Sempre Vivas National Park

Sempre Vivas National Park is a conservation area in Minas Gerais covering roughly 124,000 hectares of Cerrado woodland with plateaus, mountains, and valleys that rise to about 1,525 meters. The terrain varies considerably across the park, creating diverse habitats for plants and animals.

The park was established in 2002 by the federal conservation authority to protect regional ecosystems and water sources in the area. Creating this protected territory was meant to safeguard critical habitats for the future.

Local communities around the park maintain a deep connection to the land through traditional plant gathering and nature-based livelihoods that shape daily life. These practices reflect how people have learned to live with this landscape over generations.

The park can be reached through the village of Inhaí, which has basic lodging and serves as a base for visits. Temperatures vary between roughly 5 and 32 degrees Celsius (41 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit), so bring layers and clothing suited to changing conditions.

The park holds roughly 600 natural springs that feed into the Jequitinhonha and São Francisco rivers. These water sources support highly varied ecosystems and species found nowhere else.