Curitiba Tours & Activities 
Ilha do Mel by Train
Tour details
Passengers will be picked up from their hotels in Curitiba. Please mention which hotel you're staying at when booking your tour.
Please inform us of the hotel name and adress, and provide us with the complete names of the participants and their passport numbers.
Cancellation policy
According to Brazilian Law (Deliberação Normativa número 161 de 09/08/1985 – EMBRATUR):
- Up to 30 days prior to reserved services: 10% of the daily rate will be charged;
- Between 29 and 21 days prior to reserved services: 20% of the daily rate will be charged;
- Between 20 and 10 days prior to reserved services: 50% of the daily rate will be charged;
- Between 9 and 3 days prior to reserved services: 80% of the daily rate will be charged;
- Between 2 days and the day of arrival or in case of no-show: 100% of the daily rate will be charged.
Ilha do Mel by Train
This tour is available on Saturday and Sundays (min. 2 persons) or in other days for minimum 6 persons.
The single-track line through the Serra do Mar is one of the highlights in Paraná. Opened in 1880, it was, for the engineers, one of the big challenges of that time. The track starts in Curitiba at 934 metres above the ocean, and ends in Morretes just a few metres above sea level. The distance to Morretes is approx. 70 kilometres and takes about 3.5 hours. The track leads through the luscious tropical vegetation of the Atlantic Rain Forest , and past numerous breathtaking bridges and sights in a train from the 1960s.
Transfer from the hotel to the railway station at approx. 7:30 am. The train leaves towards Morretes at 8:15 am through the Serra do Mar and arrives in Morretes at approx. 11:45 am. Morretes was a very important place by the end of the XIX century and had 3 river ports to export the mate-tea and sugar-cane produced in the region. Then you are invited to taste our typical local food barreado: boiled beef cooked in a closed casket for many hours. It will be served with fish and seafood.
After lunch, you will be transfered from Morretes to Barreiros (6 km away from Morretes), where you'll take the flexboat towards Ilha do Mel. You will enjoy some down time, as the boats take between 50 and 60 minutes to reach Ilha do Mel. Marvel at the beauty of the surrounding nature and the Paranaguá bay while you travel. You will see the changes in the environment between the river Nhundiaquara and the sea - very interesting, with mangroves, birds, rain forest, islands and the ships at Paranaguá Harbour. It is quite usual to see dolphins swimming in the bay.
On Ilha do Mel you will have a couple of hours to visit it. Ilha do Mel is truly paradise: no cars in sight. Over 90% of the island is under strict nature protection. Only about 1000 persons live on it, divided mainly in two small villages: Farol and Encantadas. Today the island welcomes visitors from all over the world the whole year round - visitors appreciate the relaxing atmosphere, the beaches, family-run charming guesthouses, surfing or just resting. Walk along the sand trails from one beach to the other and visit the Lighthouse. Or you can rent a bike and ride to the fortress and back.
This tour is available on Saturday and Sundays (min. 2 persons) or in other days for minimum 6 persons.
7:00 - 7:45 - Pick up at your hotel in Curitiba. The van will be at different hotels, so the time is approximate. Please be ready at 7 am.
8:15 - 11:45 - Train ride to Morretes with the Serra Verde Express (Portuguese-speaking guide on board). An up-grade to executive category (English-speaking guide on board) is available for an extra charge of BRL 35 per person.
Time to visit Morretes and enjoy a typical lunch (barreado - typical beef stew, fish, spraws, salad, rice, bananas).
Transfer to Barreiros (pier).
14:00 - 15:00 - Boat transfer to Ilha do Mel. Enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Nhundiaquara River, Paranaguá Bay. Maybe you will also see dolphins.
15:00 - 17:00 - Time to enjoy Ilha do Mel. We suggest visiting the Lighthouse (walking) OR the fortress (by bike - rental possibilities on spot)
17:00 - 18:00 - Return to Morretes by boat.
18:00 - 19:30 - Return to Curitiba.
Included services:
Regular transfers as described (with other travellers); train ticket from Curitiba to Morretes in the tourist category (Portuguese-speaking guide). An up-grade to executive category (English-speaking guide) is available for an extra charge of BRL 35 per person; typical lunch in Morretes (no beverages or dessert included); transfer to Morretes from Barreiros, where you take a flexyboat to Ilha do Mel; return by flexyboat.
Not included: beverages and desserts during lunch, personal expenses, etc.
Participant guidelines
What to bring:
- simple sandals (like flip-flops or havaianas)
- sun protection
- bathing suit and towel
- mosquito repellent
- some cash for small expenses on the island and in Morretes
Other disclosures
There might be delays in the train ride due to technical reasons.
| Activities | From |
| Curitiba Walking Tour | R$ 50 |
| Curitiba Night Tour | R$ 152 |
| Vila Velha and Witmarsum | R$ 270 |
| Ilha do Mel Day Tour | R$ 268 |
| Join-In Train Tour - Turista | R$ 209 |
| Train Ticket (Only Executive Category) | R$ 107 |
| Caminho do Vinho: wine and countryside | R$ 180 |
| Curitiba City Tour | R$ 99 |
| Train tour and canoeing | R$ 300 |
| Segway Curitiba: Historical Downtown | R$ 150 |
| [more activities] | |
