# Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge, Brazil: what it is and when to go

> Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge in Minas Gerais, Brazil (São João del-Rei). Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is December to February and June to September. In December there are 13 h 17 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 44. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/refugio-estadual-de-vida-silvestre-libelulas-da-serra-de-sao/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Wildlife refuge in Minas Gerais, Brazil · Nature, Wildlife
- **Where:** Brazil
- **Best time:** December to February and June to September.
- **Nearest airport:** GIG Rio De Janeiro, 214 km as the crow flies
- **Opening hours:** 24/7
- **Website:** [ief.mg.gov.br](https://www.ief.mg.gov.br/unidades-de-conserva%C3%A7%C3%A3o)
- **Run by:** Instituto Estadual de Florestas
- **Coordinates:** -21.08035, -44.15926

## What it is and where

Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge in Minas Gerais, Brazil (São João del-Rei).

It is in [São João del-Rei](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/sao-joao-del-rei/), where this site lists 5 more places to see, 11 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are -21.08035, -44.15926; the nearest main airport is Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG, Rio De Janeiro), 214 km as the crow flies. How to get around Brazil (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-21.080352%2C-44.159264)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-21.080352%2C-44.159264)

- **Run by:** Instituto Estadual de Florestas

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/naturaleza/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/fauna/) places in Brazil. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge is **December to February and June to September**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 13 h 09 |
| February | Best time | 12 h 42 |
| March | Possible | 12 h 09 |
| April | Possible | 11 h 31 |
| May | Possible | 11 h |
| June | Best time | 10 h 44 |
| July | Best time | 10 h 50 |
| August | Best time | 11 h 17 |
| September | Best time | 11 h 53 |
| October | Possible | 12 h 30 |
| November | Possible | 13 h 02 |
| December | Best time | 13 h 17 |

In December there are 13 h 17 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 44. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | December to February and June to September | March to May and October to November |
| Wildlife | December to February and June to September | March to May and October to November |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Brazil in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Brazil

To enter Brazil there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport valid for six months”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Brazil checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Brazilian real (BRL); plugs: Type N and C · 127 V and 220 V depending on the region · 60 Hz (you need an adapter and should check the voltage); emergencies: 190 police · 192 ambulance · 193 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Área de Proteção Ambiental Serra São José](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/area-de-protecao-ambiental-sao-jose/): Protected area · 5 m
- [Museu Casa Padre Toledo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/museu-casa-padre-toledo/): Museum in Brazil · 3.9 km
- [Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/cathedral-basilica-of-our-lady-of-the-pillar/): Church in São João del Rei, Brazil · 12 km
- [Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Penha de França](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/igreja-matriz-de-nossa-senhora-da-penha-de-franca/): Church building in Brazil · 19 km
- [Parque de Exposições José Lauro de Oliveira](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/parque-de-exposicoes-jose-lauro-de-oliveira/): With kids · 40 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Brazil guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/).

## More in Brazil: Nature

- [Iguazu Falls](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/cataratas-del-iguazu/): waterfalls on the Igazú River on the border of Misiones, Argentina and Paraná, Brazil
- [Sugarloaf Mountain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/sugarloaf-mountain/): peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- [Mount Roraima](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/monte-roraima/): High plateau in South America
- [Guanabara Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/bahia-de-guanabara/): oceanic bay located in Southeast Brazil
- [Jaú National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/jau-national-park/): national park of Brazil
- [Corcovado](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/corcovado/): mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, known for the Christ Statue

Every Brazil place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge?

It is a wildlife refuge in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

### When is the best time to visit Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge?

December to February and June to September. In December there are 13 h 17 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 44.

### How do you get to Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge?

The nearest main airport is Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG), 214 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-21.080352%2C-44.159264) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Brazil is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Brazil map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Área de Proteção Ambiental Serra São José](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/area-de-protecao-ambiental-sao-jose/), [Museu Casa Padre Toledo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/museu-casa-padre-toledo/), [Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/cathedral-basilica-of-our-lady-of-the-pillar/). The rest is in [the Brazil guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/brasil/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1433717972), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q96741202), CC0. More about Libélulas da Serra de São José Wildlife Refuge on [Wikipedia](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serra_de_S%C3%A3o_Jos%C3%A9). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).