- Home
- Experiences
- Brasil
- Ouro Preto
- A tour in Mariana, including the Passagem mine.



On this tour we will visit the city of Mariana, known as the cradle of Minas Gerais civilization. It was the first capital, city, and town of the state, and also the first bishopric seat of Minas Gerais. Today, the city is the guardian of an important part of Minas Gerais' cultural and historical heritage, such as the Cathedral of Sé, the Church of São Francisco de Assis, and Minas Gerais Square, which hold exquisite examples of colonial art from Minas Gerais.
We will also visit the Passagem Mine, one of the largest mines still open to visitors in the world, located in the Brazilian municipality of Mariana, in the Iron Quadrangle region of the state of Minas Gerais. Situated in the Passagem district of Mariana and covering approximately 7,200 km², the Passagem mine is the largest mine in this region, with its 30 km of tunnels and underground lakes of crystal-clear water.
The first deposits of the mine were discovered in 1729, but exploitation only began more than 100 years later. During the gold rush in Minas Gerais, the Portuguese and English extracted up to 35 tons of gold. The mine was shut down in 1954, but reopened for visitation in the 1970s. Today, the mine is used for tourism and is one of the largest meeting points for cave divers in Brazil.
Some of the attractions visited: Sé Cathedral, São Francisco Church, Carmo Church and the old prison and Passagem Mine.
À Combinar
Doubt or unforeseen? Send a message via Chat.
Check the discounts according to each experience.
3 hours
Regular tour
Português
Available
Departures are from Tuesday to Sunday at 9 am, with the time to be confirmed the day before, as it may vary depending on the location of each hotel.
Tickets not included – payment on site.
For bilingual guide, please inquire.
During the tour, there may be stops for visits, and the waiting time will be determined exclusively by the tour guide. Therefore, the time informed by the guide must be respected by the passengers. Failure to arrive at the pre-scheduled time will be considered abandonment of the tour, and we will not be responsible for providing extra vehicles to continue the tour or return to the hotel, nor will there be any refund of amounts paid.
Bus traffic within historic cities is permanently prohibited. For this reason, we will park our buses as close as possible to the area permitted by local authorities.
Tours within the historic cities will be conducted on foot. If any passenger requires private transportation, the cost of this service will be their responsibility.
Infant car seats are mandatory for babies up to one year old, as are child car seats for children aged one to four years, and booster seats for children aged four to seven and a half years.