Gruta Rei do Mato

Rei do Mate Cave - Cave of the Forest King

Useful Information

Location:	Rodovia BR-040, Km 472, s/n - Universitário, Sete Lagoas - MG, 35700-000. Sete Lagoas, 62 kilometers from Belo Horizonte. (-19.4950399, -44.2830441)
Open:	Cave: all year Tue-Sun 9-16, hourly on the hour. Online booking 48 h in advance mandatory. Museum: all year Tue-Sun 8:30-17. [2026]
Fee:	Cave: Adults BRL 30, Children BRL 15, Students BRL 15, Seniors BRL 15. [2026]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:	L=998 m, T=19 °C.
Guided tours:	L=220 m, D=40 min, Max=20, MinAge=6. V=30,000/a[2000]
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Gruta Rei do Mato, Rodovia BR-040, Km 472, s/n - Universitário, Sete Lagoas - MG, 35700-000, WhatsApp: +55-31-7161-6209. Appointments and reservations: Tel: +55-31-99669-3886. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1989	opened to the public.
2009	Rei do Mato Cave State Monument (MNEGRM) declared an Integral Protection Conservation Unit (Natural Monument).

Description

Gruta Rei do Mato (King of the Forest Cave) is the youngest show cave of Minas Gerais and thus famous for its extraordinary and well preserved speleothems. The tourist path shows three large chambers with numerous stalactites, stalagmites, rimstone dams and much more. The most impressive rimstone pool is called Poco dos Desejos (Wishing Well). Extraordinary is also the Rarities’ Chamber with its numerous columns, 20 m high with a diameter of 30 cm.

The name of the cave, Rei do Mato means King of the Woods or King of the Forest. A fugitive lived in the cave, who had this nickname. He collected and prepared medical herbs in the rain forrest and bartered with the village people for food. To be exact, he did not live in Gruta Rei do Mato, but in Grutinha (small grotto), which is nearby. This small cavern is famous for 4,000 to 6,000 years old cave paintings, showing hunting and fishing scenes and a fertility ritual. The skeleton of a strange animal which lived in the region over 10,000 years ago, the Xenorrinoterium bahiense was found here. A replica is on display in the show cave.

The cave is located southwest of the city Sete Lagoas right at the motorway crossing between MG-238, BR-040, and BR-135, opposite the Auto Posto San Thiago. A little weird, at least from the European view, is the fact that it is accessible by a simple turnoff from the four lane MG-238 southbound. However, it seems they do not have the same rules as we do, as StreetView actually shows a market stall at the four lane road and trucks parking on the hard shoulder to buy beverages.

This cave is developed at the top of an isolated limestone hill. This cave is a series of large phreatic chambers, which have been modified by breakdown. The tourist path is made of raised metal decking. This cave is the best decorated in Brazil and has excellent helictites.

A smaller cave, above the main cave is an important palaeontological site and also has well-preserved cave paintings.

Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.