You’ve probably heard of Thermas dos Laranjais, the ideal destination for relaxing in heated pools. Located in the interior of São Paulo, the water park attracts crowds willing to travel about 430 kilometers to the municipality of Olímpia to enjoy its complete leisure infrastructure.
Despite Thermas’ great fame, it is not the only attraction that enchants tourists from all over Brazil. Olímpia has so many amusement parks that it was voted the Best Theme and Nature Park Destination in the Top Tourist Destinations SP 2025 Award! The title officially recognizes the potential of the “Brazilian Orlando, “ which receives around 5 million visitors per year.
Thermas dos Laranjais. Photo: MARCO AURÉLIO ESPARZ/Wikimedia Commons
What to visit in the Brazilian Orlando?
You already know the first stop: Thermas dos Laranjais, which has more than 50 attractions and is the largest water park in Latin America. But there is another large complex that is worth visiting: Hot Beach, whose artificial beaches and heated pools are enjoyable in both winter and summer.
Children and families can also find the most emblematic creatures of the Jurassic era at Dinosaur Valley or explore futuristic environments at Orionverso Mundo Virtual, the first virtual reality park in Latin America. In addition, you can “meet” famous personalities at the Wax Museum.
Photo: Reproduction/Dinosaur Valley
In Olímpia, the fun lasts all year round!
The best time to visit Olímpia is in the summer, when the high temperatures are an invitation to explore the city’s water parks. However, most of them have heated pools, which makes the trip feasible in any season.
Currently, the drive from São Paulo takes about 4 hours. But if you don’t like hitting the road, don’t worry: Olímpia will soon have a new international airport! Scheduled to open in 2026, the Aeroporto Internacional do Norte Paulista will make your visit to the “Brazilian Orlando” much faster and more comfortable.
Hot Beach Olímpia. Photo: CivArmy/Wikimedia Commons