Vacaria

Day Trips

After settling into your pousada, take a leisurely stroll through Praça Almiro Piovesan to soak in colonial architecture. Stop by the Catedral Nossa Senhora da Oliveira to admire its neo-Gothic facade and tranquil interiors. Pop into a local café for a warm cup of chimarrão and freshly baked pão de queijo.

Explore the Museu Municipal de Vacaria to learn about local history and see artifacts from the Paraguayan War. Wander along Rua Gen. Osório to discover colorful street art and charming boutiques. Pause for a light lunch at a family-run bistrô offering regional soups and salads.

Dine at a traditional churrascaria, sampling succulent cuts of churrasco and side dishes like farofa. Enjoy live folk music in a nearby bar where gauchos perform traditional tunes. Return to your lodging for a peaceful evening under Vacaria’s starry sky.

Begin at the Centro Cultural 25 de Julho, where rotating exhibits showcase local artists and immigrants’ heritage. Admire handcrafted woodwork and ceramics in the gallery space. Recharge with a pastry and cafézinho in the on-site coffee corner.

Visit the War Museum to uncover stories of the Paraguayan War and region’s military past. Stroll through downtown to spot public art installations and historical plaques. Stop at a street vendor for a pastel recheado filled with cheese and ham.

Attend a performance at Teatro do Sesi for a taste of regional theater and dance. Sample a warm dessert like rice pudding or brigadeiro sold by vendors outside the venue. Wander back through illuminated streets, enjoying the quiet charm of Vacaria at night.

Travel to a nearby estância renowned for breeding the Crioula horse, a symbol of gaucho culture. Watch a demonstration of horse grooming techniques and rider training. Chat with local gauchos over mate and homemade biscuits.

Mount up for a guided horseback ride across undulating fields and riverbanks. Learn basic horsemanship skills and traditional gaucho rope-handling techniques. Pause for a picnic lunch on the ranch, featuring homemade cured meats and fresh fruit.

Gather around a wood-fired grill at the estância for an authentic churrasco under the stars. Enjoy folk music and impromptu dances performed by your host family. Return to town feeling immersed in gaucho hospitality and rural traditions.

Head to Parque das Araucárias for a guided trek among ancient Araucaria trees. Listen for native bird calls and spot butterflies in the undergrowth. Learn about the park’s conservation efforts from a local naturalist.

Settle down by a clear stream for a picnic of artisanal bread, cheese, and local honey. Explore hidden trails leading to small waterfalls and rocky overlooks. Take photographs of the lush canopy and winding watercourses.

Return to Vacaria and soothe tired limbs in a traditional hot-water foot bath. Dine at an eco-bistro serving seasonal, farm-to-table fare. Relax in a cozy lounge with a local herbal tea before bed.

Enjoy an early drive to the Cascata dos Venâncios trailhead as mist rises over rolling hills. Hike alongside the creek, crossing wooden footbridges and passing lush ferns. Reach the main viewpoint to admire the cascading falls against forested cliffs.

Descend to a natural pool at the waterfall’s base for a refreshing dip in crystal-clear water. Indulge in a packed lunch of local charcuterie and fresh fruit on sun-warmed rocks. Photograph the falls from multiple angles, capturing rainbows in the spray.

Stop at a countryside restaurant on the way back to town to sample regional trout with herbs. Share stories of the day’s adventure over a bottle of sparkling apple cider. Head to your accommodation for a quiet evening reading or journaling.

Visit a family-run dairy farm to learn traditional cheese-making methods passed down for generations. Watch as fresh milk is curdled, stretched, and aged into creamy artisanal varieties. Tour the aging cellars and inhale the complex aromas of ripening wheels.

Participate in a guided tasting pairing the cheeses with local honey, jams, and mead. Meet the farm’s beekeepers to learn about pollination and honey extraction. Take home a selection of cheeses and preserves from the farm shop.

Join an intimate cheese-and-wine pairing workshop at a nearby cellar, sampling robust reds from southern Rio Grande do Sul. Engage in conversation with the vintner about terroir and aging techniques. Return under the night sky with a newfound appreciation for regional dairy craftsmanship.

Depart early for the Rio das Antas canyon, a rugged gorge carved by turquoise waters. Follow a certified guide along narrow ridges, spotting eagles and vultures riding the thermals overhead. Pause at cliff edges for panoramic photos of the canyon walls below.

Enjoy a riverside lunch prepared by the guiding team, featuring grilled meats and garden salads. Continue along a lower trail to a secluded beach where you can wade in the river’s rapids. Learn about local geology and flora from your knowledgeable guide.

Set up camp near the canyon rim and gather around a crackling campfire for a hearty stew. Swap stories with fellow hikers under a canopy of stars. Drift to sleep lulled by distant river murmurs and nighttime wildlife calls.

Arrive at a working estância for a multi-day immersion in gaucho life, greeted by horseback riders and herding dogs. Participate in rounding up cattle, learning to drive them toward corral pens. Share a hearty breakfast of polenta, eggs, and cured sausages with the ranch family.

Attend a gaucho cooking workshop to prepare feijoada and pão colonial over open flames. Ride horses through expansive pastures to check fences and water troughs alongside local crianceros. Return for mate and homemade jam served in the shaded veranda.

Experience a traditional ceia gaucho with folkloric music, hand-woven ponchos, and regional dance demonstrations. Join in the circle to learn the boot-stomping rhythms of folkloric tunes. Sleep in a rustic but comfortable guest cabin, lulled by farm sounds.

If your visit coincides with the National Cowboy Festival, wake early to catch the parade of gauchos in vibrant attire. Sample festival snacks like churrasco on a stick and sweet corn cakes at food stalls. Browse artisan tents filled with leather goods and embroidery.

Watch rodeo events and laço (lasso) competitions featuring skilled gaucho riders. Join in a dance workshop to learn traditional fandango steps. Sip on regional craft beers brewed with local wheat varieties.

Attend an open-air concert showcasing regional folk bands and contemporary artists. Enjoy a fireworks finale over the festival grounds, illuminating the night sky. Return to town buzzing with festival excitement and community spirit.

Spend your last morning at the Feira de Comércio e Artesanato, selecting hand-woven scarves and wooden toys as souvenirs. Chat with vendors about their crafting techniques and family histories. Savor a final pastel de carne and a cup of strong coffee at a market stall.

Take a gentle walk through Parque da Gare to reflect on the week’s adventures and breathe in fresh, pine-scented air. Enjoy a farewell lunch of truta ao molho de amêndoas at a riverside restaurant. Return to your pousada to gather luggage and prepare for departure.

Arrange transfer to the bus station or airport with your host, enjoying one last panoramic view of Vacaria’s twinkling lights. Toast your journey with a small bottle of local grape juice or cider. Bid farewell to newfound friends and the rolling highland landscapes you’ve come to love.