63 Best Sights in The South, Brazil

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.

Pictures of Oscar Niemeyer's projects throughout the world are on display at this museum designed by the late architect himself. Museu Oscar Niemeyer also incorporates a collection of the works of Paraná's artists from the former Museu de Arte do Paraná. The main building, a suspended eye-shape structure overlooking the adjacent John Paul II Wood, hosts temporary modern art exhibitions.

Founded in 1876, the State Museum of Paraná moved several times before installing its collections in this imposing art nouveau building, which served as city hall from 1916 to 1969. The permanent displays contain official documents, ethnographic materials of the native Guaraní and Kaigang peoples, coins and photographs, and archaeological pieces related to the state's history.

The Roman columns of the stately governor's mansion convey a solidity and permanence uncommon in official Brazilian buildings. In the main room murals by Aldo Locatelli depict gaúcho folktales. Guided 20-minute tours (Portuguese only) are given by appointment.

This private nature preserve has three lookouts to the Vale da Ferradura (Horseshoe Valley), formed by Rio Santa Cruz. You can hike across trails in more than 500 acres of pine forests through hilly countryside. A strenuous but rewarding two-hour trek reaches Rio Caí near its source. Make sure you remain alert while hiking: it's quite common to spot a variety of wildlife here, such as deer, anteaters, and badgers.

Flamingos, parrots, and macaws are some of the more colorful inhabitants of this privately run park. Right outside the Parque Nacional Foz do Iguaçu, it's an interesting complement to a visit to the falls. A winding path leads you through untouched tropical forest and walk-through aviaries containing hundreds of species of birds. One of the amazing experiences is the toucan enclosure, where they are so close you could touch them. Iguanas, alligators, and other nonfeathered friends have their own pens.

This cultural complex was built in the abandoned João Gava quarry and adjacent wooded lot. The quarry itself was converted into an amphitheater that can accommodate 60,000 people. The 2,400-seat Ópera de Arame (Wire Opera House), also on the grounds here, was constructed from tubular steel and wire mesh above a water–field quarry pit. National and international musical events have given this facility world renown.

Where the Rio Guaíba flows into Lagoa dos Patos, 57 km (35 miles) south of Porto Alegre, Itapoã State Park protects 12,000 acres of granitic hills and sandy beaches. Although the infrastructure is minimal, visitors can bathe in the river, walk along marked trails, and watch magnificent sunsets. Rare cacti, bands of bugios (howler monkeys), and a century-old lighthouse round out the list of park highlights.

The 22 towering rock formations of the 7,670-acre Vila Velha State Park, 97 km (60 miles) northwest of Curitiba, stand in sharp contrast to the green rolling hills of the Campos Gerais, Paraná's high plains. Three hundred million years of rain and wind have carved these sandstone formations, whose names—the Lion, the Cup, the Mushroom, the Sphinx—reflect their shapes. After watching a 10-minute video about the geology and environment of the area at the visitor center, you're led to the attractions on guided minibus tours.

The northern shore of Baía de Paranaguá is home to the 54,000-acre Parque Nacional de Superagüí and its complex system of coves, saltwater marshes, and forested islands—including Ilha Superagüí and Ilha das Peças. Most of these pristine settings containing animal and bird species unique to the Mata Atlântica are closed to visitors. You can, however, see many bird and animal species by basing yourself in the fishing village of Barra do Superagüí—reached by a three-hour ferry ride from Paranaguá's harbor. From the village, there is one trail open to visitors within the park, though your best bet for viewing wildlife is to explore the islands on a guided boat tour. Ask for local boat operators and guides in the Paranaguá ferry dock or at the park headquarters in Barra do Superagüí.

The most-visited park in the city, Tangüá shows creative landscaping in an abandoned quarry with its pond, tunnel (dug 160 feet into the rock wall), artificial waterfall, and walkway over the water, all surrounded by woods, with many imposing Brazilian pines.

Designed to protect the upper basin of the Rio Barigüí from urban encroachment, this pleasant park has trails through the woods and barbecue areas. It's best known as the site of the Ukranian Memorial, which includes a reproduction of a wooden church with onion domes built by Ukrainian Catholic immigrants in 1900 in the town of Prudentópolis, 250 km (155 miles) away. There is also a shop with traditional Ukrainian handicrafts.

Opened in 1886, the Public Thoroughfare was designed as a botanical and zoological garden and soon became a favorite place for the affluent to spend their weekend afternoons. The main gate is a replica of that at the Cimetière des Chiens in Paris. Although it's no longer the official city zoo, you can observe several Brazilian primates and birds still kept in the park, as well as majestic sycamores, oaks, and the ipê amarelo, a striking Brazilian tree with vibrant yellow flowers.

Surfers have staked claims to this beach, the site of several surfing events, including one round of the world professional circuit. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; water sports. Best for: surfing.

This secluded mile-long beach is surrounded by hills covered with lush tropical vegetation (now mostly protected by a municipal park) and offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic. It can only be reached by boat or by a steep, 5-km (3-mile) path that starts at the entrance of the Pântano do Sul village. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude.

This sophisticated beach has calm, warm waters, and great services and facilities. Amenities: food and drink; parking; water sports. Best for: swimming.

This small beach community is surrounded by hills and has good restaurants and fishing-boat rides to other beaches and smaller islands nearby. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: walking.

Located about 24 km (15 miles) north of Florianópolis city center and home to an upscale resort and condominiums, Jurerê normally has bigger waves than its neighbors. The increased development of beachfront hotels, restaurants, and shops has attracted many out-of-state visitors. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: walking.

This white-sand beach mostly attracts surfers and foreign tourists. You can paraglide here, and there are a number of beachfront bars. Walk left along the beach and over the point to reach the smaller Praia da Galheta, where nudism is tolerated. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: nudists; surfing.

To satisfy your hunger, head for Rua 24 Horas. In this downtown alley sheltered by a glass roof, you'll find souvenir shops and newsstands as well as coffeehouses and bars whose tables spill out onto the walkway. Most are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What was once an Italian settlement, dating from 1878, is now one of the city's most popular neighborhoods, drawing hungry crowds especially on Sunday. It has been officially designated as Curitiba's "gastronomic district," and, indeed, you'll find some fantastic restaurants—as well as wine, antiques, and handicrafts shops—along Via Veneto and Avenida Manuel Elias. The area also has some colonial buildings, such as the Igreja Matriz de São José (St. Joseph's Church).

This company operates several schooner tours that visit some of the historic forts and various islands. They also traverse the Baía dos Golfinhos (Dolphin Bay), home to dozens of gray dolphins. Tours depart from the downtown harbor (near Hercílio Luz Bridge) or Canasvieiras Pier and last about five hours. English-speaking staff is sometimes on hand to take reservations; otherwise, make arrangements through your hotel.