Have you ever visited the Historic Valley of São Paulo? Nestled in the middle of the Mantiqueira and Bocaína mountains, on the border with Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, this region is a tourist treasure for those who want to learn more about the history of the state of São Paulo.
The Historic Valley covers six towns: Bananal, Arapeí, São José do Barreiro, Areias, Queluz and Silveiras. Together, they offer everything from preserved colonial mansions to exuberant natural landscapes, making it a major destination in São Paulo.
So if you’re already planning your vacation for 2025, why not check out this destination?
SP’s Historic Valley: a historic and sustainable tour
In the past, during the coffee cycle, the region was one of the richest in Brazil. Until the 19th century, around half of the country’s coffee production came from the Historic Valley of São Paulo, which stood out as the country’s largest exporter!
The coffee glory days have passed, but even today the region still has many vestiges of that period. In Areias, for example, you can visit old coffee farms and three-century-old mansions .
Another town with luxurious 19th century mansions is Bananal where you’ll also find an old railway station that used to transport coffee. Therefore, visiting the region is like taking a trip back to Colonial Brazil, getting to know the lifestyle of the old coffee barons.
Contact with nature
An unmissable attraction for ecotourism lovers is the Serra da Bocaina National Park. Located in São Paulo’s Historical Valley, it offers one of the state’s most traditional trails, the Gold Trail (Caminho de Mambucaba), which once served as a route for bandeirantes, tropeiros and enslaved people.
The park is also home to numerous waterfalls, such as the Santo Isidro and Veado waterfalls. In other words, as well as walking through nature, you can enjoy a relaxing swim! Another option is to go mountain biking or observe the local fauna and flora.
