Serra Gaúcha, Gramado and Camela in Brazil
Some of the Serra Gaúcha's most stunningly beautiful scenery is around the towns of Gramado and Canela, 130 km north of Porto Alegre. There is a distinctly Swiss/Bavarian flavour to many of the buildings in both towns. In spring and summer the flowers are a delight, and in winter there are frequent snow showers. December is the busiest month for tourism, with Brazilian and Argentinian families flocking here in droves to see the genuinely impressive Christmas displays.
This is excellent walking and climbing country among hills, woods, lakes and waterfalls. The Rio Paranhana at Três Coroas, 25 km south of Gramado, is well known for canoeing, especially for slalom. Local crafts include knitted woollens, leather, wickerwork and chocolate.
GramadoAt 850 m above sea level, Gramado provides a summer escape from the 40°C heat of the plains. The town lies on the edge of a plateau with fantastic views. It is clean and full of Alpine-style buildings making it feel like a Swiss Disneyworld. Famous for its chocolate, Gramado survives almost entirely through tourism. Its main street, Avenida Borges de Medeiros, is full of kitsch artisan shops and fashion boutiques. In the summer, thousands of
hortênsias
(hydrangeas) bloom. Among its parks are
Parque Knorr
and
Lago Negro
, and
Minimundo
Prawer chocolate factory
, www.prawer.com.br, which offers free tours of the truffle-making process and free tastings. Opposite is the
Hollywood
Dream
Car Automobile Museum
tourist information offices
, www.gramadosite.com.br
.
A few kilometres along the plateau rim, Canela has been spared the plastic makeover of its neighbour and offers more affordable sleeping and eating options. The painted wooden buildings provide a certain downtown charm. Canela is surrounded by good parks and is developing as a centre of adventure tourism, with rafting, abseiling and trekking on offer. There's a
tourist office
, www.canelaturismo.com.br
.
Just outside Canela is the Mundo à Vapor, an interesting museum dedicated to steam power. The main attraction is the dramatic reconstruction of the famous 1895 rail disaster in Montparnasse, Paris. Kids and adults clamour to have their picture taken alongside a giant steam train that appears to have burst through the front of the building.
Canela is surrounded by beautiful parks, including Parque Caracol. Here, you'll find the Rio Caracol, a spectacular 130-m-high waterfall, which emerges from thick forest and tumbles like dry ice from an overhanging elliptical escarpment. Just outside the park is Parque do Teleférico www.canelatelerifico.com.br, where you can take a 20-minute ski lift ride over the trees, canyons and falls. The falls are east-facing, so photography is best before noon. A 927-step metal staircase leads to the plunge pool. If cycling, there is an 18-km circular route continuing on to Parque Ferradura (along a 4-km spur), where there is a good view into the canyon of the Rio Cai. From the Ferradura junction, turn right to continue to the national forest Floresta Nacional, run by Ibama, with woodland walks. From here, the dirt road continues round to Canela. Another good hike or bike option is the 4-km dirt track southeast of Canela past Parque das Sequóias to Morro Pelado. At over 600 m, there are spectacular views from the rim edge.
Just outside Canela is the Mundo à Vapor, an interesting museum dedicated to steam power. The main attraction is the dramatic reconstruction of the famous 1895 rail disaster in Montparnasse, Paris. Kids and adults clamour to have their picture taken alongside a giant steam train that appears to have burst through the front of the building.
Canela is surrounded by beautiful parks, including Parque Caracol. Here, you'll find the Rio Caracol, a spectacular 130-m-high waterfall, which emerges from thick forest and tumbles like dry ice from an overhanging elliptical escarpment. Just outside the park is Parque do Teleférico www.canelatelerifico.com.br, where you can take a 20-minute ski lift ride over the trees, canyons and falls. The falls are east-facing, so photography is best before noon. A 927-step metal staircase leads to the plunge pool. If cycling, there is an 18-km circular route continuing on to Parque Ferradura (along a 4-km spur), where there is a good view into the canyon of the Rio Cai. From the Ferradura junction, turn right to continue to the national forest Floresta Nacional, run by Ibama, with woodland walks. From here, the dirt road continues round to Canela. Another good hike or bike option is the 4-km dirt track southeast of Canela past Parque das Sequóias to Morro Pelado. At over 600 m, there are spectacular views from the rim edge.
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This is edited copy from Footprint Handbooks. For comprehensive details (incl address, tel no, directions, opening times and prices) please refer to book or individual chapter PDF
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