Canastra National Park, created in 1972, is situated 345 km west from Belo Horizonte. It occupies an area of 198.000 hectares and the altitude varies from 800 to 1490 meters.

The predominant vegetation is Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah). The National Park can be divided in 2 different sections; the lower part with the gallery forests along São Francisco River and the higher one mainly composed by grasslands.

It includes a great variety of birds such as Greater Rhea, Spotted Nothura, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Red-legged Seriema, Brazilian Merganser, Golden-capped, White-eyed and Reddish-bellied Parakeet, Toco Toucan, Stripe-breasted Starthroat, White-vented Violet-Ear, White-eared Puffbird, Surucua Trogon, Campo Miner, Firewood Gatherer, Brasilia Tapaculo, Collared Crescent chest, Sharp-tailed Tyrant, Cock-tailed Tyrant, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Gray-backed Tachuri, Crested Black-Tyrant, Greenish Schiffornis, Helmeted, Pin-tailed and White-bearded Manakin, Ochre-breasted Pipit, Rufous-headed, Guira, Cinnamon, White-rumped and Cinnamon Tanager, Black-throated Saltator, Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Black-masked Finch, Cinereous Warbling-Finch, Great Pampa-Finch.

Some species of mammals can be seen in the higher section of the National Park such as Pampa’s Deer, Manned Wolf and Giant Anteater. In the lower section it is possible to see Masked Titi Monkey and Tufted-Ear Marmoset.