Buritis: Waterfalls, local history and local products

Buritis can be explored through several distinct highlights: waterfalls and springs, the origin of the town’s name, and the local production of goods and cachaça. When planning your trip, distinguishing between these can help you decide which aspect matters most to you. You can then search for a hotel in Buritis based on a specific interest while also taking in more than one side of the destination.

Waterfalls and springs in Buritis

There are more than 42 waterfalls in the municipality of Buritis; this number may change as additional waterfalls are documented. One specifically named waterfall is Cachoeira da Barriguda II, in the community of Barriguda II. It is approximately 120 meters high. The number refers to the municipality, while the approximate height applies to this particular waterfall.

The springs also connect Buritis to the wider region. The springs in the municipality and surrounding region are part of the Rio São Francisco basin; some of the river’s springs are located in Buritis. While the number of waterfalls describes the local scale, the basin places the springs in a broader hydrological context.

The name Buritis and the veredas

The name Buritis also offers a way to understand the landscape. Buritis got its name because the village was located beside Veredinha, where numerous buriti palms grew in flooded, marshy areas. These areas are called veredas; veredas are also mentioned in Guimarães Rosa’s book Grande Sertão: Veredas. The story behind the name thus connects Buritis to the palms and landscape of the veredas. For travelers who enjoy learning where a place name comes from, it offers a specific cultural connection alongside the natural landscape.

Local production and cachaça

Buritis also has a local production scene. The Laticínios Buritis factory makes more than 40 products under its own brands. Cachaça Urucuiana is made at Fazenda HB and is considered one of the country’s most sought-after cachaças. The two examples differ in form: the factory represents a range of own-brand products, while Urucuiana focuses on a single named product. For travelers choosing a destination where local production matters, these producers and products offer concrete points of interest.

Minas Gerais in a broader context

Minas Gerais provides a further, explicitly state-wide context. In the state, 94 protected areas safeguard almost two million hectares across the three biomes of the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga. Tourism is established in 17 natural parks in Minas Gerais. Two cultural traditions in Minas Gerais are also recognized as Brazilian cultural heritage: the craft of bell ringers and the artisanal production of Minas cheese. Travelers can experience the state’s cultural and historical heritage, nature and gastronomy throughout Minas Gerais.

Discover more destinations: Moeda, Itaguara, São Domingos do Prata, Peçanha, Pratápolis, Padre Paraíso, Lagoa Dourada, Carmo de Minas

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.