Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Train & Boat Travel in Brazil
Train travel is not a common mode of transportation in
Brazil. While large parts of the country have never seen
train tracks, in other areas, many routes have been
deactivated in favor of roads. Today, the few remaining
routes are of more interest to train aficionados, and are
often of great scenic beauty. In some parts of Brazil,
boat travel is still the only mode of transportation.
With few roads connecting the major cities, particularly
in the Amazon and along the northern coast, locals
depend entirely on boats to get around. On the Rio
Paraguay, on the western edge of the Pantanal, boats
are used for multi-day fishing charters.
Brazil offers a few charming,
short historic routes. Steam
locomotive trains, lovingly
called Maria Fumaça, or
“Smoking Mary,” run on these
routes. One of the journeys
this unique steam engine
makes is a regular 7-mile (12-
km) run on weekends bet-
ween São João del Rei and
Tiradentes
(see p132)
, historic
towns in Minas Gerais. An
appealing short trip is offered
along the route between the
beautiful, historic mining
town of Ouro Preto, one of
Brazil's best preserved
colonial towns, and Mariana,
also in Minas. Even though
the towns are only 7 miles (12
km) apart, the route buzzes
with history, as gold miners
and gem hunters in the days
of the gold rush used to travel
through these hills. Contact
the
Estação Ferroviária
for
further details.
Another spectacular route is
the Curitiba-Paranaguá train
ride through the Atlantic rain-
forest of the Serra do Mar.
The most unforgettable
stretch is between Curitiba
and Morretes
(see p337)
.
For information, contact
the
Curitiba
Ticket Office
.
The interior of a Maria Fumaça
steam locomotive train
BOAT TRAVEL
In many parts of Brazil, boats
are a vital form of transport.
The network is extensive, and
services are regular, although
the facilities largely depend
on the type of boat chosen
for traveling.
In the Amazon, rivers are
still the major highways, and
old-style wooden river boats
are an important part of the
transportation system. The
most common and popular
route runs between Manaus
and Belém. The journey takes
four days downstream and
five days upstream. On this
route, there are also several
larger and more modern
boats, which feature air-
conditioned cabins and even
enclosed air-conditioned
hammock spaces. Continuing
right up to Tefé,
AJATO
runs
a speedboat service every
Wednesday and Saturday,
with airplane-style seating.
On most other routes, the
boats are the older, smaller
traditional type, with small
wooden cabins, and two
Trains waiting at the Luz railroad
station in São Paulo
TRAIN TRAVEL
Although Brazil does not have
a large train network, there
are a few specific routes that
can be useful for travelers
and are good for a scenic
ride. The Minas-Vitória train
journey is an excellent day
trip, and perfect for those
traveling between the cities
of Belo Horizonte, in the
heartland of Minas Gerais,
and Vitória on the Espírito
Santo coast.
The quickest and most
comfortable way to travel
between São Luís and the
interior of Pará, in Northern
Brazil, is the São Luís Carajás
railroad. In the state of
Amapá, also in Northern
Brazil, a passenger and cargo
train runs from the port of
Santana, 124 miles (200 km)
inland, to the former mining
town of Serra de Navio. Its
passenger cars, though old
and in need of maintenance,
are still functional.
A picturesque view of one of the Maria Fumaça steam trains
