Serra da Canastra National Park is in the south west of Minas Gerais to the north of Rio Grande.

[3] A road cuts through the highest part of the park from east to west for more than 60 kilometres (37 mi).

These include members of the genera Hololepis, Inulopsis, Aspilia, Senecio, Stomatanthes, Campuloclinium, Stevia, Chinolaena, Chrysolaena, Ichtthyothere, Lessigianthus, Sinningia, Eriope, Habranthus, Ilex, Agalinis and Eryngium.

nov..[3] Fauna include bush dog, pampas deer, maned wolf, giant anteater, Neotropical otter, titi, giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), cougar, Brazilian merganser, king vulture, toco toucan (Ramphastos toco), guan, crested caracara (Caracara plancus), greater rhea and red-legged seriema.

It has the objectives of preserving natural ecosystems of great ecological relevance and scenic beauty, enabling scientific research, environmental education, outdoor recreation and eco-tourism.

[3] Protected birds include the cock-tailed tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor), vinaceous-breasted amazon (Amazona vinacea), black-masked finch (Coryphaspiza melanotis), Brazilian merganser (Mergus octosetaceus), lesser nothura (Nothura minor) and the dwarf tinamou (Taoniscus nanus).