Mangueirinha: Iguaçu Landscapes and Tropeiro History

Mangueirinha draws its distinctive character from two very different scenes: the waters of the Rio Iguaçu and traces of Tropeiro history. The Usina Hidrelétrica Governador Ney Aminthas de Barros Braga hydroelectric plant is located on the Rio Iguaçu in the municipality; the hydroelectric reservoir is part of Mangueirinha’s natural tourism heritage. Local traditions also range from Christian devotion to the Cavalcadas. If you’re looking for a vacation rental for your trip, this mix offers several themes to consider when choosing your stay.

Waterscapes and viewpoints

In Mangueirinha, the Rio Iguaçu is both part of the waterside landscape and a historic crossing point. A preliminary tourism inventory, reported on in 2022, lists ten viewpoints overlooking Lago do Iguaçu and ten waterfalls in the tourism offering. Cachoeira do Lajeado Grande is one of the municipality’s tourist attractions. The 2022 tourism inventory identifies ecotourism as a local tourism segment. Together, these themes make up Mangueirinha’s nature-focused side: the lake, viewpoints, and waterfalls each offer a different perspective on the landscape.

Tropeiros, river crossings, and change

Mangueirinha’s settlement history includes Tropeiro cattle drives across the Rio Iguaçu. Cattle corrals made the crossing easier; their construction was called for in 1864. As an important stop for Tropeiros, Mangueirinha kept this history alive through Cavalcadas—horseback rides in the municipality and along routes in the region. After Tropeirismo came to an end, mate tea production became the main economic activity, alongside pig farming under the safra system. The town’s history thus encompasses both cattle drives and a later economic period shaped by mate production and pig farming.

Devotion and regional connections

The Caminhada do Monge provides a different cultural focus. It is a Christian pilgrimage to a water spring, associated with Good Friday, that begins before dawn with hundreds of devotees. Participants include walkers, cyclists, Tropeiros, and runners. The combination of religious practice and different ways of traveling on foot or horseback makes the Caminhada a distinctive part of local tradition. The Terra Indígena Mangueirinha is also part of the area’s regional context: it extends across the municipalities of Coronel Vivida, Chopinzinho, and Mangueirinha.

Choose a vacation rental based on your travel interests

The kind of trip you’re taking can guide your choice of vacation rental. The lake, viewpoints, and waterfalls offer a different focus from Tropeiro history and the religious Caminhada do Monge. Since the Caminhada begins before dawn, it’s worth taking this early start into account when planning your trip; check the dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Piraquara, Paraná, Tamarana, Araucária, Ortigueira, Santo Antônio da Platina, Paiçandu, Mandaguari.

Go to the main travel overview: Paraná.