What to Do in Maringá, Rio de Janeiro

Maringá is actually a town split in two, straddling both Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, divided by a bridge — and it’s a great area to stay, thanks to its hotels, restaurants, and nearby waterfalls.

We spent a holiday weekend in the region but stayed in Visconde de Mauá — Maringá would have actually been a better base, given the infrastructure.

Since we made the trip, here’s what we did in the area.

What to do in Maringá, RJ

Sítio Cachoeiras do Alcantilado

9 waterfalls over 1.5 km
R$25 per person

After climbing Pedra Selada in Visconde de Mauá, we headed to Maringá to visit Sítio Cachoeiras do Alcantilado, a private property where most of the waterfalls are good for swimming. As soon as we arrived, we could tell the place was clean and well marked, and it’s easy to find with Waze. cachoeirasdoalcantilado.com.br

Entrance to Vale Alcantilado All the waterfalls in Vale Alcantilado are clearly signed Vale Alcantilado — waterfalls with small drops

Download the GPX file for the trail at Sítio Cachoeiras do Alcantilado, near Visconde de Mauá.

Track powered by Wikiloc

The next day, right after waking up, we headed back to Maringá and visited three more waterfalls in the area: Cachoeira Santa Clara, Cachoeira Véu de Noiva, and Cachoeira do Escorrega. They’re all very close to each other, right near the entrance.

Cachoeira Santa Clara

Short trail, easy access
Has the biggest drop
Free entry and parking
Good for swimming

Entrance to Cachoeira Santa Clara The falls at Cachoeira Santa Clara

Cachoeira Véu de Noiva in Maringá

Easy, short trail
Free entry and parking
Very pretty, but not great for swimming

This one is beautiful, and honestly our favorite! Surprisingly, we didn’t see anyone in the water, so we don’t think it’s meant for swimming. There’s a shop along the way if you need anything.

Entrance to Cachoeira Véu de Noiva Cachoeira Véu de Noiva in Maringá

Cachoeira do Escorrega in Maringá

Easy, short trail
Parking: R$10
Free entry
Good for swimming

True to its name (“escorrega” means “slide”), you can actually slide down the rock here. Andrey gave it a try and loved it, though the water is freezing cold. The waterfall sits in a small village, so it’s easy to find somewhere to eat nearby.

Sign at the entrance to Cachoeira do Escorrega in Maringá

Where to eat in Maringá, RJ

Restaurante Casebre

À la carte restaurant
Brazilian food

Most restaurants in the area serve fondue, so we had to search around for a place with good steak. We ended up having lunch at Restaurante Casebre — the food was tasty and they had draft beer, which Andrey loves, especially with the heat. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the town.

After lunch, while wandering around, we picked up some local cheese at the market — delicious, and perfect with wine, which is exactly what we had Saturday night while watching a movie!

From there, we headed to Penedo, where we decided to grab lunch.

Read more about our trip to Rio de Janeiro state in Visconde de Mauá and Penedo.