Urubici is a city in southern Brazil tucked away in a mountainous region called the Serra Catarinense. In Portuguese, Serra means mountain range and Catarinense refers to the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina where Urubici is located.
Urubici isn’t a city that comes to mind when considering Brazil. Travel in Brazil usually equates to visiting beautiful beaches, tropical jungles, and mega cities like Sao Paulo.
Before moving to Brazil, I didn’t realize how many gorgeous mountain ranges are national tourist destinations. They simply don’t get the same international travel hype.
The town itself is small and nothing to write home about. However, Urubici’s privileged location in the Serra Catarinense is worth visiting if you find yourself in Southern Brazil.
Serra do Corvo Branco near Urubici
Just a three-hour drive from the beachy state capitol Florianópolis visitors will find groves of Dr. Suess-like Araucaria trees, adrenaline-filled roads like the famous Serra do Corvo Branco, and towering mountains with deep canyons in parks like Altos do Corvo Branco and Canion Espraiado.
Urubici is unique in that it is one of the few places in Brazil that experiences cold weather. Sometimes even a dusting of snow if you’re lucky.
If you’re traveling through Brazil and looking for a quick getaway from the country’s steamy beaches and bustling cities, visiting Urubici and some fresh air in the Serra Catarinense is just the right place.
You only need a rental car, Google Maps, and a spirit for adventure for this perfect itinerary to Urubici, Brazil. All set? Let’s go.
Where Exactly is Urubici?
Urubici is found in Brazil’s second-most southern state – Santa Catarina. The city is 100 miles inland of the Florianópolis (Floripa), the state capital.
Best Way to Get to Urubici
The best way to visit Urubici is from Floripa. The Floripa Airport (FLN) has several, daily direct flights between most major cities in Brazil.
From Floripa, it is strongly recommended to rent a car and drive to Urubici.
We like to use the rental agency Localiza when renting cars in Brazil.
It is a 3 to 3.5-hour drive from Floripa to Urubici depending on traffic and how often you stop. There are no tolls on the drive. Gas stations in Brazil usually have nice bathrooms and small restaurants attached.
A 4×4 vehicle is unnecessary for the drive from Floripa to Urubici as the highway infrastructure is very good.
However, in Urubici, some roads require a 4×4 vehicle – like Canion Espraiado. At the very least, I recommend renting a small SUV or vehicle with clearance to navigate the dirt roads easier.
Where to stay in Urubici
The most popular lodging option in Urubici is stand-alone “cabin” rentals. When searching online, you will see these commonly referred to as Chalés, Cabanas, or Refúgios.
I recommend using Airbnb, Booking, or even Google Maps to find the best lodging for your group.
During our most recent visit to Urubici, we stayed at the incredible Airbnb Monte Canudo Refúgio.
Monte Canudo is located south of Urubici but North of the Serra do Corvo Branco and Altos do Corvo Branco Park. I find this a great location between Urubici’s major attractions.
The Monte Canudo Refúgio is a cozy A-Frame cabin with modern and rustic touches.
The views from the cabin are incredible, as are the sunrises and sunsets. The cabin sits on a small hill facing the valley and river. Behind the cabin, are views of the Serra do Corvo Branco crevice.
Our dogs loved playing in the small creek that runs through the property. While staying there we even saw toucans hanging out in the Araucaria trees.
Additional Airbns in Urubici
Other amazing Airbnbs that I have saved for future visits are:
If your car is not 4×4, inquire with the Airbnb host about the road conditions leading to the Airbnb. Some listings will specify the type of vehicle needed to reach the cabin.
Hotels in Urubici
There are a handful of larger pousadas and resorts sprinkled throughout the greater Urubici area.
If you prefer hotels, check out the following:
I don’t recommend staying in downtown Urubici.
One of the main draws to visiting the Serra Catarinense is surrounding yourself with nature. There are 100s of Airbnbs and small pousadas tucked away into the mountains and valleys with incredible views and the kind of peace only found amongst Brazil’s Araucaria trees.
Morning coffee views from the Airbnb
The Best Number of Days in Urubici
3 days is the minimum number of days needed since the drive to and from Urubici is taxing and time-consuming.
In just 4 days, including 2 full days in Urubici, you will have time to see the major sites described in this itinerary.
With 5-6 days you could do everything in the 4-day itinerary plus visit sites like the Cascata do Avencal, Eco Parque Cachoeira Papuã, and perhaps another winery. If you enjoy hiking, scheduling a hike to Pedra Furada would be an epic addition to the itinerary.
4-Day Itinerary in Urubici
This itinerary is based on lodging within a 10-15 miles (20 km) radius of downtown Urubici.
Swings at Altos do Corvo Branco Park
Day 1: Drive from Floripa to Urubici, Morro do Campestre, and Urubici Town Center
Get an early start leaving Floripa and try to arrive in Urubici around noon.
Before checking into your Airbnb or hotel, head to the ICMBio Office to pick up your park pass for the Pedra Furada. This will only take a few minutes.
A tiny museum in the office displays the flora, fauna, and animals common in the region. More on the importance of this stop under Day 2.
ICMBio Office in Urubici
If you plan on cooking at the Airbnb, or at the very least want some snacks, maybe some marshmallows and chocolate to make yummy S’mores, go to a market in town. There are close to zero markets outside downtown Urubici, so stock up while you’re nearby.
Want to pick up some legendary cuts of Brazilian steak to grill at the Airbnb? The butcher or açogue in town can help you. The fresh meat selections in Brazilian regular markets can be limited.
Alternatively, you could grocery shop in Floripa and use a cooler to keep your perishables cold on the drive. I recommend the Hiper Select chain of grocery stores and this butcher in Floripa.
On your way to Morro do Campestre, grab lunch in town. IMPÉRIO Restaurante e café is a classic Brazilian lunch buffet or for a lighter option head to Mr. Pug Coffee. If you’re short on time, Morro do Campestre has a small cafe near where entry tickets are sold.
Morro do Campestre (Campestre Hill)
Morro do Campestre or Campestre Hill is 5 miles north of Urubici’s town center. Like many attractions in Urubici, Morro do Campestre is privately owned and operated.
After entering the property, which is also a working farm, park and enter the reception building to purchase entrance tickets. This is the same building as the Paradouro cafe and gift shop.
With tickets in hand, visitors can then drive to almost the top of Campestre and park again.
It is still a bit of a climb from the parking lot to reach the striking arched rock made of sandstone. Fortunately. there are many stopping points along the climb, including swings and benches.
Morro do Campestre is a popular sunset spot in Urubici. Check the sunset times before your visit.
Morro do Campestre Quick Details
Entry Fee – R$40 per person
Park Hours – 9 am to 6 pm
Length of visit – 1 hour
Entrance to Morro do Campestre
Urubici Mirante (Urubici Lookout)
Another fun first-day viewpoint is the Urubici Mirante. Mirante translates to lookout and you will see it used all over Urubibi (and Brazil) noting important viewpoints or vistas.
From the Urubici Mirante, you can get a birdseye view of the town nestled in the Canoas River Valley surrounded by mountains.
Urubici Mirante Quick Details
Entry Fee – Free/no controlled entry
Hours – 24hrs
Length of visit – 5 minutes
Views from Morro do Campestre
Day 2: Morro da Igreja and Pedra Furada, Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes, and Thera Winery
For your second day in Urubici, check off one of the region’s postcard attractions – Morro da Igreja and Pedra Furada in the São Joaquim National Park.
Morro da Igreja or Church Hill has an altitude of 1,822 meters, nearly 6,000 ft, and it is one of the highest points in southern Brazil. On extremely clear weather days, they say it is possible to see the ocean.
The primary draw to Morro da Igreja is to get a view of the Pedra Furada or Holed Stone. Pedra Furada’s opening has a circumference of roughly 30 meters or 100 feet. The canyon is also an impressive site.
Visiting Morro da Igreja requires advanced planning. Unlike the other major sites described in this post, Morro da Igreja and Pedra Furada are managed by Brazil’s environmental organization – ICMBio.
Views from Morro da Igreja
About ICMBio
Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) or the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation is charged with the administrative management of 334 specific areas of environmental conservation in Brazil.
It is named after Chico Mendes, who was an environmental activist known for his defense of the Amazon in Brazil. ICMBio aims to enhance park visitors’ knowledge and experience while protecting the integrity and biodiversity of the natural environments under its management.
Notable parks in Brazil under the jurisdiction of ICMBio include Iguazu Falls, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, and Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park.
To access Morro da Igreja, visitors must do the following:
STEP 1: Schedule a specific day through the ICMBio website. Dates are released 1 week in advance. Only the date needs to be reserved in advance, after the date is confirmed access is permitted any time between 8 am and 5 pm.
During Brazil’s peak vacation months in January and July, visitors may have to wait at the park entrance. ICMBio recommends visitors arrive before 10 am and after 3 pm during these months to avoid crowds.
STEP 2: Pick up your pass at the ICMBio office in Urubici. If you’re following this itinerary, you will pick up your pass on DAY 1. Passes can be collected within 2 days and up until the day of your scheduled visit. It only takes a few minutes to retrieve the pass.
Pedra Furada or Holed Stone
The drive to the top of Morro da Igreja from the main road (SC-370) takes 25 minutes. Allow yourself at least 1 hour and 30 minutes from start to finish.
ICMBio states visitors can stay at the viewing platform for 15 minutes. When we visited, only a handful of people were there and no one was monitoring how long people stayed. 15 minutes is plenty of time though.
There are no amenities at the park entrance or the top of Morro da Igreja.
Hike to the Pedra Furada – An ICMBio-approved guide is required to complete the hike. The 6.2km trail is rated difficult and takes 5 hours to complete.
Morro da Igreja Quick Details
Entry Fee – Free but MUST RESERVE in advance with ICMBio
Hours – 8 am to 5 pm (Before 10 am and after 3 pm is the least busy)
Length of visit – 15 minutes at viewpoint, 25-minute each way
Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes
Not far from the entrance to Morro da Igreja is the next peaceful stop on this Urubici Itinerary – Gruta Nossa Senhora Lourdes or Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto.
The grotto’s entrance is sheltered by steep stone walls covered with dense, green vegetation. The centerpiece is a 10-meter (32 ft) waterfall.
In front of the grotto is a makeshift chapel complete with pews and an altar. Even if you aren’t religious, walking around and spending time in the locality is a calming experience.
Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes Quick Details
Entry Fee – R$5
Hours – Daily, 8 am to 6 pm
Length of visit – 15 minutes
Wine Tasting at Thera Winery
The second half of day two is dedicated to the emerging wine scene in the Serra Catarinense.
The Serra Gaucha in Rio Grande do Sul, the state just south of Urubici, is Brazil’s biggest and most famous wine-producing region. It is known by the D.O. – Vale dos Vinhedos.
However, in recent years the Serra Cataeinense has been striving to make a name for itself in South America’s competitive wine industry.
The Vinícola Thera or Thera Winery is leading the way. This winery is located in Urubici’s neighboring town, Bom Retiro. Thera Winery was founded in 2013 and premiered its first production of wine in 2015. Today the winery bottles 17 different labels.
Thera’s Winebar has a sleek modern look on the outside and is a cozy mountain retreat on the inside. Time your visit to enjoy the sunset from the chairs on the enclosed balcony overlooking the vineyard and, of course, more Araucaria trees.
Thera Winery offers a few different experiences for visitors depending on the day of the week.
OPTION #1: Three different types of wine tastings with a tour
- Degustação Primeira Experiência or First Tasting Experience
- Degustação Imersiva or Immersive tasting
- Degustação Grandes Entusiastas or Great Enthusiasts Tasting
OPTION #2: Harmonized lunch or dinner at the Winebar
OPTION #3: Picnic with wine on Thera’s beautiful property
Inquire via Thera’s WhatsApp about tours and tastings in English.
Looking for a memorable bottle of wine to bring home? Sauvignon Blanc wine is the Serra Catarinense’s signature bottle.
Day 3: Serra do Corvo Branco, Parque Altos do Corvo Branco, and Chocolate & Souvenir Shopping
Day 3 is all about adventurous driving and heights. This is the day you will conquer the famous Serra do Corvo Branco and any fears you may have of glass viewing platforms. Don’t worry though, you will rewarded with chocolates and shopping when it’s all over.
Serra do Corvo Branco
The Serra do Corvo Branco is a road that probably would not exist in the U.S. or, at the very least, you wouldn’t see mutli-axle trucks on it.
It is steep, curvy (think 180-degree turns), and poorly paved in spots. If it is raining do not attempt to drive this road as it is considered one of the MOST dangerous in Brazil.
If this kind of driving isn’t your cup of tea, it is still worth visiting the top or start of the Serra do Corvo Branco just south of Urubici (18 miles).
At the top, the “cut” through the mountains is at its deepest – 90 meters or nearly 300 feet. This is the perfect spot to feel the immensity of the geography and road. Its also an incredible photo backdrop.
The “Cut” through the Serra do Corvo do Branco
The best time to arrive is around noon when the crevice is least shaded. Just before entering the crevice, there is a 10-minute parking area and a kiosk selling snacks and trinkets like stickers and magnets.
The entrance to Parque Altos do Corvo Branco is on the right when facing the crevice.
View of the Serra do Corvo do Branco road
When we visited, we planned to almost the entirety of the Serra do Corvo Branco and then turn around and drive back up before visiting Parque Altos do Corvo Branco.
Unfortunately, after a few turns, we ran into a major traffic jam as two big trucks were stuck in the middle of the road. We decided we had seen enough and made a careful U-Turn to come back up.
The most fun part is walking around the road between the towering cliffsides. Surprisingly there was little traffic during our visit on a Wednesday morning.
Everyone waited patiently to take photos without strangers wandering in the background. On the weekends, I’d expect the scene to be more hectic and stressful.
Serra do Corvo Branco Quick Details
Entry Fee – Free
Hours – 24 hours but is often closed due to weather conditions
Length of visit – 15 minutes if only stopping at the top for photos
Parque Altos do Corvo Branco
Parque Altos do Corvo Branco or Altos do Corvo Branco Park is the newest nature park in Urubici. The park entrance is right next to the Serra do Corvo Branco.
The primary attractions at Parque Altos do Corvo Branco are the 5 picturesque mirantes or viewing areas. These views are some of the best in Urubici.
Glass platform at Parque dos Altos do Corvo Branco
Viewing Areas 1 and 2 are the park’s pride and joy – the glass viewing platforms.
View from Mirante 1 towards Mirante 2
Viewing Areas 4 and 5 can only be reached via the free park shuttle. The shuttle leaves every 20 to 30 minutes from in front of the gift shop.
Visitors are dropped off at Viewing Area 5 and have 30 minutes to make their way to Viewing Area 4 where the shuttle picks up again. The walk between Viewing Areas is flat and easy.
View from lookout #5
The park shuttle bus approaching Lookout #4
To reach Viewing Area 3 near the reception, visitors must climb 80 meters to see the view.
However, my favorite view in the park is the walk back from the 3rd mirante where the pyramid-like mountain is poking out across the plain.
View from Lookout #3
Altos do Corvo Branco Park Quick Details
Entry Fee – R$60 per adult, kids 10 and under are FREE
Hours – 8:30 am to 5 pm
Length of visit – 1.5 to 2 hours depending on time spent at each view.
Chocolate and Souvenir Shopping
Avencal Chocolates
Avencal Chocolates is a precious craft chocolate and coffee shop just up the road from Parque Altos do Corvo Branco in the direction of Urubici’s town center.
The exterior of the shop looks like a classic dollhouse. Once inside, you immediately notice the chocolate aromas and bright-colored treats perfectly arranged in glass displays.
The coffee shop has seating with magical views of Araucaria trees.
Unsure which chocolates to get? I highly recommend pistachio or ovomaltine – a flavor similar to cookies and cream.
Celeiro Azul
Celeiro Azul means Blue Barn and this adorable souvenir shop is just that. Stop inside for goodies from the Serra Catarinense like honey and cachaça.
Loja Casa Pôr do Sol
Located in downtown Urubici, Loja Casa Pôr do Sol specializes in popular souvenirs from the Serra Catarinense like custom knives, maté cups, hats, and warm clothing.
Casa do Vinho Urubici
If you don’t have time to visit a winery in Urbici, stop by the Casa do Vinho Urubici in downtown Urubici to pick up a bottle or two from the best wineries in the Serra Catarinense.
Art & Mel
If you are a honey lover, a stop at Art & Mel is a must.
Armazém da Terra
Armazém da Terra sells regional wine, cheese, chocolates, and apples. They also have souvenirs similar to those at Celeiro Azul.
Day 4: Canion Espraiada + Infinite Swing, and Return to Floripa
The last day of any itinerary is usually a little chaotic but if you can get out of the Airbnb or hotel without too much stress and enough energy for one last adventure in Urubici – make it Canion Espraiado!
Canion Espaiado offers spectacular views but it requires some effort and a 4×4 vehicle.
The property is privately owned and tickets to access both the views and “infinite swing” can be purchased online or in person.
When to Plan Your Visit to Urubici
The Serra Catarinense has the honor of calling itself the coldest region of Brazil.
In the winter months (July and August), Brazilians from all over the country travel to the Serra Catarinense to experience the closest thing their country has to a winter. While the temps don’t regularly drop below freezing, it is possible to have temperatures in the 30s on cold nights.
The cold weather is a good excuse to make a bonfire and roast marshmallows.
No doubt the weekends are busier than the weekdays in Urubici. Between Monday and Thursday, you won’t have to wait long for a moment alone at viewpoints.
However, the main downside to visiting during the week is the limited eating options in town. Many restaurants and cafes are closed Monday through Wednesday or have fewer operating hours.
The worst time to visit Urubici? When the weather forecast shows substantial rain for an extended number of days. Roads like the Serra do Corvo Branco and even the approach to Morro da Igreja and Altos do Corvo Branco Park may close during hazardous conditions.
Where to Satisfy Your Hunger in Urubici
If you’re staying at an Airbnb in a rural area of Urubici (which I recommend) it is almost always easiest to just plan on cooking dinner at the Airbnb. During our most recent stay, we cooked at Airbnb 2 nights and drove into town 1 night for dinner.
Outside of Urubici’s main drag, there are a few restaurants off SC-370 like Rota-370, Serranos Burguer, and Trattoria Nonna Otília that are closer if staying south of Urubici.
Downtown, I recommend coffee and light fare at Mr. Pug Coffee, beers at Traçado Cervejaria Urubici’s only craft brewery, and Semola Restaurante e Pizzaria for a classic Italian dinner.
A favorite “cold weather’’ dinner for Brazilians is fondue. In Urubici, a popular choice is Restaurante La Fondue Müller.
More Destinations in the Serra Catarinense
Similar getaways in the Serra Catarinense are Alfredo Wagner and the Serra do Rio do Rastro.
For lodging in these areas, I recommend this and this Airbnb.
Serra do Rio do Rastro
Although Urubici is a favorite winter destination for Brazilians it is not your average destination for international tourists.
One reason for this is the lack of online English guides to the Serra Catarinense to raise the profile of the mountain retreat.
I hope this itinerary helps with the planning process and encourages more international visitors to explore the lesser-known corners of Brazil.
Have another favorite spot in the Serra Catarinense or another mountain range in Brazil? Let us know in the comments below!
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