Make the most of the World Cup in South Brazil - Day trips from Porto Alegre & Curitiba

South Brazil has a lot to offer and some of the best attractions can be visited in a full day trip from the host cities,  Porto Alegre or Curitiba.

Porto Alegre is a pleasant enough city for a couple of days but if you are staying longer or have an interest in nature or wine, you should know that you can have great day trips from there.

The best Wine-producing region in Brazil is just 2-hours away from the city. We offer you a private trip that takes you behind the scenes to the small wineries that produce the best wines in the country.

For nature lovers, you can visit the largest canyons in the country in the Aparados da Serra National Park. Ideally you should stay at least one night, but it is possible to do it on a full-day too, if you don´t have the time.

In Curitiba, the Serra do Mar train journey is an unforgettable day trip that can easily be done in a spare day.

Check out this mini-guide from The Guardian for more information and tips  on the Southern capitals hosting the World Cup.

Availability is restricted- contact us and book now.

Weekend Specials - Autumn Colours in the Wine Valley of Rio Grande do Sul

The picturesque Vale dos Vinhedos  (Wine Valley) is located 120km northwest from Porto Alegre, in the Italian-influenced Serra Gaúcha.  The best wines in Brazil are produced in this valley, especially those produced by the micro wineries that never reach the supermarkets. You might be surprised, but the local sparkling wines are frequently top rated by many wine connoisseurs.

It is possible to visit the Valley on a day trip from Porto Alegre but you should spend a couple of nights to make the best of the region.

Autumn is a very special time to visit, with the vineyards exploding in colours.

If you are in São Paulo or  Porto Alegre for business you can easily reach the valley to spend a relaxing weekend at the Hotel & SPA do Vinho, the most comfortable hotel in the valley. The hotel is home to the only Caudalie vinothérapie Spa in South America. 

Book now our Autumn Weekend Special from US$ 599 per person for a 2-night stay including  breakfast, 01 lunch, 01 dinner and 01 day of SPA treatments.
 

For a year around program, check-out our great value Self-Drive Tour.

Porto Alegre - a new gateway to Brazil

This week, TAP, the Portuguese airline, operated the first non-stop flight between Europe and South Brazil.

The 4 times a week flights between Lisbon and Porto Alegre , capital of Rio Grande do Sul, open a new entry point to Brazil and to a region that has been largely overlooked by most visitors to the country.

The most southern State in Brazil is well-known for its gaucho culture, the pampas and the Jesuit Missions but it has more to offer.

Porto Alegre, the capital of the State, is the entry point for the attractive wine region- an easy 2 hours drive- and also the best access to the dramatic canyons of the Aparados da Serra and Serra Geral National Parks- a 3 hours-drive through a newly built dual carriage way.

From Porto Alegre, there are direct flights to some of Brazil best natural attractions, such as Iguazu Falls, the beautiful beaches of Florianopolis and to Curitiba, starting point of the most scenic train ride in Brazil and the gateway to the World Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Rainforest.

In the next few blogs we will highlight Rio Grande do Sul's attractions and how Europeans can easily combine a visit to South Brazil to an itinerary to Argentina and Chile, places that also have daily direct flights from Porto Alegre.

Chile, Argentina and now Brazil - Wine Enthusiast Magazine - November 2010

Some of the finest expression of methode Champenoise outside of France can be found in the wine regions of Southern Brazil. Surprised?

Check out this article by Adam Strum in the Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Chile, Argentina and now Brazil - Wine Enthusiast Magazine - November 2010

Brazil Ecojourneys offers self-drive tours of the Wine Region of Rio Grande do Sul.

Short trips from Florianopolis II – Serra Geral Mountains

Santa Catarina is so well-known for its gorgeous coast that most people totally ignore the interior. Just a few hours away by road from the capital you can be in one of the most stunning mountain sceneries in Brazil: the Serra Geral Mountain Range.

The journey to get there is already very scenic- to reach Serra Geral, you need to drive through one of the 3 mountain roads that cut Santa Catarina East to West. Originally open as mule tracks, they are still the few connecting points between the highlands and the coast. The BR-282 is the busiest and the least dramatic, while the Serra do Rio Rastro (SC- 438) and the Serra do Corvo Branco (SC- 439) are not for faint hearts, but they are both stunning.

Once you get there, you are spoiled for choices of activities; you can go trekking, cycling, horse-riding, fly fishing or simply relax in a lodge or a resort.

Some of my favourite programs in this area are the hiking trips near Urubici. Staying in a cosy mountain lodge, you can choose between easy day treks or the more demanding 3-days crossing of the São Joaquim National Park.

We visited this area many times in the past and fell in love with its beauty. This weekend, however, we drove up the stunning Serra do Rio do Rastro mountain road, further south from Urubici to inspect another base to explore this region.

The Rio do Rastro is a small resort in a 900-acres farm in Bom Jardim da Serra. Although this hotel is larger, lacking the intimacy of Rio Canoas mountain lodge, it has excellent facilities and a wide range of activities. We took a trip to the canyons, a horse riding trip and did a short trek through Araucaria and ancient ferns forests.

For the cold or rainy days they have a heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and some romantic bungalows with lake views. The food was excellent as well.

The highlight for us, however, was horse riding through highland fields to the edge of the mountains. The views were absolutely incredible, helped by a gorgeous sunset over the highlands.

When visiting Santa Catarina next we really recommend you reserve a few days to explore this beautiful area.

For more information about the Serra Geral mountains click here or contact us.

Tips from Brazil Ecojourneys team:

• You can only drive up the Serra do Corvo Branco in dry weather;

• The best time to visit the area is autumn and winter as the weather is drier then and there is less fog, allowing for the best views;

• Temperatures there are often below zero at night, with the occasional snow shower in winter so take enough warm clothes;

• If you really enjoy riding, we offer a fantastic multi-day Horse riding trip, staying at mid-19^th Century Farm houses, that offers a mix of culture and adventure;

Short trips from Porto Alegre

Revisiting Serra Gaucha this week, we made a stop at Bento Gonçalves, a town founded by Italian immigrants in the middle of 19th Century. Bento is famous in Brazil for its wines and make a great destination for a couple of days away from Porto Alegre, the Capital of Rio Grande do Sul. A great surprise was to find the Sapore & Piacere café, a cafe/bistro that serves delicious lunches for less than US$ 10! Or if you pass Bento in the afternoon, try their cakes and coffee. The café is near the exit of town, just across the church.
Another good gastronomic stop, besides visiting the Vale dos Vinhedos (wine valley) for some wine tasting (see our self-drive program - http://brazilecojourneys.com/destinations2.php?onde=RS) is at the Casa da Ovelha in the Caminho de Pedras, a rural road with well preserved old stone farm houses, to buy yogurt and cheese made of ewe’s milk. Their mature Pecorino is a great buy!