Belo Horizonte and Ouro Preto

Some cities get all the love. Paris. Rome. London. New York. Then there’s Tokyo, Milan, Los Angeles, Rio. But what about all those uncovered, undiscovered gems just waiting to be embraced? What about all those hidden treasures that offer travelers an exceptional escape, only you never knew this place existed? Well, dear travel enthusiast, that’s all about to change.

Sometimes intrepid explorers shed light on previously unknown destinations. But for me, learning about a lovely little place in Brazil was thanks to American Airlines’ recent expansion of its service into some of South America’s lesser-known cities. Starting last fall, American began serving Belo Horizonte, Salvador de Bahia and Recife, all from their hub in Miami.

American Airlines to Belo Horizonte
I was lucky enough to be on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Belo Horizonte, on a Boeing 767-300, which boasted 30 fabulous business class seats and 195 seats in the main cabin. American’s new Next Generation business class seats are a sweet treat on long-haul flights (although this flight was only seven hours and 41 minutes); they’re like a cradle – when you recline, there’s no impact on the passenger behind you so you needn’t worry about crowding anyone. And business class passengers each receive a personal touch screen TV, already loaded with tons of movies, television programs, games and music, which really does make the flight, well, fly! Belo Horizonte is a reasonably priced destination for the average traveler so if you want to splurge, a business class seat isn’t a bad option!

Touching down in Belo Horizonte, I couldn’t get over how green and lush everything was. I wasn’t sure what I expected but I was pleasantly surprised by the beautifully verdant landscape. It was immediately obvious that this was a place that was fertile, fervently in bloom and, as I would discover, rich with a love of life.

Just over a century old, Belo Horizonte, which in Portuguese means “beautiful horizon” has a population of about three million (six million if you count the outlying areas) and is the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. Yearly average temperatures range between 9°C (48.2°F) and 35°C (95°F) and you mustn’t forget that the seasons down there are opposite to ours in North America, a critical point when planning your vacation. So before you head to the southern hemisphere, remember that Belo Horizonte’s summer starts in December, while winter makes its grand debut in June. The coldest month of the year is typically July whereas you can expect sun-scorching days in January. Plan accordingly.

Why Belo Horizonte?
Sure, if you’re heading to Brazil, Rio may top your list of must-see cities. And since Rio is only about a one-hour flight from Belo, there’s no reason you can’t see both. But when Rio is crawling with tourists, Belo Horizonte offers a respite not-so-far from the madding crowds. It’s a quaint corner of the country to discover.

Admittedly, Belo Horizonte is a bit sleepy. If you’re looking for an action-packed getaway, bikini-filled beaches and an explosive nightlife, get thee on a plane to Rio! Despite being Brazil’s third largest city (after Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), Belo Horizonte is quiet but visitors here get a real sense of every day life in Brazil. It’s a great walking city; the many tree-lined streets are lovely and when your feet get tired, the public transportation system (buses and trains) is easily accessible.

Things to do
There is no shortage of museums to visit in Belo Horizonte: The Museum of Arts and Crafts, Museu Histórico Abílio Barreto and Museu de Ciencias Naturais. But if you find museums a bit of a yawn, my advice is to visit Pampulha. This 1940s neighborhood boasts the charming São Francisco de Assis church, which, from the outside, looks nothing like a church. But the soft curves of its design are inviting and its relatively diminutive size makes it an intimate place of worship.

Praça da Liberdade is a beautiful palm tree-lined area of the city, perfect for a leisurely stroll. The square, providing solace from the bustle of the city, is picture perfect, providing a wonderful place to relax and people watch, one of my favorite pastimes when I travel.