If you’re looking for a haven of nature to spend your vacation or a long holiday, you can’t miss Sengés. Just 4 hours from São Paulo, the city stands out for its breathtaking natural beauty, but which is not yet as well known to the São Paulo public. In other words, it’s one of those “hidden” destinations that we love so much here at São Paulo Secreto!
The town is in Paraná, on the border with São Paulo, near Itararé. There you’ll find several stunning waterfalls, many with free admission, and the beautiful Jaguaricatu Canyon. In addition, the local gastronomy offers delicious typical dishes that hark back to the region’s “tropeiro” past.
Are you curious to visit? Then check out some of the best attractions that Sengés has to offer and get ready for your trip!
What to do in Sengés?
Discover its natural beauty!
Sengés is the ideal destination for ecotourism fans. Nestled in the heart of the Brazilian Cerrado, it offers activities such as hiking trails and impressive rock formations. One of these is the sandstone wall of Barreira Park, which skirts the Itararé River and marks the border between São Paulo and Paraná. A great place to watch the sunset!
Another highlight of Sengés is the Jaguaricatu Canyon. The rock formation lies between the municipality of Paraná and Itararé, in São Paulo, and is one of the largest canyons in the world in terms of green area. It is home to the famous Corisco Water fall, which has an impressive 106 meters of waterfall, as well as the Sobradinho Waterfall (Véu da Noiva).
There are also more than 60 waterfalls. Here are some of the most famous:
- Sobradinho Waterfall;
- Erva Doce waterfall;
- Postinho Waterfall;
- Comadres Waterfall.
Tropeira cuisine
Another attraction of Sengés is its typical cuisine. Just as in São Paulo, the town had a tropeira influence in the 16th and 17th centuries, which is why much of its cuisine today is reminiscent of these ancient explorers.
One of the typical dishes is rice with chicken, for example, a legacy of the times when the tropeiros used to eat free-range chicken while transporting cattle. In addition, in the city you can taste barreado, pork on a roll and pine nuts.
Plan your visit to Sengés!
As it is a place with many waterfalls, the best time to visit Sengés is from April to May, during the drier months. After all, the trails are safer during this period and there is less risk of the waterfalls c rashing.
The city is 360 km from São Paulo, or approximately 5 hours by car. Because it’s small, the town doesn’t offer many accommodation options. So if you can’t find inns there, it’ s worth staying in neighboring towns, such as Itararé. We recommend visiting by car, as there is no public transport to the attractions.
