São Joaquim

Day Trips

Begin your day with a scenic drive into the mountainous landscape surrounding São Joaquim, taking in the dramatic valleys and pine forests. Check into a charming pousada decorated in traditional gaucho style, and enjoy a warm welcome with local herbal teas. Wander through the property gardens to stretch your legs and prepare for an afternoon of exploration.

Head into downtown São Joaquim for a guided walking tour of the historic city center, admiring the quaint colonial architecture and colorful murals. Stop at a local cafe to sample pão de queijo fresh from the oven alongside a robust Brazilian coffee. Continue to the Municipal Museum to learn about the region’s climate, geology, and pioneering settlers.

Dine at a cozy bistro renowned for hearty regional fare, such as pinhão stew and trout from nearby streams. Chat with local residents at the bar to hear stories of winter snowfalls that blanket the city. Return to your pousada for a peaceful night under crisp mountain air.

Kick off the day with a guided heritage walk through São Joaquim’s oldest streets, where pastel-painted facades give way to hidden courtyards. Pop into artisanal shops to browse handcrafted leather goods and woolen blankets. Pause at the main square to watch vendors setting up stalls with fresh produce and local delicacies.

Visit the beautiful Matriz São Joaquim church, admiring its stained-glass windows and baroque details. Walk to a nearby family-run bakery to taste freshly baked cakes made from regional fruits. Conclude with a brief stop at the municipal library to see historic photographs and maps dating back to the 19th century.

Enjoy an alfresco dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city lights, savoring dishes like roasted meats and creamy risottos. Sample a glass of local craft beer brewed from spring water. End the evening with a leisurely stroll under starlit skies and the scent of eucalyptus in the air.

Set out early to São Joaquim National Park, where crystalline streams thread through ancient Araucaria forests. Hike the well-maintained trails leading to lookout points, enjoying panoramic views of granite peaks and hidden waterfalls. Keep an eye out for local wildlife like tapirs and various bird species.

Picnic at a scenic clearing beside a rushing waterfall, feasting on fresh bread, cured meats, and regional cheeses. Then tackle a moderate trail that climbs toward a dramatic rock formation, rewarding you with sweeping vistas of the plateau. Pause to photograph the native wildflowers carpeting the ground in vibrant hues.

Return to town and freshen up before dinner at an eco-lodge restaurant specializing in farm-to-table cuisine. Sample dishes prepared with wild mushrooms and organic produce from the lodge’s garden. Sit by an outdoor firepit afterward, enjoying a warm chimarrão while gazing at the clear night sky.

Drive out to a sprawling apple orchard at dawn to watch farmers begin their daily harvest among dew-kissed trees. Join in picking ripe apples, learning about the varieties grown in this high-altitude region. Sip on freshly pressed apple juice while listening to the orchard manager explain cultivation techniques.

Take part in a hands-on cider-making demonstration, pressing and fermenting apples to craft a crisp local beverage. Savor a sampler flight of different ciders paired with artisanal cheeses and spiced nuts. Explore the orchard’s visitor center to view exhibits on the history of apple production in São Joaquim.

Head back to your pousada for a relaxing dinner featuring an apple-infused menu—think glazed pork tenderloin and apple strudel. Warm up beside a stone fireplace while enjoying live acoustic guitar music. Wrap up the evening with a nightcap of sweet apple liqueur.

Embark on a scenic drive through the countryside to visit boutique vineyards that produce high-elevation wines. Tour the cellars with a sommelier, learning about the unique microclimate’s influence on grape flavor. Sample varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, paired with local breads.

Stop at an artisanal cider house for a behind-the-scenes look at small-batch fermentation. Taste a variety of sparkling and still ciders alongside homemade preserves and artisanal sausages. Wander through the orchards adjacent to the tasting room, capturing photos of rolling hills dotted with neat rows of trees.

Return to São Joaquim for a special dinner at a farm-to-fork restaurant where each course features a wine or cider pairing. Discover surprising combinations like cider-poached pear with a crisp sparkling cider. Conclude with a gourmet coffee and regional honey panna cotta.

Depart before sunrise for a day-long hike up to the majestic Cruzeiro Peak, the highest point in the region. Follow a marked trail through dense araucaria forest, breathing in the crisp mountain air. Pause at lookout points to watch the clouds drift below you as the sun rises.

Reach the summit and enjoy a well-deserved picnic lunch with panoramic views of valleys and distant serras. Photograph the iconic glacial grooves etched into ancient granite formations. Begin your descent, keeping a steady pace to admire the changing light on the forest canopy.

Return to your accommodation and soothe tired muscles with a traditional pomeranian tub soak or massage. Dress for dinner at a local churrascaria serving perfectly grilled meats and fresh salads. Savor a nightcap at the bar, sampling a smoky regional whisky.

Explore São Joaquim’s famed Ice Palace, an ornate structure of ice and snow that changes yearly with elaborate sculptures. Wander through its illuminated corridors and marvel at frosty artwork. Sip hot chocolate served in carved ice cups to warm your hands.

Visit the nearby Ethnographic Museum to discover exhibits on indigenous Guarani culture and the early European settlers’ adaptation to the cold climate. Watch a live demonstration of traditional crafts like weaving and wood carving. Browse the museum shop for unique souvenirs such as hand-painted gourds.

Have dinner at a rustic tavern known for hearty stews and freshly baked corn bread. Enjoy live folk music while sampling a selection of artisanal cheeses and cured meats. Retreat to a cozy corner of your pousada for a late-night cup of erva-mate tea.

Set out to a ranch nestled in the foothills for a guided horseback ride through open meadows and forest paths. Learn basic gaucho riding techniques and lore from an experienced vaqueiro. Pause at a hilltop vantage to admire jade-green valleys stretching toward snow-capped peaks.

Stop at a rustic shelter for a traditional gaucho barbecue featuring slow-cooked beef, pork sausages, and peppers roasted over an open flame. Share stories with the ranch hands as you enjoy fresh-baked flatbread and chimarrão in the shade of ancient trees. Continue riding to a secluded waterfall where you can cool off with a quick dip.

Return to town and freshen up before dining at a farmstead restaurant that sources all ingredients from its own fields and livestock. Savor a seasonal vegetable ragout alongside tender cuts of locally raised lamb. Wind down with a handcrafted dessert of poached quince and vanilla cream.

Take a guided road trip along the winding Serra do Rio do Rastro highway, one of Brazil’s most breathtaking mountain routes. Stop at lookout points to marvel at cascading valleys draped in mist. Photograph the snaking asphalt against a backdrop of soaring cliffs.

Arrive in Urubici and explore its quaint downtown streets, filled with colorful houses and artisanal shops. Visit the Morro da Igreja lookout, where on clear days you can see the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon. Enjoy a lakeside picnic featuring regional breads and cured ham.

Return to São Joaquim by sunset, stopping at a local tavern en route to taste homemade schnapps infused with mountain herbs. Dine at a vegetarian-friendly eatery back in town, sampling hearty vegetable stews and grilled polenta. End your evening with a leisurely stroll under the glow of streetlamps and the hush of the highlands.

Spend your final morning wandering through a bustling farmers’ market set against a backdrop of pine-covered hills. Sample freshly baked croissants, artisan jams, and seasonal fruits. Chat with vendors to learn about heirloom vegetables and rare cold-climate berries.

Attend a hands-on cooking workshop at a farm-to-table restaurant, where you’ll prepare traditional Santa Catarina dishes using local produce and herbs. Work side by side with a professional chef to craft a multi-course menu. Enjoy the fruits of your labor over a leisurely lunch paired with regional wines.

Celebrate your final night with a gourmet tasting menu at one of São Joaquim’s top-rated restaurants, featuring inventive twists on classic dishes. Toast to your journey with a glass of vintage sparkling wine grown on the highland slopes. Cap off the evening with a moonlit stroll through the peaceful pousada gardens, breathing in the cool mountain air.