Climate and Best Time to Visit Ouro Preto and Serra do Caraça, Brazil
To help you plan your trip to the mountainous region around Ouro Preto and the Serra do Caraça in the state of Minas Gerais, we have compiled below some important information about the regional climate and ideal times to travel. Like most regions in Brazil, Ouro Preto is located in the southern hemisphere and therefore has seasons that are opposite of those we are used to in the Northeast of the United States or in Central Europe. The region’s subtropical climate provides warm to hot temperatures that do not vary much throughout the year. In Brazil, winter lasts from June to August while summer is from December to February.
Here you can find all the travel packages and further information about the region.
In the summer (December to February), humid and hot weather is to be expected. Daily high temperatures average at 23 °C to 24 °C (73 °F to 75 °F), but sometimes it can get even warmer. Temperature lows get down to around 13 °C to 14 °C (55 °F to 57 °F). Summer is the wettest season with average rainfall of 210 mm to 350 mm (8.3 in to 13.8 in) per month.
Fall (March to May) remains quite warm with high temperatures of 21 °C to 24 °C (70 °F to 75 °F). However, it can cool down especially at night. Daily low temperatures during these months are from 9 °C to 13 °C (50 °F to 55 °F), and precipitation decreases to only 30 mm to 200 mm (1.2 in to 7.9 in) per month.
Winter (June to August) can be a bit colder at times, especially at night. Temperature lows during this time are around 7 °C to 8 °C (45 °F to 46 °F), but there can also be high temperatures of 19 °C to 21 °C (66 °F to 70 °F). Precipitation decreases to 20 mm to 30 mm (0.8 in to 1.2 in).
In the spring (September to November) Ouro Preto offers warm temperature highs of 22 °C to 23 °C (72 °F to 73 °F). However, on some days the weather can be a little cooler with lows of 10 °C to 13 °C (50 °F to 55 °F). Average rainfall increases during these months and is between 60 mm and 180 mm (2.4 in to 7.1 in) per month.
Best time to visit Ouro Preto and Serra do Caraça
In general, Ouro Preto is a suitable destination for an interesting discovery and cultural vacation in Brazil year round. The best time to travel depends on your personal preferences.
Usually, the summer time from December to February is considered the best time to travel. The warm weather offers ideal conditions for your sightseeing tour or excursions in the surrounding areas. However, there can be a lot of rain during these months. Be sure to pack a good rain jacket with you for your trip to Ouro Preto and Mariana.
Discover on this self drive tour the unique states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, from the city of Rio to Belo Horizonte, on your own with a rental car. Let the lush green vegetation between imposing mountain ranges and colonial cities take you under the spell of this area steeped in history. Discover a unique local culture, which is still strongly influenced by the business of mineral resources and huge mines.
Discover baroque Ouro Preto, a historic city that has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1980. Ouro Preto, literally meaning “black gold,” was named after the huge amounts of gold discovered there in the 18th century. The city is a vibrant, fascinating place that oozes culture and is an important site for art history. You will also visit Congonhas, with its famous life-size statues of the prophets; and Mariana, a city characterized by Brazilian baroque architecture. Mariana is the oldest city in Minas Gerais and belongs, with Ouro Preto, to Brazil's “Golden Circle.”