River source
Where the São Francisco begins.
Thiago Bruno Fernandes Guimarães — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Palácio do Planalto from Brasilia, Brasil — CC BY 2.0 · BazaFoto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rogério Rodrigues Nadal — CC BY-SA 4.0
Serra da Canastra National Park, in south-west Minas Gerais, was created on 3 April 1972 to protect a cerrado plateau on the watershed between the São Francisco and Paraná basins. It holds the source of the São Francisco, one of Brazil's longest rivers, which starts its journey east from here; the land rises from 750 to 1,490 metres and spreads over six municipalities including São Roque de Minas, Sacramento and Capitólio. The founding decree set aside about 198,000 hectares, but the formally settled part is the Canastra tableland of about 70,000. Visitors come for the historic source of the São Francisco, 12 km from São Roque de Minas, the top of the Casca d'Anta waterfall, 34 km away, and long dirt roads across the plateau. The entry fee is suspended indefinitely, so visits are currently free. Entry is allowed daily from 8:00 to 16:00, with exit until 18:00. The park has several gates by municipality and the distances between them are long, so plan your drive ahead.
Where the São Francisco begins.
Cerrado savanna.
From the top.
South-west Minas Gerais, between São Roque de Minas, Sacramento and Capitólio
Not at present; the fee is suspended indefinitely, and entry is daily from 8:00 to 16:00.