did only one trail during our days there (we already want to go back to do other!). We chose the Rapel Waterfall, which is the highest waterfall in the village. It sits inside a private area, so you have to pay a R$ 15 fee per person to access the trail. The climb is for moderate to advanced hikers, and you have to be very careful with all the rocks, but it’s definitely worthwhile! The place is beautiful and great for spending the day and swimming.
During our stay, we also heard a lot about the Bicame Waterfall and Lajeado, both are more distant from the village (and do not require a fee to get to), so be prepared for a longer trail. Bicame’s waterfall has a trail that could be done by car. At Lapinha you can find some transfers that do this service (or we can help you to find one!). To go to Lajeado’s waterfall you can pick the main trail at the village (next to the center), the same trail the we did to go to Rapel’s waterfall, and walk for 11km.
Other famous trail is Lapinha x Tabuleiro crossing, a 40km – the route lasts 3 days and we can help you organize this trip, which connects the highest peak of Minas Gerais to the third highest waterfall of Brazil, passing through incredible landscapes. During the route, you can find camping spots and homes that serve as rest stops. This journey requires hiring a guide and safety insurance.
Need help planning your trip to Lapinha? Contact us!
