São Paulo remains a major culinary hub offering a wide variety of experiences. Have you ever thought about boarding a historic train and traveling through the countryside while enjoying a delicious meal? The Guararema train offers this true journey back in time with a special menu and itinerary.
Operated by the ABPF (Brazilian Railway Preservation Association) on the historic railroad between the Guararematrain station and the charming village of Luís Carlos. The tour is a unique experience focused on railway heritage, tourism, and local cuisine.
The region is also known for being home to the famous “Maria Fumaça” of Guararema, but the highlight of this culinary tour is the 7202 diesel-electric locomotive. Known as the “Pearl of the Valley,” it is the last remaining C30-7A model in Brazil and one of the last in the world.
The train operates exclusively for tourism purposes, preserving its original English-style wooden structure.
What can you expect from the Guararema Train tour?
After boarding at the Guararema train station, passengers embark on a journey into the past toward Vila Luís Carlos. Most of the time, there is a tour guide on board who shares stories about the town and the old railroad.
At the final destination, the train stops for one hour in the village that grew up around the small station, which features architecture inspired by English-style buildings.
Vila Luís Carlos serves as a tourist destination and features a brewery, restaurants, craft shops, and cafés open to the public. In addition, the town’s vintage atmosphere offers the perfect opportunity to take beautiful photos.
The village has even served as the setting for several Brazilian productions, such as the Rede Globosoap operas “Sol Nascente” (2016) and “Éramos Seis” (2019). In addition, the feature film “O Coreto” (2024) and the biographical film “Divaldo — O Mensageiro da Paz” (2019) also had scenes filmed there.
Gastronomic Experience
The main feature of the restaurant on rails is the all-inclusive experience, which offers an open bar and all-you-can-eat service throughout the entire journey. The train’s cuisine focuses on regional and nostalgic dishes, highlighting products from the interior of São Paulo and the Mantiqueira Mountains.
The menu begins with a welcome drink, followed by breakfast or afternoon tea (depending on the time slot chosen), brunch, traditional dishes, and desserts.
In addition, there are snack options featuring local cheeses, draft beer, wines, and cachaças. For those who do not drink alcohol, juice and soft drink options are available.
How to take the tour
In summary, the Guararema train runs on Fridays, weekends, and holidays at two fixed times: 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available directly on the official website, and the trip offers three classes:
- Tourist Class: Only the Guararema train ride, in a standard car (R$ 180).
- Bar: With unlimited appetizers, desserts, and drinks (R$ 207).
- Dining Car: Full lunch with an appetizer, main course, dessert, and unlimited drinks (R$ 237).
Please note: Children up to 12 years old pay half price, and children up to 5 years old ride free, provided they sit on a guardian’s lap.
