Gruta da Lapinha
A limestone cave near Lagoa Santa, with spectacular stalactite curtains. The surrounding area is the archaeological site where the Danish scholar Peter Lund discovered ancient human remains.
Gruta da Lapinha is in Lagoa Santa, about 45 kilometers north of Belo Horizonte. The guided route is about 500 meters long and passes through several halls of stalactites. Its curtain-like flowstone formations are the most famous. This karst area is where the 19th-century Danish naturalist Peter Lund studied South American fossils. Nearby, he uncovered Luzia, one of the oldest human skeletons found in the Americas. Guides lead tours inside the cave, which is generally open Tuesday through Sunday. You can also explore the lakeside town of Lagoa Santa.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 09:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- Pampulha Lake & Modern Ensemble
- Pampulha Art Museum
- Casa do Baile
- Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Pampulha)
- Belo Horizonte Zoo-Botanical Park
- Mineirão Stadium
- Praça da Estação & Museum of Arts and Crafts
- Sabará