Guaraqueçaba has many old homes dating back to the 1800s and many have been preserved in their original colonial architectural style. The IBAMA ecological station is in one such building and houses an exhibit on the town's history. A display of photographic images as well as art by Swiss expat William Michaud (an inhabitant of the city from 1852 to 1902) help paint a vivid picture of the past.

Known as the Igreja Do Nosso Senhor Bom Jesus Dos Perdoes by the locals, this church on Street Colonel John Isidoro was installed for Our Lord Jesus of Pardons. The church festival is celebrated every year on the 5th and 6th of August.

This church is made from large and sturdy blocks of stone, and the thick walls and strong construction have enabled it to be preserved well in the many years since its construction in 1838. As with much of the architecture in the area, the church building is designed in colonial style. It is believed to be the first ever construction in the city of Dedicada a Bom Jesus dos Perdões.

The church's altar is made to resemble a boat. The base of the boat itself is carved to look like a fish, as a symbolic tribute to the local fishermen, and is fashioned out of wood.

From the Church you will see Hotel Pousada Eduardo I and Hotel Guarakessaba. Just some steps up hill you will reach Hotel Pousada Bambuza.

Ponta do Morretes is an idyllic destination in the heart of the city. The point is a lovely place to unwind in the early evening after a hectic day of sightseeing. It is a good point to observe dolphins playing in the sea! With its pier running beside the bay and options to try your hand at fishing and swimming, this also makes for a wonderful picnic spot.

Morro Do Quitumbê is the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the area around the city. To get there, visitors need to hike about 800 metres along a meandering pathway amid lush greenery. The highest point offers a wonderful vantage point for gazing out at the bay as well as the city below. The Quitumbê trail begins behind Church 'Nosso Senhor Bom Jesus dos Perdoes', the biggest building in the village of Guaraquecaba.

Sebuí is a private preserved area, located approx. 30 minutes by boat from Guaraqueçaba. It has 400 hectare along the bay of  'dos Pinheiros' with an impressive and exorbitant natural diversity. On paths through the forest visitors will gain some knowledge about the ecological system of the region and are can visit several waterfalls. Until the first waterfall the way is relatively easy, later on it will be more exhausting but not dangerous if you are using appropriate boots. The rewards of the exhaustions will be a bath within the crystal-clear water.

The nature reserve has also a tremendous contingent of mangrove. On an artificial boardwalk, the visitors can observe the fauna and flora and learn about the importance of the mangrove as well for the reproduction of the sea as for animals like prawns.

In the entire district you are able to see dolphins, toucans, monkeys, macaws, parrots, capybaras and many more. You will also see numerous of bromeliads and orchids.

You can spend the day here or even the night (only with booking in advance!).

In the centre of the nature reserve there is a main building where you find the kitchen, a lounge, shower and bathroom, and a deck for tents and hammocks on the veranda. Further along there are two little chalets which have two bunk beds, a toilet and a basin. All sleeping accommodations are protected by mosquito nets. The main building has drinking water and energy which is provided by solar cells.

For those who prefer a more direct contact to the nature there exist two tree houses beyond the refuge. On two levels you have a double bed and a toilet. Instead of walls there are mosquito nets installed, which keep the animals outside, but let all the noises of the forest in and gives you a good overview about the environment. Electricity is not available here, only candle light.

The good tasting meals are based on fish and will be served in a very familiar way. The reservation is not for persons who prefer luxury, but people who are looking for a close contact to the overwhelming nature of the region.

Check-out our tour options starting from Guaraqueçaba (1 night, 2 nights, day-tour or day tour with Bertioga). If you prefer, we also have some optons available starting from Curitiba.

Within the Atlantic forest conservation region you will find the Morato Falls Natural Reservation stretching across 2340 hectares. The area is part of the APA or Area of Environmental Protection in Guaraqueçaba and was first opened in February 1996. The land on which the reservation sits is owned by the Foundation O Boticario along with The Nature Conservancy.

The reservation has an auditorium designed to seat 30, an exhibit on the Atlantic Forest, a gift shop where you can pick up souvenirs of your trip, plus a research centre, classroom and an amphitheatre in case you're part of an educational or business tour group. Have your own little picnic in the forest at the snack bar, campsite or by the kiosk but only after you get permission from the authorities. Remember, just 2% of the entire land area is well marked and signposted, and the rest of it is largely inaccessible. The complete infra-structure is opened from December to March and in the low season some parts of the visitors centre might be closed.

The fragile ecology of the area is preserved mainly due to the inaccessibility of large portions of the reserve to humans as well as the presence of a number of springs (about 30), providing fresh water in plenty. As many as 45% of registered bird species from the Parana, 48% of its mammal species and about 20% of its species of reptiles are found on this reservation. There are also about 38 kinds of fish and 19 amphibian species.

The forested area has a variety of species of plant life - some old, some new - and it is believed to have around 650 species in its depths. Among them are the eternally beautiful orchids, as well as bushes and epiphytes.

The name Morato itself comes from the name of the Morato Falls. This 130 m high waterfall washes the area with a refreshing coolness and makes the landscape picture perfect. The UNESCO has recognised the area and the entire ecosystem of the reservation as a Mankind Natural Patrimony location in December 1999.

Contact Information:

Telephone: 3482-1506
e-mail: morato@fundacaoboticario.org.br
Location: The reservation is just 20 km from the centre of Guaraqueçaba. You will have to take the PR 405 road.
Visiting hours: The reserve is open between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm from Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Mondays.

The Parque Nacional do Superagui was set up in 1989 with a land area of 33,998 hectares split between the Valley of the Rio dos Patos on the mainland, as well as the islands of Superagui, Das Peças, Pinheiro and Pinheirinho. Fishing regions lie outside the perimeter of the park, allowing fishermen to go about their work unhindered. The park is within the estuary and lagoon of Paranaguá, Iguape and Cananéia.

Much of the sea life here is conserved in the ecosystem of the park. The mangroves, sand banks, empty beaches and ecological trails help preserve the endemic species and marine life. Plant species like jacarandas, ipês, figs, orchids, caxetas, jerivá, palm trees, guapés and guanandis are found in abundance.

Some extremely rare animals like the endangered papagaio-da-cara-roxa (purple faced parrot) and mico-leao-da-cara-preta (black-faced lion tamarin) are sheltered along the eastern reaches. Migratory birds like the blowtorch also depend on the ecosystem here to survive the cold months away from the north. Bird species like the thrush, frigate, toucan, biguá and big-white-heron thrive. At the break of dawn as well as at dusk, the purple-faced-parrot can be spotted on Pinheiro Island.

Other species found here include broad snouted caiman, cutias, saua monkeys, wild pigs, pacas, poisonous snakes like the coral and jararaca, and deer.

You can access the area via boat from Guaraqueçaba, Ilha do Mel and Paranaguá. It is located within the Area of Environmental Protection in Guaraqueçaba and has been included by the UNESCO in the category Mankind Natural Patrimony.

Guaraqueçaba has several little ilhas or islands surrounding it. The Ilha do Superagui is one of the more famous destinations and lays claim to being the spot where the first ever settlers from Portugal arrived in 1545 at Paraná. From 1985 the island has been recognised as being a site of historical importance in the state. Other islands you could visit include Ilha do Rebelo, Ilha da Povoca, Ilha das Peças and Ilha das Laranjeiras.

This desert beach or Praia Deserta, as it is called, runs for 38 km along the coastline of the Superagui Island. With its empty stretches and wide open spaces, it isn't hard to see how it got its name. The beach is perfect for long walks of between 4 and 7 hours. Bird watchers will find plenty to keep them enthralled thanks to the high population of migratory birds (from the cold North) that flock here from March to April each year. Cycling enthusiasts can ride around the area for long stretches unhindered.

At the beginning of Desert Beach you will find Pousada Sobre as Ondas, considered the best one on the island.

This 3 km long walking trail leads from the sand bar on Superagüi village up to the Praia Deserta and one stretch involves going through marshy lands. However, even the less adventurous will find the trail not too hard to try since it is on flat land and relatively easy.

On Ilha das Peças the biggest attraction is 'baía dos golfinhos' – dolphins bay. It is just in front of the pier. From the communityrestaurant, where women have organised themselves in an association to prepare home-style food, you can appreciate dolphins swimming around. The village has about 500 inhabitants and many deluxe houses, where wealthy people from Paranaguá and Curitiba enjoy having summer residences.

During weekends many boat owners stop here to enjoy a meal or a chilled beer in one of the beach bars and restaurants. Everything is simple, but natives are well organised and even have college lessons taught in rooms via satellite. On the other side of Ilha das Peças there is a small community called Bertioga, where only about 30 families live. In the single restaurant/inn, Baia Bela, many boats with hobby-fishers stop by for a drink, a fresh meal or to spend the night. If you like a place of solitude, Bertioga is surely a great option and Mauricio and his family will be delighted to welcome you!

Mirante da Serra Negra is a great viewpoint for travellers to get a bird's eye view of the Bay, Guaraqueçaba and places nearby. To reach the Belvedere itself, you will have to make a short climb up a 30-metre high ladder with about 127 steps. It is reachable from the road that leads from Guaraqueçaba to Antonina.