São Tomé das Letras in Brazil

Rock paintings found in caves nearby have been dated to about 2000 BC. Inscriptions in the caves have lent the town a mystical reputation, attracting new-age travellers. Many believe it is a good vantage point for seeing UFOs (some claim that the inscriptions are extraterrestrial in origin), and that there are places with special energies. The

is rich in myths and legends, such as that its passages lead to an underground civilization and that its powers form an energy source linked to Machu Picchu in Peru.

The Shangri-lá rapid, which is a beautiful spot, is also called the

. The shops reflect this atmosphere and the hotels are classified by UFOs instead of stars. Whatever you think of it, São Tomé is certainly an unusual place.

At 1291 m it is one of the five highest places in Brazil. The average maximum temperature is 26°C and the minimum is 14°C. The rainy season is October to March. There is a

A quarry town since the beginning of the 20th century, there is evidence of the industry everywhere you look. Settlement in colonial times dates from the mid- to late-18th century when the

from São Paulo moved into this area, displacing the indigenous inhabitants. Even before the 20th-century 'alternative' arrivals, the hill acquired the following legend: at the end of the 18th century, an escaped slave hid in a cave for a long time. A finely dressed man appeared, asking him why he was living there. On hearing the slave's story, the man gave him a message on a piece of paper which, on presentation to his master, would earn the slave forgiveness. The slave duly did as the man said and the master, impressed by the writing and the paper, went to the cave to seek the mysterious man for himself. He found no one, but instead a statue of São Thomé (St Thomas). The master therefore built a chapel at

the site, which was replaced by the Igreja Matriz in 1784, now standing beside the cave. The inscriptions, in red, can just about be seen in the cave; they are the 'Letras' of the town's name.

The town is almost at the top of the hill. Behind it are rocky outcrops on which are the

, the

(cross) at 1430 m, with good 360-degree views, the

and paths for walking or, in some parts, scrambling.

The bus stops at the main

, where there is the frescoed 18th-century

beside the fenced cave. A second church, the 18th-century

(Nossa Senhora do Rosário) is on a

to the left as you enter town (Rua Ernestina Maria de Jesus Peixoto). It is constructed in the same style as many of the charming old-style buildings, with slabs of the local stone laid on top of each other without mortar.

In the surrounding hills are many caves:

, 12 km;

, 5 km;

, a short walk from town;

, 6 km. Seven waterfalls are also close by, including:

, 4 km;

, 12 km;

, near Véu de Noiva;

, 8 km; and

, 6 km. There are also rapids such as

, 17 km, and

, near the Vale das Borboletas. Some of these places make a good hike from the town, but you can also visit several in a day on an organized tour.