Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HIKES AROUND SÃO JORGE
Hiking options around São Jorge are less strenuous than in the national park, but still
spectacular. You could easily spend a week doing a series of rewarding day-hikes without even
entering the national park, and for those travelling with children, for whom the long hikes in
the park are not realistic, these shorter hikes are a great family outing. All destinations are
reached by heading along the road that passes the village, either west or east - that is, towards
or away from Alto Paraíso.
The most striking hike around São Jorge leads to
Vale da Lua
, a forested valley where the
river São Miguel has carved a narrow canyon through an extraordinary series of sculptured
granite curves. To get there from the village, head to the main road and continue 4km east - in
the direction of Alto Paraíso. On your right you come to a signposted trail into the Vale da Lua.
You can either follow the trail directly to a swimhole, or else peel left, along a different route
towards the swimhole, by walking down the valley, the best route to see its extraordinary
geology. Flash floods can be a problem here in the rainy season, given the narrowness of the
gorge, so exercise caution.
Back at São Jorge, heading in the opposite direction, away from Alto Paraíso, will take you,
in quick succession, to
Raizama
, a beautiful gorge with a series of swimholes and waterfalls,
and
Morada do Sol
, which has less spectacular waterfalls, but more spectacular views up
and down the valley. Another 5km up the main road will bring you to a private estate,
Água
Quente
, where the owner has channelled a natural warm spring - tepid rather than hot -
into a couple of large pools, making this a wonderful place to soak and recover from the walk.
All of the above destinations charge a R$10 entrance fee.
6
discount to Rough Guide readers, and in São Jorge you may
be able to find people at the junction with the main road to
share a cab with. Hitchhiking between Alto Paraíso and São
Jorge is the other option.
Tourist information
The Centro de Atendimento ao
Turista (
T
62 3446 1090) is in a modern pavilion on Rua
Guariroba (São Jorge's main street) at Rua Marmelada, but
it's touch and go whether you'll find anyone there.
ACCOMMODATION
Despite its small size, São Jorge has no shortage of
accommodation
, all within five minutes of the village centre. There
are also quite a few campsites. At all times of the year, if you're planning to stay in one of the
pousadas
, it's a good idea to
call ahead and make a reservation. At
holiday periods
, especially Carnaval and the New Year, São Jorge fills up and can
be noisy. A warning: at the height of the dry season (Sept), the village has been known to run out of
water
.
Pousada Casa das Flores
Rua Araça
T
62 3455 1055,
W
pousadacasadasflores.com.br.
São Jorge's most
upmarket option, where the rooms all have a sitting and a
sleeping area. There's a pool, and a fire in the garden every
evening, and all sorts of health and beauty treatments are
available. A great place for
a roman
tic weekend. Midweek,
you have to take full board.
R$297
Pousada Palipalan
Rua 2 (Rua Pequi), Q.2
T
62 3455 1005.
Rooms give onto a veranda in a
wooded garden, but t
he over
hanging roof makes them a
little bit dark within.
R$127
Trilha Violeta
Rua 12, Q.7, Lote 5
T
62 3455 1088,
W
trilhavioleta.com.br.
Rooms done out in violet are set
around a pretty little garden. It's very tranquil and friendly,
and even the decor isn't as violent a
s it soun
ds. Rates go up
at weekends, but only very slightly.
R$110
EATING
Bar do Pelé
Rua Guariroba (Rua 6), Q.4, Lote 1.
Slap-
bang in the centre of town, a congenial bar and cheap
lanchonete where you can pick up a plate of meat, rice and
beans for R$12 so long as you get there before it runs out.
Daily 1pm-1am.
Papalua
Rua 12, Q.7, Lote 8
T
62 3455 1085.
The best
food in town, with a varied menu of Brazilian and
international dishes, but open evenings only.
Mon-Wed &
Fri-Sun 5pm-midnight.
Pousada Casa das Flores
Rua Araça
T
62 3455 1055,
W
pousadacasadasflores.com.br.
The fine restaurant
here is open to all, and offers a set lunch for R$19.70, and in
the evening, a range of international dishes, including
cheese fondue (R$57).
Daily 1-5pm & 7-11pm.
