Visconde de Mauá, the best hidden stopover between Rio and São Paulo
- Gustavo Galli
- há 4 dias
- 4 min de leitura
In 2023, we decided to do something unconventional during Carnival for a young couple in their 30s: relax far away from the mess and confusion of the carnival street parties (bloquinhos). Anyone who has been to Brazil during Carnival knows that this is not so simple, as the entire country stops for four and a half days to celebrate, dance and drink. Anyway, we decided that this year would be different for us. We wanted a little bit of peace!
Since we had just bought a some camping gear, we were eager to test out our new equipment and the countryside was an invitation for it. Our only prerequisite was a quiet place with no crowds! That's when I remembered Visconde de Mauá. My aunt had commented about the place a few years ago at a family lunch, and I thought her description matched exactly what we wanted: "A charming place and great for spending a few days surrounded by nature."
The town is next to the Itatiaia National Park, an Atlantic Forest reserve with breathtaking mountains and waterfalls, located on the border between the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. It is the ideal spot for those who like nature, cool mountain weather, and eating well.
We stayed four nights at Camping Barragem's, which is very simple but has a wonderful green area full of flowers and big trees. I don't remember exactly how much we paid per night, but I'm sure it was no more than US$20 per day for the couple, which is quite good.
How to get there?
Visconde de Mauá is located exactly halfway between Rio and São Paulo. It is about 260km from both cities, making it an excellent stop if you are traveling from one city to the other. My tip is to rent a car in São Paulo and drop it off in Rio de Janeiro (or vice versa). It's about a 4-hour drive, and you'll have more mobility to visit the tourist attractions in the region. There is no bus that goes directly to the town, but if you really want to save money, it is possible to go to a city called Resende, which is about an hour from Visconde de Mauá, and then take a taxi or Blablacar from there.
*If you rent a car using this link, you will be helping me maintaining this blog alive.
What to do?
Eating and Drinking: One of the best things to do is to enjoy the gastronomic scene. Since Visconde de Mauá is over 1,200m above sea level, the climate tends to be cooler throughout the entire year, which in my opinion is a great excuse to eat well and have a good glass of wine. That is exactly what we did during the days we spent there.
Waterfalls
Since the city is right next to Itatiaia National Park, there are dozens of waterfalls in the region. We visited the Sítio Cachoeiras do Alcantilado, which is a complex with nine waterfalls within a super well-maintained private property. The trails are very well marked and easily accessible. When we went, the entrance fee was about US$8 per person. It’s a great outing to do with children because the trails are quite easy, and the place has great facilities.
There are also other famous waterfalls like the "Cachoeira do Escorrega" and the "Véu da Noiva", but as it rained quite a bit while we were there, we ended up not visiting them.
Strolling through the "Maringás"
There are several good restaurants in the region and most of them are located in the "Maringás," which are two villages separated by a little bridge, marking the border between the states of Rio and Minas Gerais. This was one of my biggest discoveries: you can cross from one state to the other via a bridge that is less than 15 meters long! The two villages are very charming and make for a great walk at night after enjoying the waterfalls. In addition to restaurants, there are several small shops that sell local crafts and products.
*Aditional tip: when we were returning to São Paulo, we stopped in the town of Silveiras, which is about 1.5 hours from Visconde de Mauá, and ate at a restaurant called Trempe. If you want to try typically "caipira" (country-style) food with a special touch, plan to stop here! We still talk about it being one of the best lunches of our lives.
I think Visconde de Mauá is one of those magical and unique places that is still hidden from the radar of most tourists, especially foreigners. If you are going from Rio to São Paulo or vice versa, it is an excellent option to discover a wonderful and surprising place that will certainly change your view of what Brazil is all about. I hope you enjoy our tips! :)"
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