The South

We’ve compiled the best of the best in The South - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

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  • 1. Cave Geisse

    This boutique winery has gathered a cult following for its sparkling wines, made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grape varietals using the méthode champenoise. What really sets a visit to Cave Geisse apart is the Geisse experience: a bumpy ride for up to five people (R$70 per person) in a 4x4 buggy through parts of the vineyard’s 76 hectares of rolling hills, forests, and vines, with a pit stop by a waterfall for an impromptu tasting. Book ahead for a tour in English.

    Linha Jansen s/n, Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, 95717-000, Brazil
    054-3455–7461

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: R$10, Weekdays 9–11:30 and 1–5, weekends 10:15–4:15
  • 2. Ilha do Mel

    Centro

    The 10-km-long (6-mile-long) Ilha do Mel, a state park in the Baía de Paranaguá, is the most popular destination on Paraná's coast. The island is crisscrossed by hiking trails—cars aren't allowed, and the number of visitors is limited to 5,000 at any one time—and has two villages, Encantadas and Nova Brasília, and several pristine beaches. Local lore has it that the east shore's Gruta das Encantadas (Enchanted Grotto) is frequented by mermaids. On the south shore check out the sights around Farol das Conchas (Lighthouse of the Shells) and its beach. From Forte de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres (Our Lady of Pleasures Fort), built in 1767 on the east shore, take advantage of the great views of the forest-clad northern bay islands. The most scenic ferry rides leave from Paranaguá between 8 am and 1 pm (2 hours; R$39). More convenient are the ferries that depart from Pontal do Sul, 30 miles east of Paranaguá, every 30 minutes. Prices start at R$29. Both ferry routes are operated by Abaline. To ensure admission in the high season (December–March), book an island tour before you leave Curitiba.

    Rua General Carneiro 366, Paranaguá, Paraná, 83255-000, Brazil
    041-3455–2616-Abaline, Pontal do Sul
  • 3. Jardim Botânico

    Jardim Botanico

    Although not as old and renowned as its counterpart in Rio, the Botanical Garden has become a Curitiba showplace. Its most outstanding feature is the tropical flora in the two-story steel-and-glass greenhouse that was inspired by London's Crystal Palace. The Municipal Botanical Museum, with its library and remarkable collection of rare Brazilian plants, is also worth visiting. There are several paths for jogging or just wandering.

    Rua Eng. Ostoja Roguski s/n, Curitiba, Paraná, 80210-390, Brazil
    041-3264–6994

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Daily 6 am–7:30 pm in winter, 6 am–8 pm in summer
  • 4. Mercado Público

    Centro

    The picturesque Mercado Público is in a Portuguese colonial structure with a large central patio. Even though the interior of the market was destroyed in a fire in 2005, the renovated space—filled with stalls selling fish, fruit, and vegetables—preserves its lively bazaar atmosphere.

    Rua Conselheiro Mafra 255, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, 88010-200, Brazil
    048-3225–8464

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Weekdays 7 am–9 pm, Sat. 8–4
  • 5. Parque Estadual do Caracol

    This park is renowned for its breathtaking 400-foot waterfall that cascades straight down into a horseshoe-shape valley carved out of the basaltic plateau. It also includes 50 acres of native forests with several well-marked paths, dominated by Paraná pine and an environmental education center for children. The entrance area is somewhat overcrowded with souvenir shops and snack tents and the river water doesn't smell the best, but the tranquil hikes and stunning waterfall more than make up for this.

    Km 9, Estrada do Caracol, Canela, Rio Grande do Sul, 95680-000, Brazil
    054-3278–3035

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Park R$18, elevator to lookout tower R$20, Daily 8:45–5:45
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  • 6. Parque Nacional dos Aparados da Serra

    One of Brazil's first national parks, Aparados da Serra was created to protect Itaimbezinho, one of the most impressive canyons dissecting the plateau in the north of Rio Grande do Sul State. In 1992 the Parque Nacional da Serra Geral was established to protect the other great canyons farther north, including the Malacara, Churriado, and Fortaleza. Winter (June–August) is the best time to take in the spectacular canyon views, as there's less chance of fog. The main entrance to the park, the Portaria Gralha Azul, is 20 km (13 miles) southeast of Cambará do Sul. A visitor center provides information on regional flora and fauna, as well as the region's geology and history. Beyond the entrance you come to grassy meadows that belie the gargantuan depression ahead. A short path (a 45-minute walk, no guide necessary) takes you to the awesome Itaimbezinho canyon rim, cut deep into the basalt bedrock to create the valley 2,379 feet below. A more challenging walk within the park is to follow the Rio do Boi, the river that cuts through the base of Itaimbezinho canyon. You'll need to hire a guide and set aside a whole day to do the 12-km (7-mile) hike, weaving in and out of jungle and along the riverbed. The local tourist office can also make arrangements for other trekking tours in the region. The best way to visit the park is to join an organized tour in Porto Alegre that includes an overnight stay in one of the region's pousadas. Those visiting Gramado can join a day tour to visit the canyons.

    Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, 95480-000, Brazil
    054-3251–1277

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: R$14 per person, R$5 parking ticket, Tues.–Sun. 8–5
  • 7. Praia do Rosa

    Known nationally for its awesome beauty and laid-back atmosphere, Praia do Rosa boasts sand dunes, lagoons, and green, forest-covered hills that end right in the ocean. The 3-km (2-mile) beach is popular with surfers, while its sheltered lagoons are excellent swimming spots for children. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

    Praia do Rosa, Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • 8. Praia dos Ingleses

    Ingleses do Rio Vermelho

    Named for a British sailboat that sank here in 1700, this narrow beach has an unparalleled lineup of hotels and restaurants for all budgets, making it one of the most popular beaches on the island. In summer Spanish with an Argentine accent is the local language. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming.

    SC-403, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • 9. Reserva Ecológica do Sebuí

    A private, protected nature reserve near Pinheiros Bay, the Reserva Ecológica do Sebuí is an immersive way to experience the Atlantic Forest, in one of the best preserved stretches of forest that remains on Brazil's coast. Owned and run by the eccentric Italian Enzo Sebastiani, the reserve contains 1,000 acres of primary rain forest, as well as saltwater mangroves, rivers, waterfalls, and forested islands, all of which can be explored on foot and by boat, with Enzo—or an English-speaking biologist—as your guide. Built in a former banana plantation, the lodging consists of wooden huts and a house built on stilts, all powered by solar energy, and is only accessible via boat. A minimum of two nights and four people is required. Per person, for two nights, all-inclusive prices are R$750 from Guaraqueçaba (160-km/100-mile drive from Curitiba), R$950 from the port of Paranaguá, and R$1,250 from Cananéia, on the São Paulo border.

    Brazil
    041-8403–8056-operator Vivo

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: 2 nights from R$750
  • 10. Rua São Francisco

    Centro

    Buzzing with life, the once down-at-heel stretch of Rua São Francisco between Rua Pres. Faria and Rua Barão do Cerro Azul has been given a face-lift by city hall, restoring its cobbled stones, installing new street lights, and giving the colonial era houses a lick of paint. The result is a hotbed of hipsters and new creative spaces, from boutiques to cafés and bars.

    Rua São Francisco, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
  • 11. São Miguel das Missões

    Centro

    The best-preserved and best-organized Jesuit mission in Brazil, São Miguel das Missões is an impressive, circa-1745 church built with reddish basalt slabs brought by the Guaranís from quarries miles away. The ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jesuit missionaries moved into the upper Uruguay River basin around 1700. In the following decades the local Guaraní peoples were converted to Christianity, leading them to abandon their seminomadic lifestyle and congregate around the new missions—locally known as reduções (missionary communities). Seven of these existed in what is now Brazil, and several more were in Argentina and Paraguay—all linked by a closely knit trade and communication route. Historians have claimed that at the peak of their influence, the Jesuits actually created the first de facto country in the Americas, complete with a court system and elections. After the Treaty of Madrid granted rights over the lands and native peoples in the area to the Portuguese crown, the Jesuits were under pressure to leave. Recurrent clashes with Portuguese militia precipitated the breakdown of the mission system, but the final blow came with the decree of expulsion of the Jesuit order from Portuguese territory. Most of the Guaranís dispersed back into unexplored country. This important historical period was depicted in the movie The Mission, starring Robert DeNiro, with several scenes shot at Iguaçu Falls. A small museum on the grounds, designed by Lucío Costa (who was instrumental in the development of Brasília), holds religious statues carved by the Guaranís, as well as other pieces recovered from archaeological digs. Guided tours (in Portuguese) are given by appointment. Admission to the site includes a sound-and-light show that tells the mission's story, at 9 pm in summer and 7 pm in winter. Other mission sites with ruins are São Lourenço and São Nicolau, about 70 km (43 miles) from São Miguel, but there's much less to be seen at these sites, which are not normally in tours. Across the border in Argentina, there's a larger and better preserved mission site, San Ignácio Mini.

    Rua São Luis s/n, São Miguel das Missões, Rio Grande do Sul, 98865-000, Brazil
    055-3381–1399

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: R$5
  • 12. Bosque Alemão

    Jardim Schaffer

    The 8-acre German Woods, a park honoring German immigration, is on a hill in the Jardim Schaffer neighborhood. On its upper side is the Bach Oratorium, a small concert hall that looks like a chapel. The park also has a viewing point overlooking downtown, a library with children's books, and a path through the woods called the Trilha de João e Maria ("Hansel and Gretel Trail"), which depicts the Grimm Brothers' tale in 12 paintings along the way. The trail ends at the Mural de Fausto, where there's a stage for music shows.

    Rua Nicolo Paganini at Rua Francisco Schaffer, Curitiba, Paraná, 90820-200, Brazil
    041-3568–1087

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Park daily dawn–dusk. Library Mon.–Sat. 9–5
  • 13. Casa Valduga

    Linha Leopoldina

    This large winery produces several lines of premium wines; the Cabernets and sparkling wines in particular are highly regarded. In summer you can take a tour of the family-owned vineyards and purchase other house products such as grape juice and fruit jellies.

    Km 6, RS 444, Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, 95700-000, Brazil
    054-2105–3122

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: R$25, Tours Dec.–Feb. by appointment; wine tastings weekdays 9:30–1:30; pairings course 6:15 pm; wine and cheese course twice a month
  • 14. Catedral Basílica Menor

    Setor Histórico

    Also called Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Luz dos Pinhais, this cathedral is on the site where the city was founded in 1693. Finished in 1893, the present neo-Gothic structure was built according to the plan of a cathedral in Barcelona, Spain.

    Praça Tiradentes s/n, Curitiba, Paraná, 80020-180, Brazil
    041-3324–5136

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Daily 7–7
  • 15. Catedral Metropolitana

    Centro

    Although its construction began in 1921, this cathedral wasn't fully completed until 1986. Its predominant style is Italian Renaissance, but note the twin bell towers, which were inspired by 17th-century Jesuit missions. The facade's mosaic panels were made in the Vatican ateliers.

    Rua Duque de Caixas 1047, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90010-282, Brazil
    051-3228–6001

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Weekdays 7–6, Sat. 9–6, Sun. 8–6
  • 16. Centro Cultural Santander

    Centro

    This stately building, constructed in 1927–32 and the former headquarters of various banks, is now owned by Banco Santander, which has transformed it into a cultural center and gallery. Guided tours (Portuguese only) show the intricate ironwork of the entrance door and second-floor balcony as well as the ceiling's neoclassical paintings. The massive bank vault now houses a café.

    Rua Sete de Setembro 1028, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90010-975, Brazil
    051-3287–5940

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Tues.–Sat. 10–7, Sun. 1–7
  • 17. Don Giovanni

    Oozing old-world charm, this family-run winery in the bucolic hills around Pinto Bandeira makes a convenient base camp for a weekend of wine tasting, with a pousada and restaurant on-site. Don Giovanni has reputable sparkling wines, and also produces some Tannat, Merlot, and red blends. Turn up for a tour of the barrel rooms and cellar, or book ahead to arrange a more formal tasting in their tasting lab, or the sunset tasting, from a viewing deck among the vines.

    Linha Amadeo, Km 12, Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
    054-3455–6293

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: R$15, Weekdays 9–11:30 and 1–5:30, Sat. 9–4, Sun. 9–1
  • 18. Don Laurindo

    Vale dos Vinhedos

    Chances are you’ll be greeted at this small winery by the affable Ademir Brandelli, the fourth generation of a family of winemakers that dates back to 1887, when his great-grandfather emigrated from Verona. Ademir doesn’t speak English, but his son Moisés does, and group visits in English can be booked with him in advance. Wander through the barrel rooms and cellars, learning about the family history and the vines before tasting a selection of Don Laurindo’s wines.

    Estrada do Vinho, 8 da Graciema, Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, 95700-000, Brazil
    054-3459–1600

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Wine tasting R$15, Weekdays 8–5:30, Sat. 10–4, Sun. 10–3
  • 19. Fundação Iberê Camargo

    Praia de Belas

    Set up in 1995 to promote the work of the 20th-century gaúcho painter Iberê Camargo, this foundation is the jewel in the city’s cultural crown. The award-winning building was designed by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, and is in itself worth the schlep downriver just to wander through the striking, four-story white atrium, and round the curving walkways that snake inside and out of the curvaceous building. Known for his poetic expressionism, Iberê Camargo’s paintings are on display, alongside a changing roster of modern artists.

    Av. Padre Cacique 2000, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
    051-3247–8000

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Tues.–Wed. and Fri.–Sun. noon–7, Thurs. noon–9
  • 20. Glaspark

    Salto Weissbach

    The Blumenau area is home to an important glassware industry, whose high-quality products are aimed at the discriminating customer. At Glaspark you can see artisans at work, learn about the industry at a museum, and buy designer glassware at reasonable prices.

    Rua Rudolf Roedel 233, Blumenau, Santa Catarina, 89032-080, Brazil
    047-3327–1261

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Weekdays 9–6, Sat. 9–1

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