Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Urubici and around
The dazzling pine-swathed
Serra Geral
range separates the Serra Catarinese from the
coastal regions, with the mountain town of
URUBICI
, 158km west of Florianópolis, the
centre of a flourishing trade in adventure tourism. From here mostly unpaved roads
run 29km to the peak of the
Morro da Igreja
(1822m), the second-highest peak in the
state, inside the
Parque Nacional de São Joaquim
. The summit is often snow-covered in
winter, and from here you can admire the
Pedra Furada
, a remarkle natural arch some
30m wide, just down the slopes.
Other attractions near Urubici include the
Cachoeira Rio dos Bugres
, a spectacular
12m-high waterfall (14km from the centre), and the 4000-year-old petroglyphs at
Morro do Avencal
, 5km from town.
9
ARRIVAL AND TOURS
URUBICI AND AROUND
By bus
Reunidas (
W
reunidas.com.br) runs buses from
Florianópolis to Urubici daily at 6.30pm (arriving 10.10pm;
R$45.10), returning daily at 7.15am. It also runs three daily
buses to São Joaquim (8.20am, 3.50pm & 10.10pm; 1hr
10min; R$15.50). Nevatur (
W
nevatur.com.br) runs buses
between Urubici and Lages (2 daily).
Tours
The experienced and friendly folks at Graxaim
Ecoturismo e Aventuras, Av Adolfo Konder 2386 (
T
49 3278
5617,
W
graxaim.com), can help arrange tours and
accommodation in the area.
ACCOMMODATION
Pousada Casa da Serra
Rua Boanerges Pereira
Medeiros 1078
T
049 3278 4412,
W
casadaserra-sc
.com.br.
Rustic but cosy rooms and two spotless wooden
chalets (with TV, a/c, heaters, free wi-fi and mic
rowave
s),
plus great breakfasts and super-friendly owners.
R$230
São Joaquim
Formerly just a small highland ranching centre,
SÃO JOAQUIM
, 60km beyond
Urubici, has only really been on the Brazilian map since the mid-1970s when
apple
orchards
were introduced here. Within twenty years, Brazil changed from importing
nearly all the apples consumed in the country to becoming a major exporter of the
fruit. At an altitude of 1360m (making this one of the highest towns in Brazil),
temperatures in the winter occasionally dip to -15°C and, as this is one of the few
parts of Brazil that sees regular frost and sometimes snow, there is a surprising
amount of tourism, with camping being especially popular among Brazilians as
a way of truly experiencing the cold.
Vinícola Villa Francioni
A few kilometres north of town at Rodovia SC-438, Km 70 • Tours daily 10am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm • R$30 •
T
49 3233 8200,
W
villafrancioni.com.br)
To sample the local
wines
, a visit to the
Vinícola Villa Francioni
is a must: the
production is small but arguably Brazil's finest. Founded in 2004, the winery was
constructed from material salavaged from ruined colonial houses in the region, and
stained glass from Uruguay.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
SÃO JOAQUIM
By bus
The rodoviária (
T
49 3233 0400) is a couple of
minutes' walk from the city centre.
Nevatur (
W
nevatur
.com.br) runs buses from Florianópolis (daily 5.30pm,
returning daily 8.15am; 5hr). Buses to Laguna (4hr) depart
at 8am daily. Nevatur also runs buses on to Lages (Mon-Sat
6.15am, 8.15am, noon, 4.40pm, 7.20pm, Sun 8.25am,
noon, 4pm, 7.15pm & 10.30pm; Wed, Mon & Fri also
10.30pm). Reunidas (
W
reunidas.com.br) runs to Urubici
daily 6am, 12.45pm & 5pm (1hr 10min; R$15.50), and also
to Florianópolis daily at 6am (buses leave Floripa daily at
6.30pm). For the far west, Reunidas runs buses to Chapeco
for the Museu Entomológico Fritz Plaumann (see p.604)
daily at 6.30pm (14hr) via Joaçaba (5hr).
By car
From Florianópolis head to Orleans and take the
hair-raising Estrada da Serra do Rio do Rastro (SC-438)
across the Serra Geral towards São Joaquim.
