BrazilTour

Rio Grande do Sul

The State of Rio Grande do Sul is an extremely hard-working and hospitable place; always open to all who wish to enjoy its natural charm, its delicious cuisine and exciting traditions.

It is the largest producer of grains, the second largest commercial and transformation industry pole in the country. In the social area, its population has achieved an excellent Human Development Index (HDI), and an excellent quality of life. And the abundance of water, energy, transportation and communication is very well distributed, making this State a fascinating destination.  

Its capital, Porto Alegre is a sophisticated metropolis, with convention centers, high-level hotel infrastructure, shopping malls, spaces for music, theater and dance shows, and a well-equipped international airport. Its well taken care of parks and deep-rooted ecological awareness make this city one of the greenest in Brazil.  It is also very rich in cultural itineraries and offers the more fun-seeking visitors excellent night life options. The gastronomy is of unquestionable quality, encompassing all culinary tendencies. It is a truly charming city.

The State of Rio Grande do Sul is also equipped with great touristic expression, not only in the leisure area, but also for business tourism and events. And new options are emerging with great strength in the State, such as rural tourism, with the traditional Gaucho farms; adventure and ecology tourism, offering itineraries providing direct contact with nature; religious tourism, which is already much in vogue with the population, with feasts and processions that gather more than 500 thousand participants; and historical-cultural tourism whose main attraction are the Jesuit Missions, a Heritage of Humanity.

To take better advantage of all its potential, the State was divided into several touristic regions:

Central Region
It represents the geographic center of the State. It has German and Italian influences, aggregated to the Gaucho traditions, creating an attractive tour any time of the year. Among the many townships that comprise this region, those that stand out are: Santa Maria, Quevedo, São Vicente do Sul, Mata, Cruz Alta, Santiago and Jaguari.

Hydromineral Resorts
In the middle of native woods, the hydromineral resorts, besides being beautiful, are an excellent option for those who seek tranquility. There are several trails for hiking and horseback riding. The production of semi-precious stones, arts and crafts made of wicker, rattan and wood, as well as fishing on the Uruguay River, are some more highlights of the region. The townships that truly stand out here are Palmeiras das Missões, Carazinho, Passo Fundo, Erechim, Marcelino Ramos, Irai, Frederico Wesphalen and Ronda Alta.

North Coast
The State’s North Coast follows the General Mountains and begins at the dunes in Mostardas, near the Lagoa do Peixe, stretching to the border with the State of Santa Catarina. Near there, the visitor also finds rivers, fresh water beaches, open seas, beautiful lagoons and mountains. This set of uncommon beauty has cities such as Arroio do Sal, Capão da Canoa, Cidreira, Imbé, Maquiné, Mostardas, Palmares do Sul, Osório, Torres, Três Cachoeiras and Xangri-lá, among others.

Missions
There the visitor has the chance to follow the same paths the Jesuits took upon arriving in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, almost 400 hundred years ago, to establish the Missions. Working as architects, sculptors, painters and professors, they built, with the help of the Guarani Indians, a unique civilization in Latin America. Today, in the ancient capital of the Missions, we only find the Ruins of São Miguel, granted Historical Heritage of Humanity status by Unesco in 1983. The historical riches from that period are spread among townships like São Miguel das Missões, Santo Ângelo, Ijuí, Caibaté, Guarani das Missões, São Luiz Gonzaga, Santo Antônio das Missões, Augusto Pestana and Santa Rosa, and many more.

Pampas
This area includes the large farms and the gaucho pampas. The bombachas (typical pants), boots, poncho, neckerchief and hat dress the rural man in his day-to-day life. That is where we find the delicious gaucho barbeque seasoned only with coarse salt, the folkloric tales told around the open fire, the bitter Chimarrão (a type of tea), the rodeo and the fandango. Some of the destinations that stand out in that region include Alegrete, Bagé, Santana do Livramento, Rosário do Sul, São Gabriel and Uruguaiana, among others.

Mountains
The picturesque cities in the State’s mountainous region call attention for their wines and cantinas. With top quality infrastructure, they offer excellent lodging options and typically Italian gastronomic centers. Caxias do Sul has a well-developed industrial park, Garibaldi is the largest producer of champagne in the country and Bento Gonçalves also produces excellent table wines. The local cantinas open their doors for visits and wine-tasting during commercial hours. Besides the already mentioned cities, there are also Gramado, Canela, Nova Petrópolis, Farroupilha, Vacaria, São Francisco de Paula and Taquara, among other small townships.

South
Located along the coast and near the State’s large, calm water lagoons, this region has a landscape teeming with farms. The highlights are the huge rice plantations and cattle farms, representing the typical Gaucho Pampa, and extending to Brazil’s border with Uruguay. In Pelotas, a city known for its delicious sweets, and Rio Grande, the oldest city in the State, we find the Portuguese legacy. Along the banks of the Laguna dos Patos, the largest fresh water lagoon in the world, there are calm resorts. Between the Mirim and Mangueira lagoon, there is the Taim Ecological Reserve, with marshes, dunes and beaches. Other good options include São Lourenço do Sul, Camaquã, Tapes and Jaguarão, and several others.

Valleys
This region of the Vale do Rio Pardo was strongly influenced by Portuguese and German settlers, who left behind traces of their traditions in the local population’s culture and habits. Among the many townships that are part of this touristic region, those that stand out are Santa Cruz do Sul, Lajeado, Venâncio Aires, Rio Pardo, Candelária, Montenegro and Taquari. The Azorean cuisine and the colonial mud constructions add a special charm to the region without impeding the arrival of progress in the valley cities.

Services
Secretary of Tourism for the State of Rio Grande do Sul: +55 (51) 3288-5400
http://www.turismo.rs.gov.br/