60 Best Sights in The South, Brazil

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Curitiba's oldest church, St. Francis was built in 1737 and fully restored in 1981. Check out its gold-plated altar before ducking into the attached Museu de Arte Sacra (Sacred Art Museum), with its baroque religious sculptures made of wood and terra-cotta.

The city's first church, Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosári was destroyed, sacked, and rebuilt several times, but its facade (circa 1578) is original.

The city of Laguna is the second-oldest Portuguese settlement in the state of Santa Catarina. Most downtown buildings reflect the early colonial days. Known for its many beaches, Laguna has one of the liveliest Carnival festivities of southern Brazil. Part of the city faces Laguna Imaruí (Imaruí Lagoon), which connects to the Atlantic 5 km (3 miles) farther east. You can drive or hire a boat on the beaches to get to the Imaruí Lake delta, where exploring the imposing Santa Marta Lighthouse and nearby beaches is well worth a day's outing.

Built to house the post-office headquarters at the turn of the 20th century, this building was declared a national architectural landmark in 1981. It now houses a state museum. Although the overall style is neoclassical, German baroque influences are strong; the asymmetrical corner towers with their bronze rotundas are said to resemble Prussian army helmets. A permanent exhibit focuses on the state's history and the lives of important gaúchos, and the second floor houses one of the country's largest collections of documents and manuscripts about Brazilian society.

Constructed in 1869, the neoclassical Public Market has undergone repeated renovations, the last of which added the glass roof that now covers the central inner plaza. With these changes, some of the produce stalls have been replaced by souvenir shops, cafés, and restaurants, taking away a bit of the boisterous bazaar ambience but increasing the options for visitors. One of the best restaurants in the city, Gambrinus, is here.

For insight into the history of German immigration, check out the Museu da Família Colonial. The house, which was built in 1864 for the Gaertner family, some of the first settlers to the area, contains a collection of everyday objects that belonged to the city's first residents; its garden has many examples of regional flora.

Built in 1755, the Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia (MAE) occupies a building that was once part of a Jesuit school. The collection here includes pieces found in excavations in the area, mostly in sambaquis—burial sites in shell-mounds built by native coastal-dwelling people. The museum also hosts temporary art exhibits.

At this art museum housed in the old, neoclassical customs building you can also see paintings, sculptures, and drawings by gaúcho and other Brazilian artists. Stop for a coffee or a bite to eat in the museum's bistro.

This museum is in the 18th-century baroque-and-neoclassical Palácio Cruz e Souza; its stairways are lined with Carrara marble. The sidewalks around the building are still paved with the original stones brought from Portugal. Exhibits revolve around state history: documents, personal items, and artwork that belonged to former governors (this used to be the governor's home).

The small Júlio de Castilhos Museum is the oldest in the state. On display is an impressive collection of gaúcho documents, firearms, clothing, and household utensils. The home belonged to Governor Julio de Castilhos, who lived here at the turn of the 20th century, before the Palácio Piratini was built.