Cambará do Sul: Canyons, Trails, and Regional Discoveries

Cambará do Sul combines impressive canyon landscapes with trails through highlands and forests, as well as insights into the lives of the serrano gauchos. The municipality is one of seven municipalities in the UNESCO Global Geopark Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul. A distinctive natural area is Parque Nacional da Serra Geral, which covers 17,300 hectares. When planning your trip, it’s worth considering the range of experiences: short loop trails with waterfall views, river sections in the canyon, or a longer drive on unpaved roads each offer very different impressions.

Trails between viewpoints and the river

The Trilha do Vértice is an easy 1.4 km loop trail that takes an average of 45 minutes. Viewpoints and boardwalks offer views of the Cascata das Andorinhas and Cascata Véu de Noiva waterfalls. If you’d like to combine waterfalls with a manageable walk, this is a specific option. In the upper section of Cânion Itaimbezinho, the Trilha do Vértice and Trilha do Cotovelo also pass through araucaria forest and highland fields to several viewpoints near the canyon rim.

The Trilha do Rio do Boi in the interior of Itaimbezinho is a different kind of experience: it includes river sections and obstacles formed by rocks and water. In the lower section of Cânion Itaimbezinho, the trail runs for 8 to 10 km through Atlantic Forest and riparian forest, along the canyon flank. The route passes rocks along the riverbank and crosses the river. These trail features offer a practical way to decide whether you’d prefer highland viewpoints or a route with river crossings as part of your trip.

Cânion Fortaleza also has visitor trails, including Pedra do Segredo, Borda Sul, Estacionamento, and Mirante. Together with the trails at Itaimbezinho, this selection shows how varied a canyon visit can be: with named trails and viewpoints, or with a route through forest and river areas.

Highland drives and activities

The Circuito das Águas is a 100 km route on unpaved roads within the municipality. Stops include Cachoeira dos Venâncios, Passo do S, and Passo da Ilha. Because access is difficult, the route can only be driven in a 4×4 vehicle; the average duration is about five hours. If you’re considering this route during your stay, factor in the vehicle requirements and time needed when planning your day.

Another way to experience the landscape and local culture together is the Cavalgada nos Cânions. It starts at Fazenda Santana, north of Cambará do Sul and 25 km from the town center. The horseback ride passes through highland fields, rivers, and native forests, connecting these landscapes with the culture of the serrano gauchos.

Handicrafts and regional products

Traditions and local products also give Cambará do Sul its distinctive character. The Artesanato Kantu Kente craft tradition dates back to local families weaving garments from pure sheep’s wool during the cold winters in the Serra. The craft thus reflects a direct connection between local skills and the Serra’s winter conditions.

The Tour Rural visits farms and natural landscapes in the countryside of Cambará do Sul. It focuses on local traditions, the production of small local producers, and typical regional dishes. During a visit to Apiário Cambará and Casa do Mel, guests learn about identifying nectar-producing plants, beehives, and the honey-bottling process through to the consumer. Several varieties of honey produced in Cambará do Sul are also sampled. This means you can shape your stay around not only trails and canyon landscapes, but also your interest in rural life, handicrafts, and regional products.

Tailor your stay

When choosing a vacation rental, the experiences that interest you most can help guide your decision: short loop trails with waterfalls, canyon trails, a drive on unpaved roads, or encounters with regional traditions. The activities described differ in distance, terrain, and format, so you can plan your stay around your preferred focus without trying to fit every experience into a single outing.

More destinations: Caçapava do Sul, Guaíba, Santa Vitória do Palmar, São Jerônimo, Caxias do Sul, Não-Me-Toque, Novo Machado and Palmeira das MissõEs.

Return to the main travel overview: Rio Grande Do Sul.