Furnas: A guide to your stay

When planning a trip to Furnas, it is worth distinguishing the town itself from places in the municipality of São José da Barra. Ways to find your bearings include a road access over the dam, local crafts, and specific addresses in Furnas; the municipality also has places associated with Lago de Furnas, wildlife watching, viewpoints, cycling, and diving. If you are looking for a hotel in Furnas, first decide whether you mainly want to visit the town or also include places elsewhere in the municipality.

Getting to Furnas and finding your way around

A 9.1 km route on the MG-050 runs over the dam of the Furnas Hydroelectric Power Plant and serves as an access road to Bairro de Furnas. The Bairro is also known as Vila dos Operários and Núcleo Residencial de Furnas. If you come across any of these names while planning, they all refer to the same Bairro. Check current road conditions before setting out.

Lago de Furnas and the municipality

Lago de Furnas was formed when the Rio Grande was dammed following construction of the Furnas Hydroelectric Power Plant. In the municipality of São José da Barra, the lake extends along the northern and eastern parts of the municipality and has several access points. If the lake is part of your plans, choose an access point that suits the area you want to visit. The lake’s name alone does not determine which specific place to visit.

Local crafts and addresses in Furnas

Souvenirs and crafts made by women artisans from São José da Barra are available in Furnas. Two craft shops are on Rua Ilicínea: Associação das Artesãs at number 561 and Vivenda do Rio at number 361. This lets you distinguish between a general interest in local crafts and two specifically named shop addresses. If you plan to visit either shop, check in advance whether it is open.

Another named place in Furnas is Muro dos escravos, at Rua Boa Esperança, s/nº. If you include this place in your plans, check access arrangements before visiting. The address provides a specific starting point, but the name alone does not indicate what the place is like.

Cycling, nature watching, and viewpoints

In the municipality of São José da Barra, XCO Furnas EcoBike is a public cycling trail for XCO circuits ranging from 6 to 20 km. The stated range can help you compare the route lengths with your plans. Before riding, check which circuit is suitable for your visit.

Other places in the municipality differ mainly in what they offer. Vale dos Tucanos is an area by Lago de Furnas in São José da Barra associated with wildlife watching. Mirante da Usina Hidrelétrica de Furnas is a viewpoint in the municipality associated with sightseeing and taking in the view. Cidade Submersa Barra Velha is identified with Lago de Furnas in São José da Barra and associated with diving. Nature watching, viewpoints, and diving are therefore distinct interests. Choose a place that suits your plans and check access in advance; if you plan to dive, also check current conditions.

Finding a hotel in Furnas

If you are looking for a hotel in Furnas, use the town as your search destination and compare the specific accommodation address with the places you want to visit. If you are including places elsewhere in the municipality of São José da Barra, plan your visits based on where each place is located, rather than relying only on the name of the lake or viewpoint.

Discover more destinations: Pocinhos Do Rio Verde, Sabará, Tupacyguara, Guaxupé, Machado, Nova Ponte, Guanhães, Simão Pereira

For the regional travel overview: Minas Gerais.