With 4,802 passengers and a 9.9 satisfaction score, BH’s free boat tour at Pampulha Lagoon enters a new chapter starting Tuesday (14).
The tourist boat service on Pampulha Lagoon, one of Belo Horizonte’s most iconic landmarks, has been extended for three more months starting this Tuesday (14). City tourism agency Belotur confirmed the expansion after the pilot program — launched in December 2025 — drew thousands of visitors and earned near-perfect reviews.
Aboard the Capivarã
The tours take place on the Capivarã, a catamaran-style vessel carrying up to 30 people — passengers, crew, and a tourism guide. The route covers the key monuments of the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout the ride, a certified guide shares historical, cultural, and environmental insights about the area.
This new phase will also help evaluate the service during the dry season. The first three months coincided with the rainy period, so operating under different climatic conditions will provide crucial data for long-term decisions on whether to make the service permanent.
“The tourist navigation on Pampulha Lagoon is already establishing itself as a relevant experience for the city — both for the appreciation of one of Belo Horizonte’s main landmarks and for the excellent reception from the public. In just three months, more than 4,500 people have experienced it, with a very high approval rate. Expanding the project reaffirms our commitment to improving the city’s tourism offer, allowing more people to access this initiative.” — Eduardo Cruvinel, president of Belotur
Impressive numbers
Since the launch on December 27, 2025, a total of 191 trips have been completed. A survey by the Belo Horizonte Tourism Observatory, carried out between January 10 and March 23 with 1,003 respondents, revealed outstanding results:
- Overall satisfaction score: 9.9 out of 10
- Recommendation rate (friends and family): 9.9
- Comfort and well-being rating: 9.8
- Tour guide assessment: 9.8
The boat ride itself was the top highlight for 36.2% of participants, followed by the guide’s explanations (34.4%) and the unique vantage point over Pampulha’s attractions (21.2%). Most visitors are women (54.8%), with an average age of 37, and 60.7% are Belo Horizonte residents.
Students on board
Since last Thursday (9), students from Belo Horizonte’s municipal school network have joined the Capivarã for educational outings. On the first day, more than 80 students took part in a route covering biodiversity, birdwatching, watershed dynamics, modernist architecture, and the importance of environmental preservation in urban areas.
Event Info
- Activity: Tourist navigation on Pampulha Lagoon — Capivarã
- Admission: Free
- Tickets: Sympla platform (max. 2 per CPF; 26 tickets per tour)
- Departure times: 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
- Frequency: 9 tours per week
- Boarding point: Veveco Tourist Center — Av. Otacílio Negrão de Lima, 855, Pampulha, near Casa do Baile
- Tip: Arrive at least 15 minutes early
- Note: Tours may be cancelled in unfavorable weather conditions
