Vila Velha, Guartelá Park and Tibagi

The Vila Velha State Park has been completely restructured recently and its main attractions are the sandstone sculptures, the Dourada Lake and the Furnas caves with their very high walls and internal lakes. Unfortunately, the caves can only be seen from outside, because the elevator, which was used to enter them, is temporarily out of order.

The park is open from Wednesday until Monday and can be reached by minibus. Tours are led by a local guide and last approximately three hours, giving you the possibility of visiting the rock formation on foot. Vila Velha has an incredibly contrasting landscape. One side is full of wide open grassland and the other is covered with Araucaria forest with close and humid vegetation.

Tibagi, a town located in Campos Gerais, was formerly used as a resting point for cowboys and was an important center for diamond mining. Nowadays Tibagi has an interesting historical museum where different materials and tools used for the production of diamonds are exhibited. The city also offers other attractions, such as Trekking and extreme sports.

The Guartelá State Park is around 18 km from Curitiba and has the 6th biggest canyon in the world, with a total length of 32 km. The park offers trekking at various levels and the possibility of river baths in the "panelões", as the trekkers call the natural water holes formed along the river.

During the guided tour you will pass by Indian stone paintings which are around 300 years old. A complete tour, taking in all attractions, takes around five hours.

The rafting tour starts in the center of Tibagi on the river Iapó and contains different levels of difficulty. For beginners we recommend a 40 minute tour at difficulty levels I and II, which can be extended to 1 hour or 1:30 hours. The more experienced guests can try the difficulty levels II and III which, depending on the water level, can be extended to a 3 hour excursion, covering a distance of 12 km.

20 km behind Tibagi is the waterfall Salto Puxa-Nervos, located on a private property. Here you have the opportunity to rappel down the waterfall! Access, however, is not easy and requires good physical condition. This tour will be offered with a local guide to maintain maximum security. This tour is recommended for adrenaline lovers only!

Vila Velha, Guartelá State Park and adrenalin sports in Tibagi

Day 1

Leaving Curitiba at 07:30 for the Guartelá State Park and Tibagi (approx. 215 km from Curitiba). Trekking in the park with a local guide, seeing, besides other attractions, the Indians stone paintings (around 5 hour's walking). For this tour, do not forget your bathing suits, a rain jacket and a pullover for low temperatures. A lunchbox will be provided by us.

After the tour we will drive on to Tibagi where you can try an optional rafting tour on the river Iapó or just relax at the hotel pool. We will stay overnight in Tibagi.

Day 2

After breakfast you will have the option of rappelling down the waterfall (remember that this tour is recommended only for adrenaline lovers!). After this tour, we will depart for Vila Velha and visit the unique sandstone formations (approx. 1:30h), the Dourada Lake and the caves. We then return to Curitiba at approx. 19:00 o'clock.

Included in the price

- Transportation in a car or van depending on the number of participants
- English speaking tour guide
- 1 overnight stay in a double room in Hotel Itagy including breakfast (Single room available for R$ 45 per person)
- Entrance fees and local hiking guide for Guartelá State Park
- Lunch-box for the first day 

Not included

- Meals not listed
- Rafting and rappelling
- Personal expenses, etc.